I could use the advice of some experienced, non natural LDers. Im at a crossroads in my journey.

I feel like lucid dreaming is becoming an obsession and I don't know which direction to go with it. Thinking about dreaming all day is my problem. I tend to have an obsessive personality and when I get interested in something, I go all out. It's been this way with lucid dreaming for a while. I get really into it and think about dreaming all day, much to the detriment of my waking life - I've been if ignoring real life responsibilities to pursue lucid dreaming and to sleep more. I love to read about it and I'm ashamed to admit that on more than one occasion I've opted to read about lucid dreaming rather than spend time with my kids.

I've had a couple WILDs, a handful of DILDs and some FILDs. I also practice MILD before bed, work on my prospective memory and do RCs during the day. I keep a dream journal. I've been practicing LDing for 7 months on and off. I'll often practice a couple months, get discouraged/overwhelmed, back off, get a random LD then pick it up again.

I'm just at a loss. The constant RCs and questioning of reality really distracts my focus from everyday life. My life becomes one big reality check, when I'd rather just be relaxing with my family or working on my business or pursuing another hobby. That and I'm constantly on reddit, here and other forums reading about it.

I want it to be an aspect of my life, but instead it seems like it has to *be* my life if I want to LD consistently.

I've been considering really backing off from trying to DILD, meaning I wouldn't question reality so much, not RC much and not think about dreaming too much during the day. Rather, I'll practice WILD every night. I wake up naturally after my dreams, 4 or 5 times per night, so I'll have ample opportunity to practice WILD. It seems like the least intrusive method, as I don't need to dedicate too much time during the day, but focus on it at night.

I'm not looking for the 'easy' way to LD. I know it's hard work and a life time journey. It's just becoming a problem in my life and I need a solution. If you have any advice or input, I'd appreciate it.

TL;DR: Lucid dreaming becoming and obsession. Don't know how to proceed.

Lucidology has a free timer you can use. It beeps at regular intervals to wake you up. But you don't have to get up because it shuts itself off.

Welcome, Level2TowerDive!

You seem to have a problem that a lot of LD novices might envy a bit.

Dedicating much of your time and attention to LD'ing during waking-life is, I believe, a key aspect to successful LD'ing... you might be inadvertently doing the right thing! LD'ing really is one of those disciplines that can demand the consumption a good chunk of your life if you want to do it consistently. But don't worry, as you gain experience, you will find much less of a need to spend so much time on it during the day.

But I do understand that sometimes too much of the right thing can be a problem, so it might be a good idea to back off a bit. But can I suggest a different reduction of your time? Instead of stepping away from DILD and doing RC's, why not step away from all the reading and forum visits (except, DreamViews, of course! ;))? The RC's and questioning reality that you are doing are not just for achieving DILD's, but are basic steps toward getting your mind in the right place to LD, and to keep it there; it might be a step backward to stop doing such daywork. However, since most of what is written or chatted about on the forums is pretty similar to what's been written or chatted about before, you might not be missing much if you, say, go pay attention to your kids instead of signing on to a LD website now and then.

Finally, obsessions have a tendency to level off eventually. If your family is willing to put up with you, you could always let it run its course until LD'ing becomes an integral part of your life rather than its focus.

In any case, congratulations on being able to maintain such dedicated focus, and good luck with whatever direction you choose!

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Originally Posted by Level2TowerDive

I feel like lucid dreaming is becoming an obsession and I don't know which direction to go with it. Thinking about dreaming all day is my problem. I tend to have an obsessive personality and when I get interested in something, I go all out. It's been this way with lucid dreaming for a while. I get really into it and think about dreaming all day, much to the detriment of my waking life - I've been if ignoring real life responsibilities to pursue lucid dreaming and to sleep more. I love to read about it and I'm ashamed to admit that on more than one occasion I've opted to read about lucid dreaming rather than spend time with my kids.

I've had a couple WILDs, a handful of DILDs and some FILDs. I also practice MILD before bed, work on my prospective memory and do RCs during the day. I keep a dream journal. I've been practicing LDing for 7 months on and off. I'll often practice a couple months, get discouraged/overwhelmed, back off, get a random LD then pick it up again.

I'm just at a loss. The constant RCs and questioning of reality really distracts my focus from everyday life. My life becomes one big reality check, when I'd rather just be relaxing with my family or working on my business or pursuing another hobby. That and I'm constantly on reddit, here and other forums reading about it.

I want it to be an aspect of my life, but instead it seems like it has to *be* my life if I want to LD consistently.

I've been considering really backing off from trying to DILD, meaning I wouldn't question reality so much, not RC much and not think about dreaming too much during the day. Rather, I'll practice WILD every night. I wake up naturally after my dreams, 4 or 5 times per night, so I'll have ample opportunity to practice WILD. It seems like the least intrusive method, as I don't need to dedicate too much time during the day, but focus on it at night.

I'm not looking for the 'easy' way to LD. I know it's hard work and a life time journey. It's just becoming a problem in my life and I need a solution. If you have any advice or input, I'd appreciate it.

TL;DR: Lucid dreaming becoming and obsession. Don't know how to proceed.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Level2TowerDive

I feel like lucid dreaming is becoming an obsession and I don't know which direction to go with it. Thinking about dreaming all day is my problem. I tend to have an obsessive personality and when I get interested in something, I go all out. It's been this way with lucid dreaming for a while. I get really into it and think about dreaming all day, much to the detriment of my waking life - I've been if ignoring real life responsibilities to pursue lucid dreaming and to sleep more. I love to read about it and I'm ashamed to admit that on more than one occasion I've opted to read about lucid dreaming rather than spend time with my kids.

I've had a couple WILDs, a handful of DILDs and some FILDs. I also practice MILD before bed, work on my prospective memory and do RCs during the day. I keep a dream journal. I've been practicing LDing for 7 months on and off. I'll often practice a couple months, get discouraged/overwhelmed, back off, get a random LD then pick it up again.

I'm just at a loss. The constant RCs and questioning of reality really distracts my focus from everyday life. My life becomes one big reality check, when I'd rather just be relaxing with my family or working on my business or pursuing another hobby. That and I'm constantly on reddit, here and other forums reading about it.

I want it to be an aspect of my life, but instead it seems like it has to *be* my life if I want to LD consistently.

I've been considering really backing off from trying to DILD, meaning I wouldn't question reality so much, not RC much and not think about dreaming too much during the day. Rather, I'll practice WILD every night. I wake up naturally after my dreams, 4 or 5 times per night, so I'll have ample opportunity to practice WILD. It seems like the least intrusive method, as I don't need to dedicate too much time during the day, but focus on it at night.

I'm not looking for the 'easy' way to LD. I know it's hard work and a life time journey. It's just becoming a problem in my life and I need a solution. If you have any advice or input, I'd appreciate it.

TL;DR: Lucid dreaming becoming and obsession. Don't know how to proceed.

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Hi, I shout, i continue to shout loudly and sometimes someone listens. I began my quest less than 8 months ago to become a lucid dreamer. I now lucid dream every night. I never reality check, i never do any 'day work' In fact, i never MILD or bother with mantra either

I found the 'secret' and its so easy. I preach constantly on this website about how I do it, how I get lucid every night with ease.

i wonder if you will listen or will you skim over and dismiss as some others do? The choice is yours

Now, i dont know how experienced you are but there is a technique called DEILD. To DEILD is the easiest way to become lucid, it really is. All you need to do is learn the basics of how to DEILD. Once you get that down you then need a way to find yourself in the correct situation to be able to DEILD. You cant just DEILD when you want, certain conditions need to be met and when they are met performing a DEILD is effortless, easy!

The conditions that create the perfect opportunity are as follows ...

1) Being interrupted during a dream. Now this is important. Most of the DEILD tutorials will speak about performing a DEILD as you wake up after a dream. Whilst this 'old' way of DEILDing is effective it does present many problems, however if you are disturbed during an actual dream then the success rate of a DEILD skyrockets!

So all we need now is a way to get interupted during a dream right? Well thats the tricky part and I have tried the following over time each presenting their own issues

a) i tried an auto shut off alarm that played a melody for 2 seconds before shutting off and then repeating every 30 mins. I would set the first alarm for 6 hours after I went to bed. I wore headphones for this (Apple earbuds) I tinkered with the volume and duration of the alarm so that it would slightly rouse me during a dream allowing me to perform a DEILD. The problems were plentiful. First and foremost is that it was very hit and miss as to wether the alarm went off during REM sleep. When it did go of during REM sleep it was easy to DEILD but4/5 times the alarm would miss the REM. Also the headphones kept falling out and I could sleep with then if i turned my head to the pillow

b) I tried a vibrating wrist watch (Apple iWatch) but the vibrations were not powerful enough to wake me

c)I tried the Remee sleep mask which was comfortable but once again was very hit and miss (mostly miss) when it came to REM sleep

BUT, all the above had one thing in common ... Everytime an alarm DID go off during a dream I was able to DEILD easily

THEN came ........... drum roll .......... the RemDreamer mask and fu££""$$$£$!!!! wow!

It only goes off during REM, the flashing lights are just right to rouse you from sleep and my DEILD's using the RemDreamer are over 90% success rate

The key really is hitting that REM sleep!

The Aurora will be released within a few months and that may outperform the RemDreamer

I hope you give Alarm based DEILD a try. I too had enough of reality checking during the day. Take the easy way to lucidity.

I hope this helped and feel free to ask any questions

Ezzo

I agree with Sageous. You more than likely have all of the tools to LD. You just need to practice what you know. I would step back from the Internet browsing, and pretend you are dreaming while playing with your children. Integrate dream awareness with the activities of daily life, like washing dishes for your wife. Wash the dream dishes, cook the dream meal, marvel at your dream surroundings. Be aware of your dream surroundings.