One night I remember being in bed, anxiously watching the clock trying to sleep.
Of which, this is a big No-No. I always tell my patients not to clock watch.
Then I found myself setting both of my alarm clocks so I wouldn’t oversleep.
BAM!!! That is when I realized I was dreaming!
Lucid Dreaming.
Awareness that you are asleep. It sounds like a paradox. People commonly mistake REM sleep, thinking it is a deep sleep. Opposite, REM sleep is a very ACTIVE brain time.
REM Facts.
REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is our dream sleep. It is called REM because indeed there are bursts of fast eye activity. REM sleep is actually a very active sleep, of which its brain wave rhythm at times is similar in rate to the awake state. REM sleep is a time of memory consolidation, which would explain why an adult may have a dream of a person they have not seen in a decade. This also may explain why a child may have a dream of a bounce house birthday party a few days ago. During REM our body’s 
muscle tone is low, almost like a paralysis. It is protective, so you don’t act out your dreams.
Also in REM sleep, our memories are being associated with emotions. This may explain why one would wake up with a smile on their face, or why one may wake up from a dream anxious and relieved that it was just a dream.
REM in Summary:
REM control is in your brainstem (pontine area).
REM centers have neuronal connections to the hippocampus (memory area), this is why you may remember seeing people or places in a dream.
REM centers have neuronal connections to the limbic system (emotions area), this is why you may have fear or happiness in a dream.
REM centers have neuronal connections to motor neurons (movement area), this is how sleep paralysis occurs.
REM centers have neuronal connections to autonomic nervous system (heart rate and breathing areas), this is how heart rates and breathing rates can increase.
REM cycles about every 90 minutes and is more dense after each cycle, this is why we dream more in the second-half (early morning dreams).
Dreaming is Normal.
It’s one thing to have a wacky vivid dream. It’s another thing to be aware of the fact you are in a dream. This can be a terrifying experience for people. But it is normal.
It is normal to dream.
It is normal to consolidate memories in REM.
It is normal to associate memories with emotions from your brain’s limbic system.
It is normal for your body to protect itself with paralysis while you dream.
It is normal to have autonomic (heart rate) fluctuations in REM.
Is Lucid Dreaming Abnormal?
Lucid Dreaming becomes a problem when a person doesn’t understand what is occurring. It becomes more of a problem when a patient tells a doctor, and they just respond that you’re anxious. The more one hears they’re anxious, the more anxiety they develop.
First time I had a lucid dream, I had a dream that my son was screaming blood curdling shrills. I tried to get up, but had sleep paralysis. That is when it hit me that I was dreaming, as I see kids with night terrors so commonly that I had a dream of one.
Another time I literally felt my wife give me a kiss on the cheek, and I could hear it too. But she wasn’t there because I was sleeping upstairs (before I got Man Up and started using dental device for my snoring).
On the night I was panicking that I was clock watching and that I kept setting my two alarm clocks. That is when I realized I was dreaming, because I only have one alarm clock! Then I had the most bizarre Alice in Wonderland like experience. Later, I could hear laughter. I saw vivid colors and images. Some peaceful, some creepy. I swear I saw a demon like Voldemort image. Things would flow from one vision to the next. Later I felt the autonomic surges in REM and could feel earthquake like pulsating vibration of pins and needles feeling through your body.
I’m not so much into dream interpretation, I just really like the experience. I love the feeling of the adrenaline rush. Occasionally I like to insert a friend into a dream, or just change the subject of a dream.
Another night I realized I was dreaming, and I really wanted to go back to a Disney Cruise. So I did, in my dream. Only problem is that I dreamt the boat shrunk. I was barely hanging on with my wife and two kids. My 2 year old daughter was trying to crawl down, however there were sharks and alligators together in the water. I had to make a choice between staying put or jumping to the ladder of the next boat. In the dream my wife put her head on my shoulder and told me that it was romantic. That was an unpleasant Lucid Dream actually, of which my alarm woke me up before I could try to change the dream.
How does one experience Lucid Dreaming?
They didn’t teach me this in med-school, and it wasn’t part of my sleep boards. What I do is that as I go to sleep, I set the intent that I will recognize when I’m dreaming. I especially make that intent when I have a night awakening after midnight. REM sleep is more common towards the second half of your sleep cycle.
Some people would love to fly like a bird. Others fear heights of any type.
Some people love Lucid Dreaming. Others may not find it pleasant.
I do feel it important to note that dreams with PTSD are a different subject for a different day.
How can I maintain a Lucid Dreaming?
There are many Lucid Dream clubs, but no formal certification. Kerry McGlone of www.DreamLucidly.info does have some suggestions she would like to share:
How to Maintain a Lucid Dream
Okay, so you’ve experienced a lucid dream. That’s great, but how long did you remain in a lucid state for? Unfortunately, the first time you experience a lucid dream may not last very long. You may become aware of the lucidity, get excited and wake up as a result. This is completely normal. It is common for first time lucid dreamers to be unable to sustain a lucid dream for a long period of time. Although it may seem like a bad thing to wake up from being excited (and it’s disappointing, that’s for sure), at least you’re on your way to sustaining a lucid dream for a long period of time. The main piece of advice you can hear is to ensure you remain calm as you enter a lucid dream.
As you progress into the lucid dream, it needs to be ensured that focus is kept on the dream itself, and nothing else. When entering, pause for a second. Try to grasp the scenario, and then proceed calmly. Don’t focus too much on actually controlling the dream at first—that may require more experience to be done correctly. First things first: focus solely on remaining lucid, and nothing else. In order to focus on anything else, you will need to perfect the time you remain lucid—this is essential! By all means, feel free to experiment with your lucid dream, just don’t get so overwhelmed by the whole experience. This will reduce the likeliness of remaining in the lucid state.
There are two very common and useful techniques you are able to perform in order to enhance your lucid dreaming experience. These techniques can be used, whether it to be increasing the awareness of the lucid dream, or to make sure you don’t lose the lucid state. These recommendations are not guaranteed to work as everyone is different, but they are two of the most renowned ways you are able to maintain your lucid dream, and have it last longer.
Hand Rubbing
Staying lucid is critical to and lucid dreamer. One common method used to ensure the lucid state is remained is to simply rub your hands together. This will reinforce the idea of keeping focused on the dream opposed to waking up—which is obviously something you want to try and avoid. When in a lucid dream, you may dream you’re indoors or outdoors. If indoors, try touching furniture or the walls. If outdoors, touching the ground may be useful. Essentially rubbing your hands is destined to stabilize the lucid dream you’re in.
Dream Spinning
One common experience many people face is a lucid dream beginning to fade unexpectedly. If you begin to sense the lucid dream is coming to an end, a common technique used for prevention is called dream spinning. Dream spinning is actually relatively easy. Imagine yourself as a child and spin around on the spot. Sounds easy, right? This technique is practiced by many lucid dreamers and is considered to be reliable in sustaining a lucid dream. In order to receive the full effects of dream spinning, it will likely take 10-30 seconds of spinning. Once you come to a finish with spinning, you will often find that your lucid state has restored, and the position of your lucid state may also change, i.e. environment, place, etc. Not only is it possible to change your setting through this method, but it is also a common practice to experiment with dream spinning in order to achieve a different setting, regardless if the lucid state is diminishing. That being said, a smart practice is to continue to remind yourself that you’re lucid dreaming whilst dream spinning as you may find yourself losing lucidity as a result.
Yes—these two techniques should work on the typical lucid dreamer. The most important thing you can do is not get too worked up on losing lucidity when you first begin to lucid dream. Instead—praise yourself having gained lucidity which many people fail to do, you deserve it! I know, it sucks finally becoming lucid only to lose the state moments after, but it will get better if you set your mind to it; it all comes down to self belief and determination.
— — —
Encourage others to encourage others.
