My name is Michelle and I am new here, but have been reading the site for about a week now and had my first experience today and wanted opinions.

I was led to this website because I have been researching sleep paralysis as I have been having episodes on and off quite frequently for the last 3 years and they really scare me. But I became interested in Lucid Dreaming and wanted to try it.

I have been keeping a dream journal for a week now, remembering up to 3 dreams a night - but this has never been much of an issue for me. I have been doing reality checks all the time, mainly reactive ones. I have had one oppurtunity to try a WILD, but for some reason the fear I have for sleep paralysis seems to be tied to Lucid Dreaming as well, probably as I fear loss of control, and prefer to not be concious if nightmares occur ect.

However I was having an afternoon nap today, and I decided to just suck it up and try it, however I fell asleep. I awoke after about an hour and after a dream, with Lucid Dreaming obviously still strong, as I decided to attempt a DEILD. I immediatetly did not move, kept my breathing even and tried to enter sleep again. I could tell I was drifting to sleep because a landscape started to form on the back of my eyelids, and it was getting brighter (and I knew I was in a dark room). Just as the dream seemed like it was going to begin, I head a loud voice (which I sensed to be evil) say "SILENCE" really loud close to me. I then got really freaked out and woke myself up, only to have sleep paralysis. I decided to try a suggestion I got off this forum, about moving your eyes and changing your breathing pattern to alert my body. I held my breath, and it worked I still proceeded to do many reality checks as I was afraid of a FA and wanted to be sure I was awake!

I'd like to know if this counts as a Lucid dream, or is just a really good start. Also, any tips for keeping the dream going and not getting scared? I think this happened because of my own expectations that it was going to be scary, how do I get past this? Sorry this is so long! Help appreciated!