Hello ... I am returning to this board following a 5 year absence.  My first experiences were in 1998, when my Father died.  I turned to the board in grief and the words I read here (and the books that I read as a consequence) helped me through what turned out to be very difficult times.

I return today not so much as a grief stricken man (although I miss my Dad a great deal) but more as an inquisitive explorer.  I've just recently re-read Bruce's second book and I'm going to have to re-read #1 - quite why I decided to do it in that order, I'm not sure but it felt right.

This is starting to become garbled so I will jump straight to the point.

When I relax to try and explore, I sometimes feel myself falling and sometimes I start to see small bright lights.  I try to focus on them but am I suddenly overcome with fear.  I simply cannot seem to resist the temptation to panic.  I interpret the feelings in an anxious way although I am absolutely convinced there is a message waiting for me on the other side of my barrier.  Utterly convinced. 

I still have my doubts regarding afterlife which I know does not help but the 2nd book helps me understand that you can have doubts and explore.  Maybe this is why I elected to read this one first?  I don't know.

How do you conquer such fears?  I have had dreams where, in my dream, I fall asleep again.  I've had some great contact in this state but I become very aware that I am in a dream and I am unable to wake up.  I panic and start shouting at those around me (normally relatives that have passed but sometimes those who are still around) and I'm scared that my body will not realise that I'm still alive, pack up on me, I will die in my sleep and be left in limbo without the skills to move on.

I'm not sure if I need your help or a psychiatrist but dreaming within a dream and sometimes travelling from room to room in my house without being able to wake up is a phenomenon that happens regularly.

So that's 2 things I'm scared of.

Any suggestions?

I haven't figured out the answer to your question about overcoming fear but I think the fear is normal. One person who discusses it is Albert Taylor (in his book). Here is a link to his site:

http://www.alberttaylor.com/