I never feel, hear, or taste anything during lucid dreams

**Dreamaway** · 08-12-2013 05:57 AM

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place, I'm sorta new to this! I've been lucid dreaming since last year. I've gotten decent at it, I have at least three to four lucid dreams a week and I can remember most of them. However, I don't have any control over my hearing, taste, or sense of feeling in the lucid dream. My lucid dreams really aren't similar to real life because of this.

I can only remember one time that I tasted food, and that one time was pretty wonderful. Last night I had a lucid dream where I ate some delicious looking cake, but tasted nothing. The only time that I can feel anything in a dream is if I purposefully stimulate pain. Whenever I fly I feel nothing, no wind or mist or anything. I feel nothing during sex either, no matter who it's with or what gender. It feels numb. I can't imagine dream sex ever being actually fulfilling, like so many people write about. That may be because I've never experienced it in real life, but I thought that I'd feel something and not just be numb! My lucid dreams are completely silent, even when I talk it's more like telepathic than actual talking. DC's mouths don't even move when they talk to me. Sometimes I'll sing out loud to fill the silence, but even then my voice sounds warped and strange. It may be like that because I expect it to be like that, but I don't know. The sense of feeling is definitely the worst.

So, to wrap this up, I don't hear, taste, or feel anything in lucid dreams and I want to know how to fix it. This problem is making me unhappy with my lucid dreaming experience. I'd appreciate any feedback, and I need all the help I can get. Also, I didn't submit this to the Dream Control part of the forum because I wasn't sure if this problem stems from my lack of control or something else.

**jaymeeraine** · 08-12-2013 06:10 AM

I know what you mean! This only happens in my lucid dreams...I can *occasionally* experience proper sensory dreams if I am unaware that I am dreaming. As soon as I gain awareness, the dream starts to fall apart -- I can't see vividly anymore, everything is fractured, things that were real a moment ago turn into toys or cardboard cut-outs...my senses don't work and I know it's all fake. Very frustrating! At first, I try to keep 'pretending' because I know it's a dream and a GOOD one, so I want it to keep going, but I quickly lose steam because everything has turned 'fake' and I may as well be awake playing with dolls or something. I don't have any advice because I don't know how to fix it, but I can sympathize!

I think technique may have something to do with it, though? With DILD (I think it's called?), if I suddenly realize I'm dreaming then everything starts to fall apart. On occasions where I've been able to semi-use the WILD technique (or at least, a weird variation of it), things work out a lot ebtter.

**Dreamaway** · 08-12-2013 06:26 AM

Thanks for the quick response! That sounds very similar to what I've been experiencing! The only thing that's different is that the dream is always completely stable, and I have dreams like this that I feel are pretty long. Whenever I first started I'd fly by houses that looked like dollhouses, and weren't fully 3D. The feeling of 'fakeness' is very familiar to me and can be disheartening. That seemed to stop after I became more experienced. It's good to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this problem, though. Maybe we'll get a solution from somebody today.

**gab** · 08-12-2013 07:38 AM

Maybe you don't pay much attention in waking life when you touch something, or taste something.

You can try and do those things while noticing how things feel and taste. Touch your arms, legs, ground, wll, desk, feel your clothes, carpet... Is it cold, smooth, soft? And pretend you just got lucid and yell something out, or sing. I have never saw myself or heard my voice in a dream, untill I practiced that a few times. Happy dreams

**TranquilityTrip** · 08-14-2013 10:01 AM

The sensitivity of my senses (or lack thereof) varies from dream to dream. Most of the time at least one of my senses are active during my dreams. Usually my sense of touch dominates my dreams but my senses of smell and taste have crept in once in a awhile. My sense of hearing is also pretty consistent, but very limited.
As for your difficulties, my best advice would be to continue trying to hone your senses in your dreams. You should really imagine what you're touching would/should feel like, what the food you are eating would/should taste like, what the scenery around you would/should smell like, and what your environment would/should sound like. I am confident that, with enough dedication, your brain will begin simulating SOMETHING. And, after your senses have become much more prevalent in your dreams, they will likely become second nature. No longer requiring your attention to exist.
Just like some people need to practice flying before it becomes natural for them, you may need to practice smelling/touching/tasting/hearing before they become natural for you. (I should probably take my own advice and enhance my own dream senses. Might be fun

)

**Voldmer** · 08-14-2013 02:17 PM

I second the advice given by TranquilityTrip.

My lucids are predominantly visual, but the other senses can be brought into the picture by sheer will power. For example, once I noticed, that my left arm was completely numb - no feeling in it whatsoever. I then proceeded to slam my arm, repeatedly, into a nearby wall with great mental intensity, in order to get "the blood flowing in it again"

. And it worked, the arm started to feel like my physical left arm.

Another time I was flying over a rather arid area, and there was - as usual - nothing to be heard at all. I intended to hear something, and by straining my hearing, gradually sounds of a few scattered birds and crickets appeared.

My suggestion: know that all the senses can come into play, and focus your mind on intending it - one sense at a time. Don't let your inner dream maker tell you what you can and cannot have - instead go for it: will it through!"

**Dreamaway** · 08-15-2013 12:36 AM

Thanks for the advice! I'll work on it

That was a very detailed response. I do try to notice things, visually, when I'm awake. Like taking in the texture, color, shadows, etc. But that would explain why my only sense that is functional in a dream is my sense of sight! I'll work on just sitting down in my lucid dreams and listening, feeling, and smelling. Thanks for the feedback!

I understand what you mean. I want the background noises and scents to be automatic, though, and not have to even think about it for it to happen. But I know that I have to work towards my goal, and that's it not going to just happen overnight. Hopefully I will become more experienced by taking some of the great advice in this thread and my senses will begin to appear naturally. Thanks for the story and advice!