Frightened

I recently became interested in lucid dreaming, but I'm kind of scared to try it. I don't like being freaked out, and it feels like now that I'm worried about it, I'll see something horrible. Also, I have a strong aversion to mirrors at night or in the dark. Now that I'm worried about them, will I end up forced to look into one in a dream if I try to go lucid? Will my face be distorted? I don't have low self-esteem, it's nothing like that, mirrors just creep me out, especially in situations not bound by reality (like horror movies).

Actually, I feel just the same. I was going to post this but now there isnt any need. I know excactly what you mean about the mirrors (I have experienced looking into a mirror in a dream, its not nice) But I dont think you will be forced to look into a mirror especially not if you go lucid. Although I havent had one yet I think lucid dreams could help you overcome this fear.
I am also keen to try WILD but I cant bring myself to do it becasue Ive heard about halloucinations and what-not. I do hope you find an answer to your questions.

Yeah. I have experienced something where I was awake, but I saw my dream in the world around me whenever I closed my eyes. I couldn't fall asleep so I tried melatonin pills, but I kept fighting them. It ended up with a bunch of cyclopes smashing the room around me, my friend turned into a zombie, his dog was the girl from The Grudge, a rotting arm burst out of the toilet and clawed at my face, etc. It was funny in the dream, but if I had realized that I was dreaming, it might have freaked me out.

You could use lucid dreaming to overcome those fears, like looking at mirrors.

Heh just don't look into mirrors.
I've been a lucid dreamer since I was a little kid, but I don't remember ever looking into a mirror. Just enjoy the possiblity of being able to do anything you want without being in danger and explore the dreams world while being in complete control of your actions. As far as I know, lucid dreaming means you are aware that you are actually dreaming, so even if you see something scary, tell yourself it isn't real.

I felt like this when I first started off but not to any extent as you seem to be at but just a little over anxiety.
And then I was like all these people do it everyday, I should stop being such a bitch about it.
It's really nothing, do it a couple times and you'll seen there is no reason to be worried. I think you must have a Problem with Deformitys so I suggest instead of looking at mirrors to gain Lucidity or hand etc.. you find another kind of RC.
You should try and remember that you dream everynight and in regular dreams where your not lucid things are alot more distorted(most of the time)
If you care too much you would have a nightmare and wake up in every single one of your dreams.
In your dreams you don't really care about deformitys, you really won't know tell you become lucid. The main thing is too stay calm and stick in there :banana:

I have no problem with deformed hands, just seeing my face as something creepy and wrong and not my face would freak me out. Thanks everyone, I'm going to try it tonight. I hope it works.

I've looked in mirrors in a couple of non-lucid dreams and it was never scary. In one I looked like a little old man (I'm only 25), and in the other my face was puffy and swollen. It didn't freak me out and I never though twice about it, but had I been lucid I think I would have just laughed at it.

I tried the WBTB method last night with MILD, but I'm bad at falling asleep and ended up lying awake in bed for three hours instead. I decided to give up on sleep, then somehow fell asleep and had a non-lucid dream about being kidnapped by the mafia and taken on a roller coaster. I'm going to keep practicing reality checks this week, though, and this weekend I'll try again. I'll let you guys know if I get any results.