How Do You Keep Yourself In Lucid Dreams?

[Spo8]

Okay, so I don't do anything special to induce lucid dreams, but I come across them every once in a while but have yet to actually be able to control one. The problem is that as soon as I realize that I'm actually dreaming, I'm instantly awake. I become aware that my eyes are closed (which is of course confusing, as I'm seeing in my dream) and can feel that my mouth isn't actually moving and I just can't seem to ignore these things and stay in my dream. The last (potential) LD I had, I actually told myself to stay very calm so I wouldn't screw up another opportunity, but that only bought me a few more seconds before I was awake again. Every time I'm trying as hard as I can to pull myself back into unconsciousness, but it never works. So does anyone have some tips for staying in a LD once one occurs?

[Howie]

Okay, so I don't do anything special to induce lucid dreams, but I come across them every once in a while but have yet to actually be able to control one. The problem is that as soon as I realize that I'm actually dreaming, I'm instantly awake. I become aware that my eyes are closed (which is of course confusing, as I'm seeing in my dream) and can feel that my mouth isn't actually moving and I just can't seem to ignore these things and stay in my dream. The last (potential) LD I had, I actually told myself to stay very calm so I wouldn't screw up another opportunity, but that only bought me a few more seconds before I was awake again. Every time I'm trying as hard as I can to pull myself back into unconsciousness, but it never works. So does anyone have some tips for staying in a LD once one occurs? [/b] Hi Spo8! WELCOME to the Forum! Perhaps when you become lucid you should concentrate on the dream scene. What is laid out before you is derived from your subconscious and is part of the dream. When you begin to question things outside of the dream and think more with you left hemisphere and logical thought processes this pulls you out of your dream. Some of the methods that many use to prolong lucidity, such as staring at your hands or the ground...something stable. I believe this is in a sense what they are doing. The conscious brain seem to always want to have control. Given the opportunity it will. So go along with the dream. Cya.