I think I already made a thread about this but I looked more deeply into the problem and now have a new perspective about it. So when I was younger I had a dream where I was trapped in a room but a guy told me if I closed my eyes and counted to 5 when I opened them I would be awake, and it worked. And after that I could always end my dreams. But sometime between 4-7 years ago (I am 15) it stopped working. It wasn't that nothing would happen anymore, but I just stopped doing it. When I think about this, it seems like my level of consciousness in dreams has declined. However, I clearly remember dreams where I didn't seem to be conscious when I still used this nightmare thing. Like for example there was a wolf at the window and I ran and hid inside a sleeping back even though it was made of clear plastic and wouldn't hide me at all. I just think my past is the key to being more aware in my dreams. Anyone care to offer some interpretation?