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I have lucid dreams multiple times a week. I never tried to have them, it just happens. Im dreaming and I know I'm dreaming. I can control things in my dream etc. but it makes me anxious knowing that I'm asleep. Usually I try to wake myself up, which is uncomfortable and scary. Any advice?
If you can't see the benefits of lucid dreaming, then your last name must be Spears.
ouch. I was just saying it stresses me out to have them, I scares me that I won't be able to wake up, or I'm actually dead. Also, I wake up not feeling as rested as when I dream normally.
-_-Quote:
Originally Posted by drewmandan
Don't worry about him.
Since the whole Lucid Dreaming thing freaks you out, why don't you just think of it as a vacation? No stressful dream control stuff, just sit back, and relax... :content: If you get bored, just calmly think of something to do. It's just some time away from the rest of the world, where you have no responsibilites. n_n
Try to just remember that of all of the lucid dreams you have had before, you have woken up alive after every last one of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by britney
And as Mini Man said, think of it as an opportunity to have just relax and fun.
thank you. I'll try that.
Don't worry. You'll be able to wake up. You are obviously a rational person, so I have confidence you will understand this. Yes, you will always wake up from your dreams. If you think about it, it doesn't matter if you are lucid or not--you will always dream!
Where did you get the idea that lucid dreaming means you are dead? Is it something that happens in these dreams, or is it a fabrication of your own mind (or did you get the idea from a certain movie)?
I can say with complete confidence that lucid dreaming has no affect on the quality of sleep. Lucid dreaming has been researched for decades, and no correlation has been found between lucid dreams and sleep quality. The occurence of natural lucid dreamers (they frequently have lucid dreams without effort) also busts that myth. On the contrary, lucid dreamers often put effort into getting into a healthier sleep schedule, making them top-tier as far as sleep health goes.
I know it logical to think that I will wake up. And while I'm dreaming I do remind myself of this, which sometimes help to allieviate the stress, and I admit there have been lucid dreams that I've enjoyed. For some reason though, I'm still tend to be worried about dying in my sleep. I have this irrational fear that I'll remain in this dreamworld forever. This could very well be due to movies I've seen, though I can't put my finger on a certain one. I have no problem staying lucid in my dream, but it's often hard for me to wake myself up. That loss of control scares me.
If you insist on being irrational, then no one here can help you. You know there's no danger, yet you continue to be fearful. And that's that.Quote:
Originally Posted by britney
If you don't think there's anything helpful to post, then why do you keep posting? And if you think I'm unintelligent, which you insinuated by saying my last name was "spears" why are you still reading this thread?
I don't insist on being irrational. It's an irrational fear, I admitted that, but it's not me "insisting" on being irrational. I don't WANT to be afraid. It just happens.
Also, the kind of help I was looking for was advice on not having lucid dreams, although I know this may seem selfish seeing as so many people here are trying to have them. I also was wondering if anyone else had similar experiences, where lucid dreaming is not completely enjoyable for them.
I think it would kick ass to be in a dream forever. But aside from that, next time you have a lucid dream, preoccupy yourself with something. Maybe try to fly from where you are to China so you can have tea with Leon Trotsky. Do something that requires thinking so that you can sort of forget about your worries.
Actually on second thought, Leon Trotsky was a horrible leader and was totally counter-revolutionary.
Maybe meet somebody you prefer instead.
If lucid dreaming is a phobia, I suggest enjoying them as much as possible. Do things you really like, even if they seem mundane (eat a favorite food, practice a sport). If the fear is unconscious, then by pairing the instances of lucid dreaming with calm, positive outcomes will eventually nullify the fear. Over time, your unconscious mind will no longer perceive dreaming as a threat.
I'm an insensitive jerk. I'm sorry.Quote:
Originally Posted by britney
I was going to post in here earlier today, but I had to go cook.
Quote:
Originally Posted by britney
If you haven't tried this idea, I highly suggest you do try. I find it works most of the time; Fall. Just fall down. For me, everything starts slowing down, and I start feeling my bed. A few seconds later, I'm awake. It may or may not work for you, but you never know. :)
And about the irrational fear; I take Abra's word's and make them my own.
And that's the crux of it right there. It seems like the whole point of an LD is to take control of what's going on and make it an ideal dream. We love the idea of doing whatever we want without any (visible) consequences. But sometimes our own minds have their own ideas. It's easy to be anxious over things we can't control, but in the end we have to realize that no amount of stressing out or panicing will change it. Just do what you can, enjoy what you can, and let the rest work itself out.Quote:
Originally Posted by britney
One of the reasons you might feel tired after waking up from an LD is that you're stressing yourself out in your dream, worrying over the possibility that you'll die or some other negative thing will happen. It's likely that it's causing you to tense up a little while you sleep, and stress can make you sleep lighter so that you don't get all of the deep sleep that you need. Do you find yourself waking up frequently?
What helps you to relax? What kind of places do you like to go to in order to just calm down and rest? The next time you find yourself in an LD, take yourself to a place where you can relax. Look over at the river to your left and sit by it and watch the water pass by, or even immerse yourself in it and allow it to take you gently down whatever path it's taking. Take a walk in a quiet part of the woods. If nothing else, at least take some time to just breathe deeply and relax your body. Try smiling! I find that often when I smile, I somehow end up feeling happier.
I'd recommend making a plan before you go to sleep. Decide what you're going to do in your next LD ahead of time so that when you find yourself in a dream, you won't waste time wondering what you should do or allowing your mind to wander towards those ideas that stress you out. Take a break from LDing if it's too hard on you.
:hug: Sweet dreams.
It is easy to think logically while awake, and know that there is nothing to fear. Obviously this logic doesn't always carry over into your dreams. I, too, have had lucid dreams where I confused dreaming with the afterlife. I actually had a rash of them over a couple months. I know it left me with some strange feelings the next day.
I agree with Ame. See if you can remember to just relax in your dream. You don't have to do anything or participate in the dream narrative. Maybe you can try some in-dream meditation, or even a nap. Maybe if you lie down and go to sleep in your dream, you will find that peacefulness again.
use dream control to your advantage then. If you have many lucid dreams and already have some kind of dream control, you could practice learning to wake yourself up if you feel the need to, or so that you don't interrupt your sleep you could learn to kind of lose lucidity. I met someone once who said that she was a natural lucid dreamer, but sometimes wanted to see what dreams her subconscious could come up with, so she would "give herself up to the dream." I'm not sure how you would go about doing that if you find it hard to not lucid dream, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to try.
I am so glad you posted. I am in the same boat. I wouldnt mind lucid dreaming if it was fun. My lucid dreaming is almost always like my life...making it hard to distiguish reality from fiction. Now I have had lucid dreams that were fun, like getting to fly or be a super hero, but when I think I wake up in my house without super powers or flying that to me is scary. Now I am having lucid dreams in layers. I know I am dreaming...wake up and ironically have a "false awakening" and realize I am still yet in another dream...and it repeats until I finally call out in my sleep for my husband to wake me. Are you having similar experiences? If so I would love to chat to compare notes. The replys Ive gotten so far are similar to some of yours...."you should enjoy them....and so on. Thanks.
Whenever I want a break from lucid dreaming I just say to myself "I want to have normal dreams tonight" while i'm lying in bed ready to sleep. Or you could try including it in a prayer "God please give me normal dreams tonight".
If you find yourself lucid in a dream, just follow the dream and go along with the plot and you will soon lose your lucidity. Or you could close your eyes and intend for a normal dream to happen.
I've had a lucid dream before where I thought I was in a coma and could not wake myself up.. was kinda scary but i soon got over it and just thought "who cares.. i'm going to take advantage of this opportunity by trying as many lucid powers as possible" ended up having one of the most memorable lucid dreams ever!
Here is a quick way to lose lucidity: Fly really high, then "let go" of your flight. Even though you are dreaming, so you won't be hurt, the prospect of a fall from that high usually makes you panic, losing your lucidity.
I recall reading this somewhere: Try fixing your gaze (vision) to a fixed point (any object/detail). This could cause you to lose lucidity.
I don't want to say anybody is dumb or anything, but I will say that those people who don't want to lucid dream because "it's too stressful" or "it isn't fun" completely and utterly lack creativity. With being human comes the ability to disobey instinct and therefore disobey activities that your fears tell you not to engage in. By doing so, your fears will eventually die off. Just think how good your lucid dreams could be if you'd quit being such a coward and get over it. Irrational or not, your fears can be suppressed. It's you who makes the choice to do so.
You know how I plan on killing my fear of falling? By going skydiving.
I worried about me actually being dead but we all die some time.
You could always fall asleep in your dream, lay on a nice warm beach. yesyes
I think you are being a bit insensitive to those of us who are not "professional dreamers". I speak for myself here, but I like to be in control of my life in every aspect. I am not trying to say that anyone is shallow-minded by not being able to empathize with those of us who are not completley comfortable with having to do reality checks all the time. I am here, as I suppose the original poster, to find out how to gain control of those dreams and your insensitive and insulting post is not helping at all. If you do not have any positive information, please do not post or reply to people asking for advice. Its not like a button you can turn on or off lucid dreaming, and I am sorry if you struggle with what comes so easy for others. You are welcome to my lucid dreams.Quote:
Originally Posted by Black_Eagle
Hiding from your fears doesn't work, they'll still be there. Confront them. And if you have some sort of anxiety that doesn't go away, kick it in the balls and shove it into a corner of your mind, don't let it have any power over you. Fear is the mind killer.
From reading your two posts, I cannot tell what your situation is at all. I can't tell if you're a natural LDer or someone who is having trouble learning.Quote:
Originally Posted by cemert
I stand by what I said for the original poster. Her own mind is limiting her from experiencing what could be a very enjoyable activity.
While this is true I think it would be prudent to help the OP to learn how to wake up at will, so that to be reassured that if the feelings get too tense there is always the possibility to end it at will. This is how I had my first lucid experiences as a child: I learned to recognize the reoccuring nightmares for what they are and wake up myself at will. Very soon after the nightmares died off completely, as the grip they had on me was lost due to my control over their continuance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Black_Eagle
There's plenty of people that don't wake up from dreams.
I agree with this point of view!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodiath
It didn't work for me. The way I defeat my anxiety was facing my fear by changing myself into the subject of my fears into the nightmare. Then it stoped disturbing me.Quote:
Originally Posted by mindwalker
hmm you know ironically Stephen Laberge Ph.D claims that we can use lucidy to face our fears
just thought i point that out