How can I tell when I'm dreaming and when I'm awake - General

I had a terrifying nightmare last night having to do with this: [sp]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spoony_face.png[/sp] Everything would be normal and then people would disappear, doors would lock and weird stuff would start happening. Then I would find a loved one/friend/family member but they would be missing limbs or body parts or their skin. Then their face would morph into that except they had the teeth of Jaws from From Russia With Love or whatever and would bite into my jugular. That's scary enough. But the worst part is that I would wake up and feel relieved that I could feel and smell and think and pinch myself and go "I'm awake. Wow that was scarring." But I wasn't awake. I was still asleep. Then the nightmare would repeat itself in some other fashion, usually horrifying where I'd walk through a completely dark room and someone would call my name in a sweet girls voice and I'd turn towards the voice and suddenly the lights would turn back on. The girl would have no arms or legs and a face horribly maimed, burned or torn off like the guy from Johnny Got His Gun. Then the lights would turn off and I'd hear shuffling and suddenly they'd turn back on and the room would be filled with like twelve of these monsters. They'd lunge at me and I'd wake up. Or rather I thought I'd wake up. This cycle repeated itself roughly thirty or forty times. I can honestly remember each unique encounter. It was a lucid dream. I remembered praying to Jesus even though I'm an atheist. I woke up this morning (Or I think I did) and I'm here now, but I'm not sure I'm [I]really[/I] awake. I could be dreaming still. Maybe I'm in a coma in a hospital somewhere. Maybe I'm dead and I'm in hell. How can I make sure I'm awake? Should I take a big drink of 80 proof alcohol (I probably will after what I've just felt/seen)? I'm honestly afraid to leave my room because I don't know what I will find.

I'm no dream interpreter but that sounds like a bad experience with yourself, family or friends. Has anyone in your family ever had amputation surgery, burned in a fire or what not? If not, this is probably from a horror movie you watched, or for going on 4chan. :v: This could also be your mind telling you something bad is going to happen in the future. I'd keep a look out.

-Snip-

Just play a violent video game and you'll feel yourself again. Works for me. Besides, what's more connected with reality than video games?

I've had a recurring nightmare that happens once every few months. I've had this sine I was about 8 - My sister, father and I were on a hill which looks suspiciously like the one that is near me, that leads down to tesco etc. At the bottom of the hill was a burning house, I went inside and I was trapped and couldn't move. Eventually the door open with a weird aura floating outside and a voice calling my name :v: That dream sucks.

If someone texts me when I'm asleep I will hear my phone and text them back in my dream. Then they get annoyed at me because I didn't text them back when I am really convinced that I did.

Damn, have a heart, that dream sounds like one of the most terrifying to have. Also, reality checks like what Synelor posted. And i can assure you that you are awake. And don't watch so much horror movies, they inspire the brain for nightmares kinda. EDIT: If it was a lucid dream, you shouldve been able to manipulate it.

I KNEW JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN WAS GONNA BE MENTIONED HERE FROM THE TITLE!!! Yes I was kinda excited about that especially since I was gonna say try headbanging Morse code :v:

You are still dreaming

I dreamt about lying in bed all night. Needless to say, I was really confused when I woke up.

Try to fly like superman. If it works, it's a dream!

holy shit that sounds scary. I hope I experience a false awakening someday.

No man false awakenings aren't no fun.

If you can breathe, read or feel sharp pain, you're awake. Reason being: (Note, this is just what I've read about, I can't totally verify it, but oh well) [list=] [*]You're used to breathing normally in life, therefore in dreams you ignore the need to breathe and well, don't. So if you're breathing, you're usually awake. [*]Apparantly you can't read in dreams, and letters / words will just be jumbled up / nonsensical. If you can read, most likely you're awake. [*]Pain - Self explanatory [/list] Again, I can't verify those are all legit, or they may change from person to person, but they are usually the three most common ways to check if you're asleep or awake.

This is not a dream. :smug:

[QUOTE=Teddi Orange;22679259]If you can breathe, read or feel sharp pain, you're awake. Reason being: (Note, this is just what I've read about, I can't totally verify it, but oh well) [list=] [*]You're used to breathing normally in life, therefore in dreams you ignore the need to breathe and well, don't. So if you're breathing, you're usually awake. [*]Apparantly you can't read in dreams, and letters / words will just be jumbled up / nonsensical. If you can read, most likely you're awake. [*]Pain - Self explanatory [/list] Again, I can't verify those are all legit, or they may change from person to person, but they are usually the three most common ways to check if you're asleep or awake.[/QUOTE] I can read and feel pain in dreams, but I've never been aware of my breathing.

Shoot yourself, if you dont wake up then you were awake.

[QUOTE=Teddi Orange;22679259]If you can breathe, read or feel sharp pain, you're awake. Reason being: (Note, this is just what I've read about, I can't totally verify it, but oh well) [list=] [*]You're used to breathing normally in life, therefore in dreams you ignore the need to breathe and well, don't. So if you're breathing, you're usually awake. [*]Apparantly you can't read in dreams, and letters / words will just be jumbled up / nonsensical. If you can read, most likely you're awake. [*]Pain - Self explanatory [/list] Again, I can't verify those are all legit, or they may change from person to person, but they are usually the three most common ways to check if you're asleep or awake.[/QUOTE] I've felt pain in dreams and felt my heart beat in a different fashion from normal. :colbert: What the body does isn't always reliable, except from being able to breathe through your nose at all times even when you have it pegged shut.

Am i the only one who can't control anything I'm doing in a dream. Infact, I'm never in my own dreams, I just go along for the ride. People say that they can fly and stuff, but i'm just an observer in my dreams.

[QUOTE=bravehat;22679335]I've felt pain in dreams and felt my heart beat in a different fashion from normal. :colbert: What the body does isn't always reliable, except from being able to breathe through your nose at all times even when you have it pegged shut.[/QUOTE] Well like I said, it varies from person to person. I didn't write that part for nothing.

In my dream I both read a map and I felt my neck being torn open. That's why it became confusing after the fifth or sixth time that I "woke up".

[QUOTE=nunu;22679361]Am i the only one who can't control anything I'm doing in a dream. Infact, I'm never in my own dreams, I just go along for the ride. People say that they can fly and stuff, but i'm just an observer in my dreams.[/QUOTE] Don't get to wishing you could lucid dream. Really, unless it's self-induced, lucid dreams are always hell.

flick a light on and off. not just when you think you might be dreaming, but every now and then. keeps a reality check constantly going.

Get into the habit of looking into mirrors while awake, and make sure to do it while dreaming.

I, myself, have experienced 5 lucid dreams in the past month. I try to induce them, as they are fun to have and can 'unlock your mind' :v: But if you are new to them, I don't recommend it as they are quite scary at times - Especially if you know you're in a dream and can't wake up. :ohdear: [editline]01:58PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Teddi Orange;22679259]If you can breathe, read or feel sharp pain, you're awake. Reason being: (Note, this is just what I've read about, I can't totally verify it, but oh well) [list=] [*]You're used to breathing normally in life, therefore in dreams you ignore the need to breathe and well, don't. So if you're breathing, you're usually awake. [*]Apparantly you can't read in dreams, and letters / words will just be jumbled up / nonsensical. If you can read, most likely you're awake. [*]Pain - Self explanatory [/list] Again, I can't verify those are all legit, or they may change from person to person, but they are usually the three most common ways to check if you're asleep or awake.[/QUOTE] You can feel pain in dreams, but it's usually 'fake pain' meaning - You know when you think about pain in your mind and you can somewhat feel it? but you also can't feel it at the same time? Sort of like that.

You are dreaming right now..

[QUOTE=Xenoyia v2;22679897]I, myself, have experienced 5 lucid dreams in the past month. I try to induce them, as they are fun to have and can 'unlock your mind' :v: But if you are new to them, I don't recommend it as they are quite scary at times - Especially if you know you're in a dream and can't wake up. :ohdear: [editline]01:58PM[/editline] You can feel pain in dreams, but it's usually 'fake pain' meaning - You know when you think about pain in your mind and you can somewhat feel it? but you also can't feel it at the same time? Sort of like that.[/QUOTE] I had a dream I was swimming and got bit by a piranha; i woke up a minute later with a really bad cramp in the same spot where I was "bit" Also I can't sleep on my back because of lucid dreaming. It happens 90% of the time, and each time I get paralyzed and stop breathing, with some other unpleasant stuff happening. Word to the wise * You have to be REALLY calm and relaxed to correctly dream lucidly. Once you're getting into the deep deep sleep, you have to be relaxed; else you'll consciously wake up, but your brain will still be in the sleeping state, so pretty much you can't move, only look around in 100% panic.

Try to drink/eat something. You won't be able to taste anything when you dream.

The only time you know that you're awake is when you are really awake.

Nope, you're still asleep, take it from me.