I too experienced a plethora of lucid dreaming through my early twenties. Sometimes I would have a few a night for weeks. They tapered off gradually and I have maybe a few a year now (I'm 35).
Many were tied with sleep paralysis, which didn't give me the fear that most people associate with it. Sometimes I could extract my preceptual self from my body and experience walking around the room in a weird lucid dream world. All while simultaneously being aware of my pysical body lying in bed.
Wow, so similar. My first lucid dreams were initiated during sleep paralysis. Initially, these episodes were absolutely terrifying (i felt like I was suffocating). Lucid dreaming cured me of this fear .. once I realize i'm in a dream I can change the scenario to something more pleasant.
Or just fly away through the window ;)
I feel sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming are deeply linked phenomena.
Many were tied with sleep paralysis, which didn't give me the fear that most people associate with it. Sometimes I could extract my preceptual self from my body and experience walking around the room in a weird lucid dream world. All while simultaneously being aware of my pysical body lying in bed.
I would love to have those dreams again.