new member

**webiskee** · 10-24-2011 08:27 AM

My apologies if this post runs too long or seems scattered brained but I am new and have read a few post on here before joining that has sparked many questions on LD's and dreams in general (glad i stumbled upon this site). First off I know there are general signs that a dream is a lucid one but in my recollection, I can't think of a dream where I couldn't control it in some way and for the majority of the dreams I have I usually feel "conscious" that I'm dreaming. For example: most dreams I have or can recall I feel as if I'm in a hovering state above myself but usually can control my limbs,thoughts and even the events in the "surrounding" area. Would this be classified as LD's, dream control or is it possible to have a mixture of both? Maybe I'm mistaking the definitions of LD"S and or control dreams but this is why I'm asking you for a better understanding of both. Don't know if this question is in the field of LD's but does anyone know why in some of my dreams whenever I try and focus on a person's face, there is a bright light in it's place? It's weird to me but when It's just a glancing look I can see them but when I put emphasis on trying to make out their appearance I get "spotlighted". Also with in the past 5 years or so, I've had a really bad problem with getting or preparing myself for sleep but in this time I've had the most lucid dreams, with a average control over it all. Does anyone know of any good studies on the correlation of insomnia and lucid dreams? I was reading the part on sleep stages and the paralysis of the skeletal muscles and reminded me of a dream I had in which: I was chasing "bad guys" around a city until they just stopped, looked at me and their necks started to twisting upward and I immediately awoke and found myself choking. Now is this some kind of brain thing that happened in reaction to the dream or could I have been involuntarily choking myself while I was asleep (in which I had no recollection of my hands on my neck when I woke up nor did I remember any noticeable redness around my neck)? Well I think I've covered my most random and self interesting questions for now, any feedback will be appreciated on any of my scattered thoughts or questions. Thanks for sticking in till the end and have a good one.

**BobbyLance** · 10-24-2011 02:27 PM

Hi there my friend, glad you've joined DV. I am more than happy to answer your questions

Would this be classified as LD's, dream control or is it possible to have a mixture of both?

This type of "view"(hovering above yourself view/3rd person) you're actually experiencing my friend, is possible. We can classify this as an LD as long as you're aware that it's a dream regardless of what's your "view". Now, I think there's a slight misunderstanding between dream control and lucid dream. To Lucid Dream, is to be aware that you are in a dream while dream control refers to the manner of how you are controlling your dream. Or in other words, dream control is an element under the subject of Lucid Dreaming.

does anyone know why in some of my dreams whenever I try and focus on a person's face, there is a bright light in it's place?

Each person has his own unique mysteries in his dreams my friend. This kind of spotlight effect when you focus on a DC(dream character)'s face seems to me like it's a personal mystery of your own that waits to be discovered and solved by yourself. Or, it's possible that your real-life nature/attitude is the one making this effect. Are you the shy type of person who can't look directly to another person's face? Ask yourself my friend and that might be the answer

Also with in the past 5 years or so, I've had a really bad problem with getting or preparing myself for sleep but in this time I've had the most lucid dreams, with a average control over it all. Does anyone know of any good studies on the correlation of insomnia and lucid dreams?

It's often said that people who have insomnia are more likely to be good or to be an adept when it comes to the WILD method. In a WILD method, a person attempts to trick his body into falling asleep yet retain the wakefulness of his mind. A lot of common people often have their minds fall asleep first before their body does. As for people with insomnia, their ability to remain awake longer than normal people does makes them very compatible with the WILD method. If you're interested, why not take a look at the official WILD method.

Now is this some kind of brain thing that happened in reaction to the dream or could I have been involuntarily choking myself while I was asleep (in which I had no recollection of my hands on my neck when I woke up nor did I remember any noticeable redness around my neck)?

The answer is both my friend. It's possible that the choking up is a reaction of your body to the dream you're having. Either way, it's still possible that you were choking yourself involuntarily.

If you do still have some questions, feel free to reply back. Hope this helps

**Matte87** · 10-24-2011 04:24 PM

Hi and welcome to DV! Sounds like the hovering part sounds just like the inbetween state. The state you're in when you're not dreaming fully yet, but your body is asleep. This often comes with something scary called "Sleep Paralysis" and sometimes nasty hallucinations. One of the scariest is the feeling of choking or not being able to breathe, so I'm pretty sure that's what you were experiencing. Some people who are into OBE's or Astral Projection might have something to say about you feeling like you're floating above your own body.

Whenever you realise you're dreaming, it's a lucid dream. No matter the lack of control, logical thinking, clarity or length of the dream. You can have non lucids with alot of control in them, but if you know you're dreaming it's a lucid.

I have no real answer for the bright light part. I also suggest you take a look at the WILD or DEILD technique.

If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask!