Thread: Why do I always get really scared when I realize Im LDing?

No matter how many times I tell myself that "this is just a dream" I have high anxiety and am basically afraid when I realize I am LDing. When I'm awake I feel stupid, because I want to LD so badly. Is there anyway to get over this because I end up either waking up or losing control because of my gut feeling in my dreams. Help?

Unfortunately, it's mostly going to come down to experience. You're in a completely new form of consciousness and your brain doesn't really like new things, so it will cause you a little anxiety, and emotions are amplified in dreams. Just keep at it and that'll eventually go away

Ninja had some good points. I figured I would throw out the possiblity that you are experiencing a fear of the unknown as well. Since it is such a new and vast experience and anything could happen, you don't know what will happen. I still, to this day, start to feel fear when I am deep in space or in a deep body of water. I don't know what I may see and it frightens me a bit. Like ninja said, experience is the best remedey. Just keep practicing and keep trying. Little by little, I'm sure you will be able to overcome it.

I believe best thing to do would be to ask yourself what are you afraid of?

Are you afraid that you won't be able to get out of a dream to the real world (..I remember I was afraid of that few times during really long lucid dreams), are you scared that you might mess something up, are you scared that someone might hurt you in dream realm, etc?

When you'll understand what exactly you're afraid of, it will be easy for you to think through it with your logical mind, and to see that there is no reason why you should be afraid.

For example, you might be afraid that you won't be able to wake up and get stuck in dream realm, and when you don't consciously realise that this is what you're afraid of, it really seems scary, but when you consciously think about it, you understand that there is no point to be scared by that, because dream will end anyway when your rem period will end, and maybe even sooner if your alarm clock goes off before that, so there is no possibility to get stuck in dream forever.

Hope that helps, and good luck with your lucid dreaming!

P.S.

Here's an article about understanding that fear is illusonary, maybe you'll get some ideas from there:

http://themindalone.wordpress.com/ca...tive-emotions/

It comes to down to confidence and experience. You're new at it I believe so just keep inching yourself closer.. staying in the dream longer.. or whatever you feel comfortable with at the time. It's normal to feel that way. I would suggest if you asked yourself what you are worried about or concerned when becoming lucid.

For example, I would love to OBE or lucid dream in that fashion-- it's debatable. However, I have had chances but I freak like you do..and I know why cause I'm afraid I won't be able to get back into my body.

So maybe my rationalizing and finding out what you are afraid of and owning it, it will improve. lol you have the will to lucid dream.. so the fear should be gone...just in time

Good luck!

EDIT-- just realized Agota wrote something similar - my bad

Originally Posted by cornflakegirl3301

No matter how many times I tell myself that "this is just a dream" I have high anxiety and am basically afraid when I realize I am LDing. When I'm awake I feel stupid, because I want to LD so badly. Is there anyway to get over this because I end up either waking up or losing control because of my gut feeling in my dreams. Help?

It is caused by the adrenaline rush one would get when...well...anything exciting happens! The more you want something, the bigger the rush you will get when you reach your desire. Just try to stay calm...because once you get excited you will lose it.

Possibly, for some unknown reason, the fear centre in your brain is activating in association with lucidity. Maybe next time you are lucid try turning slowly in a circle looking intently at the dreamscene and repeating aloud "Nothing can hurt me here, I'm not afraid, I'm happy" and think about something that makes you happy as you say this. Practice it during waking life so that it comes naturally when you're lucid.

It can be an overwhelming feeling becoming lucid, but if you prime yourself as much as possible during waking hours that you are going to feel happy the next time you are lucid and imagine yourself lucid and feeling happy, it may help.

Maybe you could try having a fun, simple goal like trying to make a rainbow appear, to distract you.

Good luck!

Your fear is telling you something. Can you remember what you're thinking when you feel it?

Pinpointing your thoughts when you feel the fear may help identify what's causing it.

I doubt telling yourself you aren't afraid will work, because it never works for me (I know darn well I'm afraid!).

But once you know why you're afraid, odds are good you can realize you truly have nothing to fear.