Lucid... but not?

[Demias]

So I keep having this issue in my lucid dreams that I hope someone can help me out with. I'll pinch my nose and say out loud that I'm lucid, but it doesn't really feel like I'm fully in control of myself. Is this problem going to go away with experience or should I take a different approach?

[Hitokage]

It will probably go away. You just need to get used to it. I always feel a bit odd in dreams, like it's not how I normally feel. The lack of control feeling is normal cause your body is paralyzed along with some brain centers so practically you are really not fully in control.

[Rothgar]

What do you mean by "it doesn't really feel like I'm fully in control"? For example, do you feel "present" in the dream and it is you who are making the decisions (even if it is a lot of impulsive actions out of character) or are you watching a play in 3rd person? I often act as if drunk, or follow the dream plot rather than 100% normal behavior of experimenting in the new environment. I often still act as if the DCs are real people. Also knowing it's a dream you might impulsively do things you normally wouldn't (fight, casual sex or even rape) because you instinctively know "No consequences" and your baser nature might display itself. But in an LD it's always me in there to some degree.

[Demias]

What do you mean by "it doesn't really feel like I'm fully in control"? For example, do you feel "present" in the dream and it is you who are making the decisions (even if it is a lot of impulsive actions out of character) or are you watching a play in 3rd person? I often act as if drunk, or follow the dream plot rather than 100% normal behavior of experimenting in the new environment. I often still act as if the DCs are real people. Also knowing it's a dream you might impulsively do things you normally wouldn't (fight, casual sex or even rape) because you instinctively know "No consequences" and your baser nature might display itself. But in an LD it's always me in there to some degree. Sorry if it was a bit confusing. I meant that I don't really feel like I'm the one making the decisions. It's almost like I've taken a backseat and someone else is controlling my thoughts and actions. I can feel and see things, but I'm not really 'there', so to speak. Hope that makes sense.

[Rothgar]

It should get better then. I would say you were just slightly lucid or some would maybe say dreaming about being lucid. I have had some really low level experiences like that. More like a dream that is recalled after the fact rather than really present in the moment. If it didn't feel like an alternate reality you didn't quite get there.

[cooleymd]

Often when I am totally lucid the dreamscape and the DC's are antagonizing me, heckling me, countermanding me, running away from me, or annoying me in some ways, so In my opinion DC's get what they deserve when I am forced to eliminate them As for no control try stabilizing. The easiest form of control is to test your body, try to bring up your hand, hand evaluation is a form of control where you are ignoring the dream and controlling your hand. Use some verbal commands while you do it. Then check out how much control you have in the dream. Even if you have no direct control you can usually influence things with expectation suggestion, just think something like I bet a busload of cheerleaders is about to drive past me and break down see if it happens