Almost in control!

**rhythm432** · 08-30-2012 01:51 AM

The past couple dreams where I have questioned my reality seemed to last right up until I actually wanted to do something. There would be this feeling of worry in me that the dream was going to end, so I shouted, "I'm dreaming! I'm dreaming!" but nothing would happen but a false awakening. For example, my latest dream:

"I am standing in an oddly large version of my room while a unnaturally huge storm is passing by. With one of my dreamsigns being storms, I begin to become more self conscious. I start to feel the hazy dream feeling, so I look down at my left hand just to find 13 fingers right there. I then plug my nose and breathe in successfully, so I declare to myself, "I'm dreaming! I'm dreaming!" The dream then fades away into blackness, and I have a false awakening."

If there is anyone who has had similar experiences like this, please let me know. How can I keep the dream? Why is it collapsing when I am only moderately calm and excited?

**Sivason** · 08-30-2012 04:12 AM

Give it time. Oh, and welcome to Dream Views! You sound like you are doing fine. The brain hates the idea of lucid dreaming at first, it finds the idea shocking and unnatural, so it shuts every thing down. I think it is a defense because it can not accept that this is supposed to happen. There fore almost every one starts their LD path with this problem. It may sound silly, but I recommend as you go to sleep for a few nights repeat a mantra like this "being aware in my dreams is a good and healthy thing" and feel as if you are talking to your brain and reassuring it. Next for a few dreams don't go "I am dreaming" instead say "this is it, I am finally dreaming, this is great" or any version that will have the same impact.
After a little while your brain will come to realize, not only is nothing going wrong, but you want this weird stuff to happen.

**Robot_Butler** · 08-30-2012 06:54 PM

It sounds like you are controlling the dream. You are thinking about waking up, so you are dreaming about waking up. Our dreams tend to follow our expectations. Come up with a simple plan for the next time you become lucid. Rehearse it in your mind a few times, so you can immediately start doing something as soon as you become lucid. The plan can be something simple, like touching the floor, or climbing a nearby tree. You have to get involved with the dream pretty quickly, so you don't think about waking up or your body back in bed.

**rhythm432** · 08-30-2012 07:42 PM

sivason: Lucid dreaming is not damaging to you or your sleep, right? It is only what the brain thinks? And the mantas sound like a good idea. I'll try it and let you know what happens.

Robot_Butler: I will do it tonight. I'm going to look at my hands for a while and study them, guaranteeing myself that it is impossible to wake up.

**Sivason** · 08-30-2012 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by rhythm432

sivason: Lucid dreaming is not damaging to you or your sleep, right? It is only what the brain thinks? And the mantas sound like a good idea. I'll try it and let you know what happens.

Robot_Butler: I will do it tonight. I'm going to look at my hands for a while and study them, guaranteeing myself that it is impossible to wake up.

It is not harmful at all. The problem is that your brain has no experience with it, and thinks something has gone wrong, so it slams the door on the process. Your brain will get over it very soon and accept that you are doing it on purpose and that it is not harmful.