Ways to induce lucid dreams

[Palehorse]

Originally Posted by SophieW

I recently read an article on dream journaling. There were many benefits listed. Among those is making dreams more lucid. It all made sense. I started my journal three nights ago. Has anyone used this method? If so, did they find it beneficial? Here is the article:

DivineCaroline :: Journaling Dreams

-Sophie

Interesting article, but I think mine here is better http://www.sleeps.com/analysis.html

You don't *need* paper and pencil, just a cheap recorder from walmart. You can get a LOT more details, and quickly, before they escape you, on to a recorder. If you want to write it down you can trascribe it later, or use speech to text software.

[LizHobart]

After checking out the link, I found a ton of helpful dream interpretations! I even submitted my own dreams to be translated!

[catsmd]

prozac, zoloft, paxil... Since I've been on prozac (for 2 years, 9 years ago) I've lucid dreamed. My hubby is on zoloft, and he does.
When I had my first folowup appt. with my doctor, she even asked me about my dreams. I wasn't going to mention it. So it must be a known side-effect.
that's my 2 cents.

[sage]

I tend to have lucid dreams on a regular basis though I can't often remember all the details. I used the nicotine patch to assist me in quiting smoking and I have never experienced anything like it in my entire life... It happens every night without fail and I remember everyhting as though it were real, I felt things as though it were the real world. At times I was aware that I was dreaming and so was able to sort of mold the experience as thoughts came to me. even though it has been unpleasent at times over the last few weeks I almost don't want to stop using it. While looking for an answer to what sort of chemicals may be the cause of this obveously induced state of REM sleep I found this site and there is some pretty interesting stuff to read here...

[Cheetah]

[quote=Gossamer;20196]Burrow Carlos Castaneda's "Art of dreaming" ...The easiest way to induce dreaming is to think of your hands in wake state, and plan to find them in your dream - cause they're always there. Then to prolong the experience, as you observe the dream every lilttle while look back at the hands so you don't wake up - that's how you gain energy.


this is what i do and it works! just intend to look for your hands in a dream and eventually you'll be in a "lucid dream"! you can do whatever you want! just INTEND! before you go to bed imagine you are in a lucid dream and looking at your hands! and say "tonight ill find my hands!" to reassure yourself. then relax and fall asleep... if it doesn't work the first couple of times eventually it WILL!
once you find your hands take quick glances at the objects in your dreams and then focus back on your hands then take more glances at objects then back at the hands doing that can give you control over your dreams! don't give up! keep practicing! GET THE BOOK!

[sweetdreamer]

i am on topamax and my dreams are extremely lucid...so much that i have had to taper back on the medication because i can't sleep.

i already dream vividly, in color, with sound, graphics, pictures, you name it, i'm there. i've always been that way, and am very intuitive, and trust that all dreams mean something, and am spiritual/religious.

since i started my medication, my dreams have gotten to be a little out of hand. the dream i posted earlier happened after i upped my dose of topamax a bit...

it got to the point that the audio in my dreams was so loud i would wake up, the visuals were so bright i would wake up, and my imagination was running wild. not only that, but i would dream up entire books, inventions, and ideas that i have never even thought about. i even did some artwork when i first started the medication. sort of like a creative high.

i actually had a dream about a book that i am writing now from when i first started my topamax...the entire book from beginning to end. and what is unique is that this book is 'unlike' me...which is why i am really going forth with writing it.

but the side effects of the med (including the dreaming) started to make me nervous so i cut my dosage in half!

so i know that topamax induces lucid dreams when it is first started for some people, especially when the dosage is started out higher.

[idgy]

I agree with a lot of the posts on this thread. Intend to ‘know when you are dreaming’ and look at your hand when you realise that you are. Tell yourself during waking hours that ‘it is only a dream’. Thoughts from the day filter through into your sleep.

Meditation before sleep can help still your mind.

Avoid horror and action films on the TV before sleep (also computer games). This can really have an effect on your mind and prevent lucid dreaming. In fact at any time be careful what you watch on TV, it affects the mind during sleep and not in a good way if it is particularly violent.

[Jeff]

I did a quick search on this thread but didn't find the following book mentioned. If it was, or if you're already aware of it, I apologize in advance.

I highly recommend Stephen LaBerge's "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming." Prior to reading his book, I'd probably had 3-4 natural lucid dreams in my life (I'm 42 now) but within two weeks of reading his book and applying the methods listed, I had 4 lucid dreams in one week with 2 occuring the same night.

Thanks,
Jeff

[my.favorite.alias]

I sleep this much on most nights and I always felt like maybe something was wrong with me. I get to a certain point [usually 9-10 hours after I've fallen asleep] and I find my dreams so interesting and real that I don't want to wake up. This is usually where I advance into really being able to see and control what happens in my dreams.

[tccleaning1]

I'm new to this site and about lucid dreams , I love what I read here,I'm not sure if lucid are what I've been having,but my dreams are so real , I wake up in them but I cant move at all,I scream out for someone to wake me (maybe it scares me)and them my husband hears me and shakes me to wake me ,it seems to mostly happen ,when I fall asleep on my back,could someone help me on this, I want to enjoy my dreams,but when I cant move it scare the h___ out of me ,,last night I had a dream that my son (10) woke up scared about something under his pillow and as he was running around my bed he fell and hurt his toe and I could not get up and help him and I was mad at myself that I could not move ,and I hurd my daughter come in my room (I assuming to help me) next thing I new ,I heard her say mom are you ok? I was awake then I said yes baby thank you,,I asked her this morning how many times did you come to my room,,she said two times ,she said I heard you mumblin and then nothing ,she went to the restroom then heard me mumblin again and then said are you ok mom,,but in my dream I did hear her come to my door the first time but I could not move or wake up ,, I have a lot of them even started when I was about 12 I'm 41 now most of them is where I cant move ,,one is where my body was pressing down in the bed I felt the covers being pulled off me and I truly felt it It was so real,,what going on with me ??????any input would be great ,,tccleaning1