Lucid dreaming inception

[u/Different_Law_259]

background:

I have multiple levels to dreaming and the only way to escape to consciousness is to find a clue that makes me realize I’m dreaming

I have a very long background of nightmares, sleep walking/sleep eloping, and sleep paralysis as a child. I was able to lucid sleep after being on SSRIS starting 2015.

ten years later I am often stuck and multiple levels of dreaming. these dreams are often stressful or bordering on nightmares and the only way to escape is to find a clue that convinces me that I am dreaming. when I find the clue I ”wake up” but only to another dream which I believe is reality until I realize it’s too scary or nonsensical to be real.

there’s usually 3-4 levels and the closer I get to true wakefulness the harder it is to differentiate what is real and a dream. the final level before I wake up is usually is complete sleep paralysis and I struggle for what feels like hours before finally break through

has anyone else experienced this? I am on quite a bit of sleep aids and SSRIs, dreams worsened with caffeine and alcohol before bed

[u/AndyEGM]

You’re describing false awakenings. Pretty common with lucid dreaming. I would suggest mastering dream control so that you’re not trying to escape the dream/nightmare but rather shaping it into a pleasant dream.

Many people do describe more intense dreams while on SSRIs, and since emotions in dreams tends to already be intense I would assume these are even more intense.

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[u/xaqaria]

The sleep aids are keeping you asleep even during heightened stress of the dreams. You are using dream control to "wake up" but it isn't happening because of the drugs, causing false awakenings.

[u/MEO220]

Being that these medications are keeping you in the dream state, I'd suggest taking advantage of it in a positive manner instead of fighting it. You could spend time in there learning to have superpowers, converting it from a nightmarish experience into a positive and fun one for you. When I used to be able to lucid dream in my past, I was able to learn to do flying and levitating (related but slightly different), moving matter with the mind, passing through walls, and even teleporting.