> > I had such dreams a few times when I was around 12 years. Originally, I'd have nightmares, and while I had them, I'd realize I was dreaming and try to wake up from them. [...] While I lay there, as a last resort I tried all the "wake up tricks" I knew, like closing my eyes hard and opening them, or trying to fall asleep (inside a nightmare inside a dream!). I think it worked, because I have no recollection of any confrontations with him.
> >
> > Trav"maybe that was the start of my conquering of the nightmares?"holt.

Probably. I think I also had nightmares until around 10 or 12 years old, until I realized it's possible to open your eyes while still dreaming. What I find really strange about THAT is that I can open my eyes, see the familiar surroundings of my bedroom, then close my eyes and go directly back to the place I was in the dream sequence, without losing any continuity or having any change in the dream surroundings. The only difference at that point is that I know I'm dreaming then. I still find it *weird* to go so rapidly from straight awakeness to deep R.E.M., though.

I've never tried a wake-up trick like trying to /will myself to sleep/ while inside a dream. I'll have to try that.


> The second worst nightmare I ever had, when I was a kid, was a "dream within a dream". I had been dreaming that a werewolf was after me. It was an awful, long-drawn-out scary chase dream. Anyway, at the most scary part, just as it was about to get me, I woke up with a jolt, all shakey and sweaty and gasping, to find myself safe in bed in my room. I lay there for the standard few minutes of "OH THANK GOD, IT WAS ONLY A BAD DREAM!!" relief, looking around at my nice familiar room and generally getting my heart rate back to normal.
>
> And then...right next to my ear, in the darkened room...I heard a low growl.
>
> And THEN I woke up for *real*.
>
> Brunnen-"and didn't want to go to sleep again for about three nights afterwards, as I recall"G

Wow. I can see how that could have made you jump out of your skin. Classy scripting for a "nightmare inside a nightmare" sequence... chilling!

Wolfspirit