Does anyone know what happened with the DJ area? I started a waking journal to record dreams because DJ's are closed, and now when I go back in I don't see my posts.

Anyway, this is my first public post, wow. I'm new to the forum. I'm fairly new to inducing LD's. I've been having natural, unsolicited LDs for about 8 years or so but the majority of them were wasted, I guess you would say, due to being poorly controlled, short-lived, and not fully understood. So I'm attempting to harness some more control for when I do have LD's.

This week I've had 5, all DILDs, but all were relatively short-lived. And that is why I'm here! To try to take full advantage of all of your advice, techniques and experience so I can have some more meaningful LD experiences.

On average I have 2-3 per week, so I should get lots of practice time in, hopefully!

Early this morning, during a longer REM cycle, I became lucid spontaneously after something very bad happened within the dream. (Is that anyone else's pattern? Your dream recognition happens only after something bad happens and your mind forces you to think, "Relax! This can NOT be real!"?) The bad thing that happened was that somehow naked pictures of myself had surfaced online. Dream-Me started to become very upset before it dawned on me: That WOULD really suck, but I don't have naked pictures, this is a dream!

I tried examining my hands, saying "Increase clarity! Increase visuals!" and clarity increased significantly. It lasted for what felt like a few moments then I believe I had a DEILD..or at least it felt like it. The chain went on for about 6-7 lucid periods/different dreamscapes. However, about 2 or 3 of those 6-7 times that I "woke up", I know it was a false awakening because I "woke up" in bed next to my boyfriend and my boyfriend is..not here!

Has anyone had this happen? A combo of false awakenings and DEILDS?

Also, at some points during my LD, when I was saying loudly and clearly "Increase clarity!" the dream was SO clear that I could feel my throat/voicebox saying the words and I began to be concerned that I was really saying them out loud, sleep-talking. Any advice to prevent this? I don't want my roomie to think I'm a nut, but some of the advice posts said saying this loudly and clearly in an LD is more effective than just thinking it, and I have found this to be true.

Any feedback would be great.