Thinking clearly in LD

[Eulogius]

I was being told about Lucid Dreams a few days ago, and found it quite interesting, so i did some reseach and eventually found this forum. From what i've read you can create an Utopia from your own dreams due pratice. but since im new at all this i would start with a few questions, how do you basicly know that you are LD'ing, i know you have to realise that you are dreaming, but while you are in your dream, do you think as clearly as in waking life? Because i had a dream the other day, but i am not sure whether i was LDing or not, but i remenbered it as i was in a map sort of like BombMan with all those boxes, and i think i tried to do a RC and suddenly the dream got alot brigther, the colors on those boxes got clearer. and suddenly i felt out of the dream. Also how long does it usually take to get your first LD due praticing, i am currently trying a MILD but really considering to switch over to a WILD. It seems like it works better, even though i have school to attend to. Cheers Eulogius

[Puffin]

Welcome to Dreamviews, Eulogius! Lucid dreaming is just that, and can't be any simpler - you basically realize that you're dreaming; it's not usually 100% clear like in real life but it can get pretty close, depending on how aware you are. As for how long it takes, it's different for each person. It took me a week, but others it can take more or less time. If you have any other questions feel free to ask me or another Dream Guide. :3

[Eulogius]

I have tons of questions but for now im just trying to focus on getting my first LD, i probably had them before. But dont really remenber them. Also about SP it had happened to me a few times in my earlier years, scared the frightened me so much i started to pray. Any advice to get a LD would be appreciated though. Cheers Eulogius

[youngjedi]

i am very new to lucid dreaming, i have been doing reality checks for the last week and a half but cannot seem to become lucid or do reality checks in any of my dreams, i have written down five dreams so far and all have been weird enough for me to realize i am dreaming but i still do not. so the last two days i have tried the WILD technique while taking small naps through the day and have gone into sleep paralysis fully aware 4 times. however when i do realize that i am in sleep paralysis i hear a loud buzzing sound/sensation and my heart starts racing very fast and i wake up, not sure if its from excitement or from being scared. one of the 4 times i i had a false awakening where i felt like i woke up and was on my bed but i could still feel my body laying down, at this point i relaize i am dreaming or very close to and everything starts shaking and i actually wake up. any tips on how one can stay calm once you enter sleep paralysis and wait for the dream to create?