Thread: How I got started with dreaming

Hi everyone, (this is NOT an introduction thread)

Here, I will explain to you the events of August 2004, when I was in a coma, and how I got started on the subject of dreaming.

I was 10 years old at this time, and I was on a scooter going down a hill at a rather fast pace, when I lost control and suffered a major head injury after hitting the ground. I blacked out, and I was in a coma for three weeks. During these three weeks, I had the most realistic dreams one could ever... Dream (no pun intended.) These dreams did not involve me flying, or making ridiculous statements (i.e., WHERE IS THE CARPET SCRUBBER?), it was incredibly accurate. Here begins the extensive three week dream.. (This is also up for interpretation. I'm not JUST going to tell you my story. If anyone could tell me what this could possibly mean, you get my thanks and respect.)

As soon as I hit my head and blacked out (which signified the cross between the real world and this dream world my mind had conjured up during the coma; everything beyond this point signifies 'dream world,' if you will), "reality" flashed back almost instantly and I came to rest at the bottom of the massive hill. My sister, who had been supervising me, rushed down to see if I was okay. I had a massive bump on my head, and was rushed to the hospital immediately. I was told to put ice on it until "it got better", and I was told I was going to be okay. Life went on as normal from there, it seemed so incredibly realistic. Everyone in this extensively realistic dream was not anyone I knew, but they were someone I knew. For example, my real father was replaced with a father-like figure, and although he behaved in the same manner, he looked nothing like my real father. Same with my mother, sister, and brothers. As soon as I began to question this, however, they instantly 'transformed' back into my normal family. One night, in dream world, I went to sleep. I woke up in the hospital room where I had been resting for the past three weeks, apparently in a coma. The nurse had just been tending to me, (i.e., checking blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) when I woke up from the coma.

Aaaaand that was it. Just thought I'd share that with you guys, to give you a little insight on how I got started.

Again, this is also up for interpretation. If anyone can tell me why my brain tried to cover up this incident by letting it all play out safe, instead of staying black and letting me wonder what the hell's going on, that would be fantastic. Solved. Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by Frozzd

Hi everyone, (this is NOT an introduction thread)

Here, I will explain to you the events of August 2004, when I was in a coma, and how I got started on the subject of dreaming.

I was 10 years old at this time, and I was on a scooter going down a hill at a rather fast pace, when I lost control and suffered a major head injury after hitting the ground. I blacked out, and I was in a coma for three weeks. During these three weeks, I had the most realistic dreams one could ever... Dream (no pun intended.) These dreams did not involve me flying, or making ridiculous statements (i.e., WHERE IS THE CARPET SCRUBBER?), it was incredibly accurate. Here begins the extensive three week dream.. (This is also up for interpretation. I'm not JUST going to tell you my story. If anyone could tell me what this could possibly mean, you get my thanks and respect.)

As soon as I hit my head and blacked out (which signified the cross between the real world and this dream world my mind had conjured up during the coma; everything beyond this point signifies 'dream world,' if you will), "reality" flashed back almost instantly and I came to rest at the bottom of the massive hill. My sister, who had been supervising me, rushed down to see if I was okay. I had a massive bump on my head, and was rushed to the hospital immediately. I was told to put ice on it until "it got better", and I was told I was going to be okay. Life went on as normal from there, it seemed so incredibly realistic. One night, in dream world, I went to sleep. I woke up in the hospital room where I had been resting for the past three weeks, apparently in a coma. The nurse had just been tending to me, (i.e., checking blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) when I woke up from the coma.

Aaaaand that was it. Just thought I'd share that with you guys, to give you a little insight on how I got started.

Again, this is also up for interpretation. If anyone can tell me why my brain tried to cover up this incident by letting it all play out safe, instead of staying black and letting me wonder what the hell's going on, that would be fantastic.

mabye your brain knew that thinking about the accident would make u unhealthy in some way so it covered up the incident instead of letting you stress ur self over whats going on. thats just an idea though. im not really an expert s thats all i got hope it helps

Your brain just made a pleasantly normal situation to deal with stress. You should be glad you woke up, and I hope your lucid dreams are much more pleasant then the coma. (Not that that's going to be hard to do...)

Thanks both of you for your input.

Oh, I do suppose I should add this one detail, it could change your opinion:

Everyone in this extensively realistic dream was not anyone I knew, but they were someone I knew. For example, my real father was replaced with a father-like figure. Same with my mother, sister, and brothers. As soon as I began to question this, however, they instantly 'transformed' back into my normal family.

Can anyone explain that also? I'll add it to the story, also.

I've been thinking this might be the meaning:

My brain mixed up some of the details, resulting in non-realistic people I know. In fear of me finding out that this entire world was fake, it quickly sorted out the details so they would make sense, and life in the dreamy-world could go on.

First off, I'm sorry about the injury and I'm glad you pulled through. Next....Wow, that was mind blowing. I bet if you had realized you were dreaming you could have had a 3 week long lucid dream. Of course that would have been pretty difficult considering the circumstances. On the other hand, it would have been scary to not have been able to wake up from the dream (if you knew you were dreaming that is). That is a very unique experience. I wonder if others who have been in comas have had this same experience. Also, during this long dream, did you sleep and dream within the dream? I was also wondering if you were the same person (like same name, same personality, same habits, etc.)?

@KingYoshi:

I totally agree, if it had been a lucid dream, I could have had much more fun, especially in the three-week period. That would be more than sufficient time to find out just what my brain does when it dreams, and it would have given me plenty of time to study the way my brain dreams.

Buuuuuut it wasn't. That's sad. (Boy, what I would have given to be lucid then...)

About sleeping - Yes, and no. I slept in the dream, (which lasted 7 days as opposed to the three weeks I was asleep) but I did not dream. I shut my eyes and they opened instantaneously into the next day.

About being the same person: Yes, as far as I could tell. Everyone referred to me by name (which is Robert, you can call me that if you'd like), and as far as I could tell, I had the same personality and same habits. Nothing really changed about me, but many things changed about other people. (i.e., the family transforming)

Wow, fascinating!! Welcome to DV, and so glad you made it through.

It brings up a lot of questions I'd never considered before, such as... in a coma, do you only dream during REM periods, or was it just one long continuous dream?