Hey all, I've been doing research and stuff about LD's, have been in the habit or doing reality checks, and have been keeping a dream log, really been doing this with a friend, so we kind of help each other out, but I came here to have a few questions answered as I delve deeper and farther into this whole thing. Here would be my questions/experiences.

My first... I wouldn't call it a lucid dream was after I do a reality check mid-dream. I could control my intentions and think in a blurry state, but I didn't have control over the world around me. I tried various things, various reality checks, but it was like doing something on pain medications- it's all blurry and you can't think. I couldn't control my body well at all. I usually did the nose reality check (where you plug your nose) and then I knew I was dreaming the entire time, but I didn't have control or full senses of the world(s) I was visiting.

My second almost-lucid dream was just last night. I found myself doing a reality check and realizing it was a dream, but then I felt something creeping up, and I could see an image, like switching in and out of what I thought was reality, and I fought to stay on top and in my dream, and it kind of felt like trying to keep my head above water whilst drowning. It didn't work, and I then thought it was reality, but it wasn't. After doing another reality check I realized that it wasn't, but again, I couldn't control anything, and at this point I woke up anyway.

SO my questions are:
1. How do I go full lucid when I realize I am in a dream, or can I just not do it?
2. Was the second dream just switching from dream to dream, or was I in multiple layers of dreams?
3. Are shared lucid dreams possible?/Has anyone had one and experiences with that?
4. Is there ways to extend lucid dreams once you have them?