Thread: A few quick questions...

I recently stumbled across this website after watching Waking Life. Now I'm very eager to begin having these dreams but I had some questions. They may be dumb but remember I'm new to this stuff. Ok first question: You can't get stuck in lucid dreams, can you? I read you may have the allusion that you woke up but you really didn't. And my second question is can you guys give me any suggestions into getting into the habit of doing "reality checks" ? ie; what works best and my third question is about how long after getting into the habit of reality checks did you start having LDs? It's probably subjective to the person but on average, how long does it normally take? I'm also wondering if reality checks are all it takes to having LDs or do you neccessarily need to find your dream signs and start associating those in your waking life to dreams? It'd be awesome if you guys could help me out!
Thx!

Originally posted by ExoticNebraskan
I recently stumbled across this website after watching Waking Life. Now I'm very eager to begin having these dreams but I had some questions. They may be dumb but remember I'm new to this stuff. Ok first question: You can't get stuck in lucid dreams, can you? I read you may have the allusion that you woke up but you really didn't. And my second question is can you guys give me any suggestions into getting into the habit of doing "reality checks" ? ie; what works best and my third question is about how long after getting into the habit of reality checks did you start having LDs? It's probably subjective to the person but on average, how long does it normally take? I'm also wondering if reality checks are all it takes to having LDs or do you neccessarily need to find your dream signs and start associating those in your waking life to dreams? It'd be awesome if you guys could help me out!
Thx!

Hiya, and welcome to DV!
In answer to your first question, you cannot get stuck in a lucid dream. The illusion that you've woken up but haven't is known as a 'False Awakening' or 'FA' for short. These can be quite scary and annoying at times.
Hmm...reality checks are different for each person. I tend to try and ask myself at various points in the day if i am dreaming, or i try to convince myself that i am dreaming.
As to how long it takes this really does vary from one person to another. For me it took about a month to six weeks, but i wasn't so busy then. I find it very hard at the moment to implement reality checks and focus on dreaming, so while i'm having lots of dreams, not many of them are lucid.
I've sent a welcome PM to you with a few links to various sections of the board that should be helpful to you.
Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions...

Hey there! I didn't know there was such a thing an an Exotic Nebraskan. I stand corrected.

Welcome to the forum!

Here's the reality check tutorial if you're interested, I'm not sure if Irishcream already sent it to you, though.

Good luck and have fun!

Well I just recently learned about lucid dreaming a few weeks ago. I had never had exeperience with lucid dreaming (that I knew of) but was extremely interested. I have always been pretty good at dream recall, so that may have made it easier for me. I found this website last week, and starting doing some of the suggestions to become lucid. Since last week, a few times a day, but not everyday, I have asked myself "Am I dreaming?" and have tried to observe everything around me. I have also been writing my dreams down as much as possible. (Again not everyday) Then last night I had my first lucid dream! I was able to stay lucid for about 10 seconds...but then got so excited I woke up! But I was so happy to just get that far! From what I have read here - it will take everyone a different amount of time to finally become lucid, but if you practice all the tips available to you on this site, I am sure it will eventually happen. And sometimes if you try to hard maybe it wont, and then if you forget about it for a few days, all of a suden it will just happen cause you relaxed! Good luck...it is a pretty cool exeperience the first time it happens!

It's great to have you saywhat1717 and Exotic Nebraskan. I am so glad you both decided to join us. Anyway, Nebraskan, I think Irishcream answered your questions quite thoughrally, but if you need additional help, one of us Dream Guides are always willing to help you. Same goes for you, saywhat. Oh, and congrats. on your fist LD