Dreams can be both good and bad. It is the setting people get themselves in when they go to sleep. However, did you know that there is a kind of dream wherein you can be aware that you are dreaming? It’s called a lucid dream. Most often, people who dream can’t control what happens in it, but in a lucid dream, since you’re aware you’re dreaming, you gain some control over it.
What are the benefits of lucid dreaming?
1. It can help you overcome fears and nightmares.
When you’re lucid dreaming, you are aware that you are dreaming, which also means that you know that the situation you are in is not real. This is the perfect chance for you to try and overcome your fears and nightmares. Even though it’s frightening, you still know that no real harm caused by your fear or nightmare will come to you.
2. It can help improve decision-making and other life skills.
Another thing lucid dreaming can help with is your skills. Think of it as a practice ground. You are put in situations that require serious decision-making and other life skills. You get to see the possible outcome of said decision or how a certain life skill will play to your advantage. When repeated, lucid dreaming can eventually hone these skills.
3. It can be therapeutic.
A lucid dream can be anywhere you can think of, and so in some cases, it can serve as an escape from the harsh reality; it can serve as a place of peace and solace.
Some Ways to Have a Lucid Dream
- Practice reality checking.
Do reality checks by doing things like seeing if time constantly changes or if you can push through solid objects when awake.
- Use the “wake back to bed” technique.
You can do this by deliberately waking up in the middle of sleep, taking some time to do something like reading, then going back to sleep.
- Use the Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD) technique.
It’s basically setting the intention of having a lucid dream by repeatedly telling yourself to remember that you’re dreaming, for instance.
- Write down your dreams.
This is said to help you be more aware of your dreams. Therefore, it can help you to recognize when you’re dreaming. There are also supplements which are supposed to help in triggering lucid dreams. Lucid Dream Leaf is one of the most popular in the market.
What are the concerns about lucid dreaming?
1. It can exacerbate mental disorders.
All the switching from reality to lucid dreaming can be exhausting and confusing. While it’s adventurous, it might not be the best idea for people who have great potential for mental disorders as they need stability and a firm grip on reality.
2. It can lead to sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis is an out-of-body experience that can be extremely terrifying. This can happen when a person gets stuck between dreaming and being awake. In this case, the person usually finds it hard to move his body even though he is aware that he’s still sleeping.
3. It can cause fear of sleeping.
This last concern can be a byproduct of the other concerns. A person might feel scared about falling asleep, especially when he has already experienced some of the other downsides of lucid dreaming.
Some Ways to Wake Up From A Lucid Dream
- Blink repeatedly.
- Try to fall asleep in your dream.
- Read.
- Wake yourself by yelling.
CONCLUSION:
Lucid dreaming can be fun and beneficial. However, caution is still very important as it can also affect people in some negative ways. If you feel like you’re having trouble dealing with your sleep, whether it be about lucid dreaming, nightmares, or actually falling asleep, consider asking for professional help.
