Dream Control Issues

Ok so I have started to have lucid dreams on a fairly regular basis but when I try to do things in my dreams I always end up waking up. For example last night I was dreaming that I was standing by a river and I realized that I was dreaming. I walked around pretty aimlessly for awhile and the clarity and control was great. Then I decided to go swimming but as soon as I hit the water I lost the dream. This has happened repeatedly the past several times I have had LDs. As soon as I set my mind to a task I lose control or wake up. Suggestions?

It may be the fact that you're excited that you are dreaming lucidly, you may have a subconscious fear of water and or someone may be waking you up.

The next time you go to do a task in your dreamscape remind yourself you are in control and this is my mind.

Make sure your dream is stabilized so that you don't wake if you make a mistake

- Rub Your Hands Together
- Spin
- Remind Yourself This Is YOUR Dream
- Touch Objects In The Dreamscape

Yeah don't get too emotionally involved in the dream. I know that sounds very impossible because lucid dreaming is one of the most exciting things. It is all about stabilizing your moods and controlling the trip. Think about it like acid, if you get too emotionally involved or paranoid you will have a bad trip.

Before you do something think about what you're about to do beforehand and tell yourself that it won't wake you up.

You can employ any technique that you believe will work. If spinning or rubbing your hands work, go with that. Just keep in mind anything will work so long as you believe it will.

This used to happen to me a lot. Eventually I just became so pissed off that I kept trying and trying and trying and trying and trying and trying ... see a pattern here? Eventually it goes away the more you do it. Right now it's a novel experience which might be making you hyper sensitive. Once the novelty of it wears off a bit you should see an improvement.