Hey everyone! Just thought I'd introduce myself to everyone.

I'm a Canadian and have been into the dream scene for a long time. I'm alway wanting to have my dreams interpreted, and studied Freudian theory for a while.

I've had a history of nightmares: any time I've been stressed or sick, I've had bad dreams. They've eased off in my late teenage years, but I still get some really horrible ones. I'm also a victim of frequent sleep paralysis. Last year, there was a period of about four months where I would wake up at least 4 times a week at EXACTLY 3am and hallucinate that there was something above my head, with the inability to move. It doesn't have as often now, but I get some strange ones, like my cat coming at me through the wall next to the bed. For these reasons, and some others, I decided to investigate lucid dreaming.

Sometimes, I'll dream, for instance, that I'm on my back in bed, and there's something going on around me. Then I'll wake up and realise I actually am on my back. Also, I often have sounds and sensations transfer into my dreams. If the TV is on, I can almost see it even in my dreams, and the dialogue sometimes becomes part of the dream itself. I am usually in a very light dream when these things happen, though, towards the end of a nap or a restless night.

I've kept numerous dream journals over the years, but I've got a pretty steady one going at the moment in a Harry Potter notebook. I remember a lot from my dreams, especially from the nightmares, and these things tend to stick around and haunt me all day. I'd love to experience true lucid dreams, and have some control over them, because besides the bad dreams, I get some really cool ones with a lot of potential.

What else to say here? Not much else, except that I look forward to sharing and learning at this forum.