Thread: Inadvertant Lucid Dreamer Trying to Improve

Hi guys,

I'll cut to the goods: I've had a few abnormal dream experiences that resulted in somewhat lucid dreams. I've researched around a little bit and it appears that I might be able to hone my mental approach and take advantage of some really great lucid dreaming opportunities.

On two separate occasions this year I experienced intense sleep paralysis. The first was in April and entirely negative (immediate panic and confusion).

The second occurred last night and began violently; a dark apparition choking me lifeless. After a few seconds I relaxed and realized that although I was being strangled I could still breathe normally (RC mhmm). I laid there a few seconds longer, focusing on my breathing and inspecting my apartment and the shadowy figures drifting around. I realized my paralysis and began to try and rock myself awake, mostly moving my face forward. I succeeded and went back to sleep.

Later in REM I noticed some DS's (unfamiliar house, complete strangers that acted like lifelong friends) and began to half-control my dream. It was a Passive Control where I was inadvertently believing something positive would happen, but did not want to Actively Control it for fear that chaos or some shift in scenario would occur and I would screw up what was happening. Eventually my grip was lost and I went back to normal dreaming.

So, if my bedtime ramblings haven't helped you off to your own lucid dream yet, my main questions/self-diagnosis are:

1. If I'm Passively Controlling a dream, is Actively Controlling it as risky as it felt? The scenario I was in seemed very fragile. Does that means that I believed that my actions would cause a negative effect, ensuring that they would? Any techniques on dealing with apprehension?

2. If I accidentally had full-on sleep paralysis twice, is this something that I may be adept at doing regularly? Both occasions were the day after a night of intense stimulation (music festival, mdma). Probably not a coincidence? I have never researched lucid dreaming before, although I've toyed with the concept in my own head, so it'd seem unlikely.

3. I have often said "I am dreaming" in dreams, only to be swept off by my dream induced ADD almost immediately. I've breezed through some of the tutorials on this site and came across some techniques to retain control, but I can't picture myself overcoming the excitement and hazy distortion a dream provides. Is it as simple as practicing and remembering to RC often?

Hope I'm at least an interesting specimen for you guys. I certainly get a kick out of it.

-edit-

Also, how often does a successful lucid dreamer actually lucid dream? Is it a nightly occurrence?