Gaining Lucidity?

[Newbiedreamr]

I'm very new to lucid dreams. I got into it yesterday from researching sleep paralysis. In my dream I realized that I could breathe under water. And I realilzed that I was dreaming and I said it to myself. From there everything began to fade, but it also felt like everthing was becoming extremly real at the same time. I freaked out and woke my self up. Did I gain lucidity? When you gain it during a dream what should it feel like?

[Mes Tarrant]

Welcome to DV! Well, lucidity feels different for everybody, but as long as you are conscious the way that you are in waking life, then you are lucid.

[Vex Kitten]

Hi and welcome to Dream Views Newbiedreamr. Yes, you were totally lucid in that dream. The very instant you realize that you are in a dream, that's lucidity, even if it only lasts a few seconds. You'll have to work on staying in the lucid dream a bit longer next time so you can have some fun.

[Newbiedreamr]

I'm completely new to LDs and I guess I feared what would happen after I gained lucidity. Sometimes I experience sleep paralysis in the middle of the night and it is the scariest, most interesting feeling.

[Vex Kitten]

Sleep paralysis was scary for me too when I used to get it. If you can calm yourself in mid paralysis you can also make yourself go back into a dream completely lucid. Trick is to calm before you wake too much. Next time you're lucid immediately stop and take in your surrondings. Focus on one thing, your hands is good. That seems to stabalize dreams. Also rubbing your hands together will hold you in the dream longer if you can remember to do so.