Hello!

Howdy guys! I'm new here, but I've been lurking around for a while though trying to learn more about lucid dreaming an trying to "get one" for my first time. I told myself I wouldn't post until I had my first lucid dream, and I had one just last night!

Unfortunately, it wasn't anything like what I've seen people talk about. Some people say things that lead me to believe their dreams lasted upwards of half an hour or more. Mine lasted about... 2 seconds :( Anyways, back-pedal a bit.

About a week ago, I got my hands on a brain-entrainment app to see if it worked for concentration and I saw a setting called "Lucid Dreaming", so I looked it up. I did my fair bit of research, and then the next night I tried what I had assumed was a WILD. It started working up until what I would guess is half-way: my body had gone numb, I had heard a few of those noises (mainly rapid tapping/popping noises), and I felt as though I was suspended in air. I was stuck in this phase though - I couldn't get any of the imagery down or even tell if I was in proper hypnagogia.

Now last night I tried again and, unfortunately, I fell asleep before I ever entered that phase. Prior to waking up though, I had a basic dream that mirrored reality (my new job that I started a week ago, though there were all kinds of things that were wrong that made it click - "I'm in a dream"). As soon as it clicked though, I felt a whooshing sensation and ended up in a much different room and had about 2 seconds to look around before waking up.

Why are mine so short? :shock: Is it something I need to work up to? Where's a beginner to go for help?

Welcome to DV! Congrats on your first lucid! Yes, first LDs are usually that short because one wakes up from the excitement of it all. After a few lucid dreams you will be less excited and should be able to stay in the lucid dream longer. Some lucid dreams can indeed be half an hour long, but usually not the first ones. You could read on lucid dream stabilization techniques to learn how to stabilize the dream and stay in it longer, but for now the newness needs to wear off a bit and don't worry about it, just continue trying to have another lucid dream. Make sure to tell yourself "good job, well done" every time you have an LD, no matter how short. :)

Edit: Here is the link to the DV tutorial on lucid dream stabilization: http://www.dreamviews.com/wiki/Dream...arity-Tutorial

JoannaB pretty much summed it up. It is completely normal to have unstable or short lucids your first few times. Think of it as getting used to lucid dreaming, it's a new experience for your mind so it may take a few tries before you start actually getting to do what you want and adjust to the whole thing. Definitely check out the stabilization link JoannaB posted, and if you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask :D

Seeya!