Quote Originally Posted by OceanSong View Post
I mean the dream is happening while I can still feel myself lying down in bed and the dream feels more like a mental image that I'm not directly controlling.
I've been experiencing the same thing for a while now. And so far this is the first place i have seen it mentioned. It usually happens right after i become lucid (DILD), and then in my excitement to begin controlling it, i almost slip out of the dream and instead start to try and imagine what i could be seeing. Exactly like the mental image you were describing.
It is extremely frustrating because you almost have one foot in the door.
I have found that at the moment things become dark and the dream fades, just keep staring into the darkness, imagining a figure walking towards you. Slowly it will gain form, and dream control will be at your fingertips once more. I have found this tends to bring you back into the dream, and a wonderful experience awaits.
Conversely, a lucid dream beginning from a false awakening is also very stable and you avoid that 'mental imagery' stage.
Good luck!