Hello. This is my first post. I have often wondered why I sometimes know that I am dreaming, and I decided to look it up. I found this site, and realize that I'm not the only one...

When I was 5, I had a nightmare where my father would be working on a door upstairs, and then all of the sudden he would run down screaming, and run outside. So I decided to go up and see what it was. A large monster came out from behind the door, and started to attack me, knocking me down the stairs. Right before I hit the ground, I woke up. Then the next night, I had the same dream. I remember thinking that I knew it was the same dream, so I thought I should just do the same thing I did the night before, since I was confused. So after my father came down and ran outside, I went up and the same thing happened. The third night, when I had the dream, I thought that maybe if I changed my actions, the dream would stop. So this time, when my father ran out the door, I followed him. That was the last time I had the dream.

Another time, I specifically remember telling my friend, Val, that I was dreaming, and she told me it was a stupid dream I was having.

Several times, I have flown, done gymnastics, etc.

SCARY:
This is what FREAKS me out. Many times, I realize I am dreaming, and I get freaked out and try to wake up. When I can't wake up, I get even more freaked out, and I think I am going to be stuck in this dreamlike world forever. I start begging, in my head, for my husband next to me to move or bump me so I'll wake up. And sometimes I try to wake up so hard, that I actually open my eyes and see the room. I still know that I am not fully awake yet, but I am almost telling myself, "Come on, you can do it." Sometimes what works is if I shut my eyes, and hold them closed, I am then awake when I open them.

I never knew that people actually tried to do this on their own! I thought I was a wierdo!