Hi! I'm Glad I Stumbled Here ^^

No, not through StumbleUpon. I was researching dreams for an I-search and came upon this website when trying to look up how you can sometimes move in the real world while still dreaming (which I have done).

I have thought of lucid dreaming before (I've had 2 of them [that I can remember] but they've been veerrryyy far apart and I've never actually TRIED to have a lucid dream). :shadewink:

However, I have one question (but before I ask that question, it would be inappropriate to post a question in this section of the forum wouldn't it?)

Anyways, I'm excited to actually try lucid dreaming now and wanted to say hello. ^^ :)

Welcome to DV :).

In response to your question, absolutely not! The Newbie Zone is for new dreamers to introduce themselves and ask questions about lucid dreaming. Feel free to ask and the community will answer to the best of its ability.

ShockWave.

Thank you. ^^ Okay, well I've read that sleep paralysis is when you're awake but your brain forgets to switch back on all of your motor functions and therefore you are still seeing the dream world.

Although I have experienced this, I wanted to know if anyone knows what the opposite means? I was in a dream (and I don't know if you'd consider this a lucid dream or not) and I realized it was one but I wasn't completely sure, so in the dream I pinched myself and I woke up. At the same time I pinched myself in the dream, I woke up and I was also pinching myself in real life. Lol. I just thought that was weird, shouldn't I have been unable to move in real life? >.> (But I also sleepwalked at least twice, so maybe I should've looked into that....) Thanks. :D

Sleepwalking occurs primarily in Non-REM sleep, while dreams take place mostly in REM sleep. Also, REM-atonia only occurs during REM sleep. Sleep paralysis isn't really that your brain "forgets" to switch motor functions on. It is simply when you become aware of REM-atonia. Not a major difference, but worth noting.

Your account does sound paradoxical and I'm not sure what to tell you. If you were in REM sleep you shouldn't have been able to move your body. Maybe because the sleep cycle was almost over the REM-atonia was already deactivated.