Curious Questions

[buddy376]

Hi everyone, my name is Dan. I just have a couple of questions about my experiences with dreaming. A little while back, maybe 2 or 3 weeks ago, I think I experienced the beginnings of what seemed to be a lucid dream (accidentally). I was reading a book and I slowly became very fatigued and sleepy. I guess I must have become unconscious for second because there is a part of that dream that I don't remember. Anyways, the next thing i experienced was a feeling of paralysis. I opened my eyes (in the dream?) and saw my room, I was still in my bed but I could not move. Next thing I know I jolted awake, this time I really did wake up. Is this an example of a lucid dream (WILD), or no? It seems that everytime I try to repeat my experience I had that night, I get extremely excited and I cannot become relaxed enough. Do you have any suggestions for controlling my excitement? If so replies would be greatly appreciated. Another quick question. A long while back when I was young around 6 or 7 (I'm 16 now) I could remember my dreams very well. I also had a lot of nightmares then too. While experiencing one, if I got too scared, I could think really hard, liking squinting my eyes, and I could wake up. Is this an example of dream recognition? And from this point could I have controlled my dream? Any comments are greatly appreciated. -Dan

[ExoByte]

Doesnt sound like a Lucid. Lucid Dreaming is simpley knowing your dreaming. It sounds like your passing into a dream, but your mind isnt clicking in. You also seem to have experianced a False Awakening(waking up into a dream) However, it seems you have a level of controlling your dreams without actually realizing it.

[casper13]

Hey Dan welcome to DV I have the same experince as yourself with waking up but it goes further than being afraid. I can come straight out of a dream or a LD if Im not sure of the time and think I will be late for something. All I do is open my eyes and usually Im in full swing then for the rest of the day. I have always been able to do this but I dont know how. I dont think that is dream recognition, I think that is when you remember your dreams. I have read about LDs but as it comes naturally to me Im not sure of the meanings. One reason why Im here learning. What I find helpfull is to listen to some ambient music while going asleep and doodling. My mind tends to slowly wander and I rarely have to think about the LDs but they come all the same. Hope you find this site as handy as I have. Sweet dreams

[irishcream]

Hey, welcome to the board! It sounds like what ExoByte said, but you also had sleep paralysis. This can be induced (although at first it can be scary) and used as a tool to entering a lucid dream. As to your second question, it sounds a lot like you were in control of the dream, but not actually lucid. It's more common than you might think. The main rule for lucid dreaming is that you have to KNOW you are dreaming. You can have control, but not be lucid. and you can be lucid, but not control or change anything. 'that's often how i am,because i'm too busy enjoying the experience of being 'awake' while i'm dreaming. Hope that helps!

[buddy376]

thanks for all the input guys