Hi I'm new here. I think I recently had my first two experiences in lucid dreaming. Let me share my initial experience.
I remember dreaming about being with a person at a booth like from a restaurant and I remember hearing what sounded like my cellphone ringing.I then remember consciously thinking that my phone didn't actually ring and that I must be dreaming. Then I know I felt a very familiar phenomenon. I used to I binaural beats to achieve highs, usually unsuccessfully. However I always felt an odd sort of energy pulse over me and a sinking feeling. I felt that for short time and then consciencly tried to change the outcome to having sex with the person I was with (I know, I'm a perv.) I then felt like I was having sex, but had no visual. Very shortly after I experienced a false awakening, where I then told all of my roommates about the dream.

My second experience isn't as "detailed."
I remember thinking that what was happening wasn't reality and I again felt that sinking pulsy feeling, but this time I don't believe I made any decisions about what was happening.

What do you think? Am I having lucid dreams, have any of you experienced the pulsing sinking feeling? Also, if I am infact lucid dreaming, how can I strengthen the effects of my decisions?

This was a lucid dream becaue you were aware that you were dreaming and you were able to use your thoughts to try to change the outcome of the dream.

The pulsing, sinking feeling seems to be more specific to you, personally. It could have to do with something in waking life that is causing you anxiety. Also, if this the first time you have experienced a lucid dream, part of your brain could be thinking that something is wrong and worried about the fact that you're not fully awake.

Thanks for your response. I'm hoping to gain some more experience in this soon. I'm going to set an alarm for 6 and 9am. I've read that going to sleep after the sun has risen can give you more time in the required REM. I've been curious about this for quit awhile, I just never thought that I was capable of it. That is, until I accidedntally experienced it.

EDIT: after rereading your response, I'm not sure if that really was my first. At least it was where I could try to control things. I've experienced sleep paralysis a hundred times. Everytime it happens now, i know what's going on and I think "I need to find a way to wake up before something scares me!"