Out Of Ideas

Hey guys, I joined this site hoping I can find a way to fix the problem I've got.

I've been trying to have a lucid dream for about six months now, and with absolutely no success. I've been doing RCs when I see something weird, tried countless MILDs, even almost induced sleep paralysis from just going to sleep normally.

Now, I know the obvious answer is to try WILDing or something involving disrupting my sleep, but I've got the equally common problem of being at school, and so I can't afford to lose sleep.

I've tried all of the alternative methods listed on these forums, like crazy subliminal messaging stuff and whatnot, but absolutely NOTHING IS WORKING. The only option I see left to me now is napping, but even that is mightily inconvenient.

So, without wishing to do the ultimate nooby thing and ask a seemingly basic question, considering I've tried EVERYTHING (including stopping trying for a while :lol: ) have any of you got any last ditch suggestions?

Have you read through LiveInTheDream's "Lucid Dreaming for the Busy Man/Woman" post? I don't know if you've tried the techniques he's described but it's worth a read if you haven't check it out already.

Yeah I have, sadly that didn't work either. :lol:

Also forgot to mention, I'm keeping a dream journal with varying success. I've done all of the normal methods basically, but nothing's working.

Try iso-tones or binaural beats. Read Some threads on which ones do and don't work

Do you only do reality checks when something weird happens? You should do reality checks often and sort of randomly, just any time you think about it. Sometimes I write RC on my hand and then every time I notice it I do another reality check. Also what reality checks do you do?

Go ahead and try WILD though, if you do it right it shouldn't really disrupt your sleep by to much. You might be one of those lucky people who have a knack for WILD.

Try the 5000 year old WILD found on these forums. It should not disturb your sleep, especially if you do it before sleeping. Also try to find recurring dreams and dreamsigns and RC when you see them.

Make sure that when you perform RCs during the day, that you aren't just going through the motions. Take a moment to look around at your environment and ask yourself, "Could I be dreaming right now?" Look around and imagine you are within a dream (even if you know 100% that it is waking life). Look at the detail of everything around you and truly question your reality...then perform a RC and see if you are dreaming or not. Also, perform the following technique every night before you go to sleep and I guarantee you will have your first lucid soon....

Dry Spell Killer: The Actor's Technique
For anyone experiencing a dry spell or having trouble achieving lucidity for the first time you can try this simple "mind over matter" technique. I use this to help break out of dry spells and I generally suggest it to others who are experiencing dry spells/struggling to become lucid. Basically here it is...Upon laying down to sleep you need to alter your state of mind. Basically, act as if you are an expert/experienced lucid dreamer and you know 100% that you will have a LD. Don't only say/think to yourself that you will have a LD, but truly 100% believe that you will achieve your goal easily. The best way to describe this "state of mind alteration" is to compare it to acting. Many actors and actresses "get into character" for their particular roles. They will spend several days (or even longer depending on the actor/actress) acting as if they are a completely different person to better prepare and play their role. Basically, you are trying to "get into the character" of an experienced/expert lucid dreamer. You could even go as far as getting into the character of "The Best Lucid Dreamer Ever." The idea is to fall asleep knowing and expecting yourself to become lucid, because you have done it millions of times before and it is easy for you. If you can do it correctly, and truly convince yourself that you will achieve lucidity, than it will greatly raise your chances of success. During a dry spell, I do this for as many nights as I need to break it. I usually am able to overcome my dry spell the very first night trying. Make sure that if you do not succeed, that you stay "in-character" and tell yourself/convice yourself that last night was a fluke and there is no way you won't become lucid the next night. You would be surprised how well this simple method can work. All it takes is a bit of "acting" ;)! Repeat this process every night until the dry spell is broken.

Remember to stay confident and fight off frustrations. You can absolutely try TOO hard to LD, thus causing the opposite effect. When it comes to LDing, it is all about relaxing and taking it easy. Expect to succeed and know 100% in your mind that you will succeed. Good luck to you!

Thanks guys, I'll try all of the methods I've got left listed here. I tried some binaural beats and stuff, but they didn't really do it for me. I guess I'll try way more frequent, measured RCs and that WILD technique, and the actor technique tonight. Wish me luck!

Yep, none of this stuff worked. :lol: Oh well, I've sort of given up on LDing for now, I'll just work on my recall, although I can't seem to do anything to improve that either.

How long have you been doing the DJ?

Ah, don't get discouraged. It may take a few nights with the "actor technique." If you want to improve recall, set alarms throughout the night. The idea is to either wake up between REM periods or toward the end of a REM period. This way the dream will be fresh in your mind and won't be lost throughout the night. Set the first one for 4 hours into your sleep period. Wake up right down your dream, then set the next for 2 hours later. Then set them for 1 hour increments for the remainder of your sleep. This will greatly increase your odds on recall. Do the actor technique every time you go to sleep. Just always fall asleep knowing that you will have a lucid dream. If you doubt yourself, your odds on lucidity shrink exponentially. Stay confident. Your breakthrough will come soon enough!

I've been keeping the DJ for a few months now with varying success, like sometimes I'll remember at least one or more dreams every night for a few nights in a row, but sometimes (like now) I'll go through a whole week without remembering any.

I might have to try the alarm thing to improve my recall, I suppose I could do it in the holidays when I don't have to get as much sleep for stuff. And cool, I'll keep trying the actor technique, although it's difficult to really think it after so little success up to now.

Ive taken valerian root as a sleeping aid before, with interesting effects. One of the side effects listed onthe sideof the bottle is vivid dreams, and when I take it I usually recall around 5 vivid emotionally involved dreams. Maybe you could try some vitamin b6, b12, galantine + choline, peanut butter and banana, ect. All are supposed to alter your sleep.

I'll try some of the supplements you guys suggest, but other than that, every other method has basically failed me. Oh well!