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Original poster

Is anybody else able to force themselves out of a dream?

42 replies

Dreamymcdreamer · 10/12/2020 22:08

This is hard to put into words so hopefully I explain this ok!

So last night i slept really badly, I kept being aware that I was dreaming and trying to force myself awake.

I don't think I was having a nightmare so there wasn't really a need to force myself awake, and it was like I couldnt stop myself trying to wake myself up!?

It felt like I was thrashing around and screaming trying to wake myself up, almost like I was trying to burst out of my own body, but I wasn't actually moving in real life as otherwise I would have woken my DH up.

It's almost as if I brought myself just to the brink of consciousness but before I could fully wake up, i kept falling back into a fitful sleep, and then it all started again.

This doesn't happen all the time but has happened to me a number of times in my adult life, maybe about a dozen times?

I've tried googling it but it just brings up false awakening (which its not) and lucid dreaming (which I'm pretty sure its not but I'm not sure)

Does anyone else get this or am I just a weirdo? Please don't tell me I'm possessed

OP posts:

AcrossthePond55 · 10/12/2020 22:48

My DH has 'lucid dreaming' and can actually control the dream. For example if he's dreaming someone is chasing after him him he can 'will' the dream into him suddenly having a some kind of weapon and hitting his pursuer. He's also avoided his car crashing by suddenly 'willing' the dream to being able to fly. It's weird.

The most I can do is when I have a nightmare I can 'will' myself to scream DH's name until he wakes up and wakes me up. I'm cognizant in the the dream of "I need to scream and DH will wake me up", but I can't stop the dream itself. He says I don't really scream I just thrash about and moan. But it wakes him up every time and he shakes me awake.

Apileofballyhoo · 10/12/2020 22:51

I can wake myself up or change my dream without waking I read about it when I was a child and tried it out.

If I'm ever reading one of those spooky threads on MN I get far more scared by people's description of sleep paralysis than by any of the ghost type stories. It sounds absolutely terrifying. You have my sympathy, OP.

Nonochair · 10/12/2020 22:55

I can often do it by thinking ‘this must be a dream’ and forcing my eyes to open wide. But sometimes it doesn’t work and that is terrifying because it makes me think that that it’s not actually a dream after all.

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Sleep

RealisticSketch · 10/12/2020 22:57

I always have bad dreams if I go to sleep dehydrated. Even slightly dehydrated makes a difference but the the more dehydration the worse the dream. I think this is normal and that's why cheese before bedtime is associated with it, cos being a salty food it would make you thirsty in your sleep. So if anyone isn't drinking enough and gets bad dreams that might help.

NaturesEnd · 10/12/2020 23:02

Apparently some people don't dream in images or don't ever remember dreams, that's quite sad. I hava aphantasia where I don't think in images, but I have really epic dreams, some absolutely incredible and panoramic, plus surreal as fuck.

MarshaBradyo · 10/12/2020 23:05

Yep I can tell myself I’m dreaming in a bad dream

Sometimes I can wake up, although a few times will be dreaming I’ve woken up and still in dream - a bit inception

Nonochair · 10/12/2020 23:07

Yes Marsha! Same here.

NaturesEnd · 10/12/2020 23:08

I have had the waking up from a dream into another dream. Freaky

Original poster

Dreamymcdreamer · 10/12/2020 23:10

@naturesend that sounds horrible!

As a child I used to have dreams/nightmares that i was dying, the one that has stuck with me the most was where I dreamed that I walked into the local leisure centre and it was empty other than someone who was drowning in the middle of the swimming pool, and after a minute of watching them I realised I was watching myself drown and couldn't do anything about it.

I also often have dreams where I'm in trouble/danger but can't run and can't scream - maybe my anxiety is worse than I thought now I think about it!

OP posts:

NaturesEnd · 10/12/2020 23:16

It was dreamy but thankfully only happened once. I'm absolutely fascinatinated by dreams, they are endlessly crazy.

NaturesEnd · 10/12/2020 23:18

I used to have loads set in a, leisure centre/swim place weird.

MrsGRamsay · 10/12/2020 23:39

First of all, realise it's a dream. If it's horrible, I bite myself (in dream mode) which reinforces brain that it's a dream i.e bite doesn't hurt.

Conversantly, I've discovered I can 'drive' my dreams in the direction I want... Lots of fun!!!

NoSquirrels · 11/12/2020 01:39

[quote Dreamymcdreamer]@naturesend that sounds horrible!

I also often have dreams where I'm in trouble/danger but can't run and can't scream - maybe my anxiety is worse than I thought now I think about it![/quote]
I would say, yes - your anxiety (a fear of not being seen/heard/believed?) is driving this. Something to explore?

User9574 · 11/12/2020 06:47

I have bad dreams where I become aware I am dreaming and think oh this is a dream, I must wake up. So I wake up and think THIS is real except I don't I am still dreaming and at some point I become aware I am still dreaming again and think right I am definitely going to wake up and wake up and think right this is DEFINITELY real then carry on then realise later I am definitely still dreaming....and so it goes on!

It really spins me out when I finally wake up. Especially the bit inbetween when I thought I was awake and am in the bad dream, my mind is in horror of thinking oh god this IS reality isn't it.

Original poster

Dreamymcdreamer · 11/12/2020 16:34

@nosquirrels yes I think you could be right. I recently finished therapy on the nhs for anxiety but it was focused on techniques to get through it rather than talking through any issues / past things so perhaps I should look into going for some private therapy.

@user9574 that must be so disorienting when you finally wake up! I think I came across that when I was googling, i think its called a false awakening isnt it?

OP posts:

WankPuffins · 11/12/2020 16:54

Yes.

I do it often. I shake myself in my dream. Shake my head from side in the dream and will myself to wake up.
It works. I'm not moving vigorously in the real world though.

I quite often know I'm dreaming and can change my dreams to what I want - usually only for a little while though before I wake up.

WankPuffins · 11/12/2020 16:55

I get false awakenings too - but I soon realise it's a dream again.

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