Does anyone else get stuck in a reality check loop during intense lucid dreams?
I have been practicing WBTB for months now, and while I am finally hitting that lucid state, I am finding myself in a weird feedback loop. Just last night, I became aware I was dreaming because the sky turned neon green, but every time I performed a reality check—like trying to push my finger through my palm—my brain would just simulate a successful 'dream' result, keeping me anchored in a false sense of reality. It feels like my subconscious is actively gaslighting me to keep me asleep! I ended up spending what felt like an hour in a library where the books were just blank static. Has anyone else encountered this kind of mental resistance where your own mind tries to convince you you're awake when you’re clearly not? I’m starting to wonder if I’m overthinking the stabilization process and accidentally creating these mental barricades. Do you guys think I should focus more on dream markers or just lean into the chaos of the environment instead of trying to verify everything?
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That feedback loop sounds like an absolute trip, but honestly, it is a classic trap when you start really nailing WBTB. As someone who has been exploring lucid dreaming for years, I found that when I start questioning reality inside the dream, I often get 'stuck' because my brain is trying too hard to confirm the stability of the environment. Have you tried shifting your focus to something sensory instead of logical? I once had a month-long streak where I kept waking up inside my own bedroom, only to realize I was still dreaming because the light switch didn't work. Eventually, I started looking at my hands instead of the architecture, which grounded the dream much better. It takes the pressure off your prefrontal cortex, which is likely over-firing. Do you find that you get anxious when the loop starts, or is it more of a curious frustration?