Just an hour ago I had a LD.

My name is Richard . Just recently my doctor had suggested I try a course of relaxation and positive thinking exercises to combat lifelong depression and anxiety issues. They consist of listening to a 15 minute mp3 at the same time every day for 12 weeks. I am in week 1.

The first weeks mp3 is all about relaxing, tensing then relaxing the muscles again, deep breathing etc. I have my mp3 player by my bed and have listened every night to this just prior to falling asleep.

I have felt calm, and generally positive about this new - for me - technique and had no problems falling asleep. Generally this week I have felt good during the day - plenty of exercise, good food etc..

But.... this morning I had sleep paralysis, a couple of false awakenings, and then a very, very scary period of lucid dreaming.

I awoke, knew I was dreaming, and looked around the room - it was my bedroom but changed somewhat. There was a bunch of large, pink flowers and I thought - that's interesting, I'm dreaming, I wonder what they're made of? It turned out they were synthetic. I then turned to the window and looked out. It was raining, men, women and children were busily scurrying along the street, although it wasn't my street. All the women had red-checked umbrellas and the men blue-checked ones. Weird.

I started getting a little scared and felt dizzy. Was it possible I could take a heart-attack while dreaming and being aware of it too? I collapsed back onto my bed, then physically dragged myself - it felt so hard - upright again.

There was a bottle of Coke - the old-fashioned 70s type on my dresser. I never drink the stuff, but in the dream it felt nice to swallow.

Suddenly I awoke, a really heavy-headed feeling; I went to the kitchen for some OJ, then looked on google for this site.

Scary, and I knew I was dreaming. Typing this I realise it was unlikely I could have stayed in that state for ever - what kind of alternate reality would that be? But at the time... I just had the feeling of dread and foreboding.

I used to get periods of sleep-paralysis many years ago but saw a doctor, was reassured and got over them. This Lucid dreaming is a whole new realm, though and I am a little worried.

I do feel better for writing, though - unused to writing much except at night, so apologies for my awkwardness and I would welcome some advice.

Richard