first lucid dream

It was my first really lucid dream. I was walking in this quarry like place looking for a way to get back to town when I thought to take my car. But then realized it was gone. I've had this dream scene so many times that it must have triggered the realization I was dreaming. That's when I said to myself I have to be dreaming. But it was all so real and I felt like how can it be a dream when it's so real? But I knew it had to be a dream. Then I saw this tree stump in front of me so I tried to make it grow some leaves or branches but nothing happened. end of dream. I think what triggered the dream activity was that I have a cold and had taken a good dose of nighttime tylenol cold caps. I hope to have more and better lucid dreams because of what and how you can benefit by using them.

The dream could mirror a real life situation you feel stuck in.

Perhaps you read or heard about lucid dreaming? The subconscious creates the dreams to bring you near the waking level and if needed to wake you up. Colds, medicines and fevers cause more vivid dreams. Dreams are dreamt to do certian tasks during sleep, during a cold or some other health problems the subconscious creates dreams to preserve the sleep so in a way they are healing dreams.
It is likely that your dream was dreamt to divert you from the cold and help you sleep. The fact that you realised that you were dreaming wassimply a waking element.
It is difficult to understand how the subconscious works

Yeah i have all the best books on LD and the task is to make it happen more often and last longer. I think the cold meds put me on that borderline of sleep wake and so it was easier to have a double consciousness in a way.

I studied lucid dreaming and had many more than now. I could will myself to have pleasant adventures...romances, being magic, flying, etc. I can't seem to have power in them since I had a breakdown. I guessing it means I have no power over my life.

That's fantastic. All the main authors say you can use it for many things. I have a fear problem-last night I dreamt I was in a dark room preparing to put down a guitar theme and as I went to turn on the light switch -which meant going lucid-a dragonfly instantly appeared along w/some fearfulness. So I woke up.

So why did you have a breakdown? Do you think it had anything to do with your lucid dreaming? It sounds like you are saying you still can dream lucid but that you lack control?

Can you give me any tips?

Try having some room white noise, like a fan. Also, don't overexert yourself if you manage it, unless it's really really necessary. Grow a tree, not a whole forest.
Be careful of combat. It can go horribly wrong, I can attest to it. The results of losing a fight can hurt. (In my dreams at least.)
I hope these work.

Noooo, lucid dreaming had nothing to do with my breakdown so don't worry. Lucid dreaming can be a wonderful experience. I remember being able to fly through cities,
float through the glass windows to enter houses and watch people sleeping. I read about it right before I went to sleep every night. You reminded me that I haven't studied it for a few years, I think I will start again. I have also studied astral projection with lukewarm results. Maybe it just surprised you because it was something intense and new. Good luck!

Some of this sounds like astral projection. I've been reading that stuff for 50 years and had many near experiences but fear made me abort. I always used to think of all the wonderful things I could do and how it could help towards my goals. Plz keep me informed of your experiences and thx for what you have shared. It has to help to talk with others. With my recent lucid dream the one obvious thing was that I had absolutely no fear-no more than normal waking life. anticlimactic actually. But a whole different world!

But then last night I was dreaming- going to turn on the light switch-which of course in this case is dream code for going lucid, because in the dream I had been getting guitar riffs and being a songwriter I wanted to put them down on my guitar in that room. The instant I touched the switch a dragonfly appeared to harass me-this being symbolic of my fear of being out of control in the lucid state. end of that dream. I know you're supposed to send love or ask the threatening object what it represents. Thx, kreg-chat anytime

Thx very much. Would you care to elaborate on the combat thing? A tree not a forest makes a lot of sense.

Well, lucid dreams I tend to feel very realistic, undistinguishable from reality. So getting hurt HURTS.
By "going horribly wrong" I mean losing, obviously.

Also, sometimes, your lucid dream can be "invaded" by things that repersent your fears. This only happens to me, so I don't know if it helps. If you get it tough, try to fight back, or wake up. Hope it helped.
Also, don't worry if you don't manage it at first. Patience is key here.

yes isn't patience one of the most important principles in everything.

Amazing! Like discovering a hidden life you never knew you had.

I find it feels quite similar to having a secret identity in the form of your dream character.

Thanks. Have you any more tips for getting that initial realization that your dreaming? I've had several 'dream signs' such as turning on a light switch and others but I don't seem to get beyond that. Fear maybe. Patience really struck a chord with me as well as grow a tree and not a forest. I have many books on LD but reviewing is necessary.

I find it feels quite similar to having a secret identity in the form of your dream character. yes I agree with that even with my limited experience.

Dream Characters are parts of yourself.

I tend to frequent the same places/see the same people.
Make a list of the places and people you see in your dreams. Also, keep a dream diary.