How long can an LD last?

[ryguyb1993]

I've been doing some research on the forums, but no one really has answered this question. How long does an LD last?

[Kyasarin]

i dunno, ihave had em last for a while, other times a few seconds. You need to practice from the sound of it, and you'll get better at it, and be able to hold the lucidity for longer

[rvdork]

They can last as long as your REM state lasts, which is very short at the beginning of the night, and gets longer and longer until close to morning, almost all of your sleep is REM sleep. At this point, I believe your REM stage lasts around 45 minutes. Could someone possibly verify this? Also you should know that it is possible to make your LDs *seem* much longer than they actually are. I've heard stories about people who've had LDs that seemed like they lasted weeks, even months, even though they really weren't. Happy dreaming

[ryguyb1993]

Thanks for the answers guys! I think that's really interesting. I wasn't aware that the entire time you're in REM could be devoted to an LD. I knew there were ways to stay several minutes in a dream, but not that long. Well, thanks again!

[Bucketheadjamz]

As mentioned, a lucid dream can last as long as you are dreaming. Most dreaming does occur during REM but you can also dream at other times. I've read stories of people have (lucid) dreams that last 45 minutes or longer. However, as also mentioned, a dream can seem to last much, much longer. I have read stories of dreams seeming to last years. One way this can happen is if you keep convincing yourself that so much timed has passed that this becomes the reality.

[Robot_Butler]

If you plan it out right, you can get a lucid dream to last over an hour. I've had some lucids that lasted for much longer than an hour. You can deprive yourself of REM for a night, or in the early night, then get some REM rebound. If you want a long lucid dream, WILD is your best bet. It allows you to plan the timing correctly. My random DILDs seem to kick in towards the end of a REM cycle, when I am beginning to wake up.