First long LD (20+ mins) after 6 weeks of effort

**Azaleaj** · 08-09-2016 09:01 PM

I'm so excited to have finally had a long LD. I've been fairly diligently reading about LDs and doing reality checks and picturing myself becoming lucid for about 6 weeks. I had 7 LDs in that time but none lasted more than about 5 seconds. I was able to do some experiments like asking the dream to show me something amazing, practice touching the ground or textured objects, looking at my hands, trying to have sex, rubbing my hands together and spinning, all of which were very fun and interesting, but I was so frustrated and disapointed by the fact that the dreams faded so quickly. I had read that this happens in the beginning but after so many weeks I was thinking about quitting due to frustration.
I should mention I occasionally take 4-6 mg of galantamine in the morning hours to help with dream recall and it seems to help sometimes.
Last night I woke at 7 am, took 6 mg of galantamine and immediately went back to sleep. I ended up having 3 LDs in a row and practiced looking at my hands and spinning each time but they all faded within seconds. I was about to get up at 9 am but decided to turn off my alarm and give it another go. I wasn't very tired but wanted to try a WILD which I've never had before.
I had a DILD instead. I became lucid while having a sex dream (nothing in particular seemed to prompt it). I had previously decided that during my next LD I would try to go with the flow instead of jumping into a dream experiment. Well it worked. I estimate the dream lasted over 20 minutes. It started to fade visually a few times but I rubbed my hands together, touched things, jumped off of stairs, and commanded "increase lucidity" and they all helped. I explored various rooms of an amazing house, petted a scary ram (facing a nightmare), looked for dream characters to have sex with (couldn't find any who were attractive) and just looked around. I was very careful not to focus too long on anything, to not get too excited or amazed, and to engage with the dream continually.
I now know I am capable of long LDs and am very excited about it. I feel all of the techniques I've been practicing were helpful as well. So, people new to lucid dreaming, don't give up. It seems that practice will pay off.