I had a lucid dream but I woke up from it immediately after doing some stabilization techniques. I thought that stabilization techniques were supposed to help extend your lucid dreams so I found it strange that I woke up immediately after doing some stabilization techniques.
Is this normal or do I need to do something else to prevent this from happening?
Dreams are unpredictable, that's how it is. Perhaps it was just a one-time fluke, but there are other reasons it could have ended. For example, an abrupt wake up would obviously stop any attempts at stabilizing. Then there's also the Determination-Influence Effect. Were you really believing that this would work, did you put all your effort and focus into stabilization, or were you merely going through the motions (that is to say, were you doing them just expecting they would work just because)? If you find that the latter is true, then you may want to put more effort into it, and slow down and take everything in. If done "incorrectly," a stabilization attempt could actually back fire in some (or more like seldom) occasions. Thoroughly examine the world and its details (especially using the senses), or if you're using that spinning technique, truly believe that it certainly work, do not just expect it to work because you read that it would work if performed. A nice little trick I've used that you likely have as well is to find even more things that are off about the dream. This will help you maintain a high-level of lucidity and increase vividness, which coincides control and stability.
What method(s) are you using to stabilize? How exactly are you performing it / them?
When I realize that I'm in a dream I do two reality checks: I count my fingers and try to push two fingers through my palm. Then I do five stabilization techniques: I tell myself to remain calm, I say out loud "stabilize lucidity", I say out loud "clarity now", I rub my hands together, and I look at the details of my hands.Quote:
Originally Posted by Krythnyr
What worked like a charm for me was examining and feeling random stuff inside the dream world, like touching the tapestry, smelling the carpet, feeling the coldness of a metal handlebar and so on. It worked better than examining my hands.
The only thing I could fathom is that you're not putting enough "spirit" into it. Maybe you don't believe that they work enough. It's happened to me before where on te surface I'm thinking it will work just fine, but there's internal doubt. You may want to eliminate any of that possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by neowisdom
An other thing you could do is have more diverse checks and stabilization methods. You do a lot with your hands. Rather than doing only two hand based checks, try 3 or 4 different kinds of checks. I personally use the writing method (see if a text remains the same when looking away for a few moments and looking at it once again), and the breathing-through-the-nose method. Although possibly beneficial to focus on one part of the body, since we all work differently, it seems to have not worked well for you. Hence, again, broaden your range of checks.
As for stabilization, I use multiple methods. I may spin around or use the "fall-through" method if I want to change a scenario. When I want to stabilize for the moment, I use the details technique, but I will use a wide range of senses. As I learned from LaBerge's Exploring The World of Lucid Dreaming, a great exercise to improve awareness (which I've applied to stability) is to use all the senses and really think in depth around the environment. What kinds of things can I taste? The colors of the world. The scents around me. Sounds in the background that I may not even be aware of. How do I feel? Emotionally? Physically? As many things as I can in a concise time to avoid wasting lucid time but also keep myself in the aware state. Focusing too hard has actually caused me to fade into the background and lose lucidity though, so if you try that, caution! Then there's nitpicking. Trying to find more things wrong with the world around me, and finally, just believing the dream will stabilize.
If anything, you will learn how to stabilize and you will hone your dream control with more and more time. It takes quite some time to master dream control. Just keep going at it.
Again, as a disclaimer, these are all from my experience. You'll need to experiment on your own to find your perfect method. Also, sorry for the late reply. I have been very busy today.