First, what is lucid dreaming, lucid dreaming is when the dreamer is aware that he/she is dreaming, well most of the dreamers have some control over the element of the dream, like changing the environment (From a plateau to a battlefield), changing the characters, etc? Now, I also want to share that, these dreams are not like normal dreams but vivid ones i.e. strong feelings, sometimes inner voice also speak to you, etc.
It occurs at REM state of sleep (REM stands for rapid eye movement which is one of the five stages of sleep, and typically at REM dreams take place), scientist explain it as a hybrid state- a blend of REM and waking state
An estimated 55 percent of people have had one or more lucid dreams in their lifetime. So, it is clear that almost half or more than half of people experienced lucid dreams almost once in their life.
Now from the introduction of lucid dreaming, it feels like it is fascinating and be very fun to do it and that's true, it is fun to do it and it is used to give therapeutical benefits to patients who are troubled with nightmares, well there are other benefits to lucid dream than just fun as well as risks and concerns to think about before you decide to lucid dream.
1.Treating nightmares-
Well, doctors use lucid dreaming as a tool to treat patients who are troubled with nightmares. As it is sensible that when a person learns to control her/his dreams then he/she could turn the nightmare into an interesting, funny, enjoyable or whatever they want except turning that into a more terrible, scary dream.
2.Improving motor skills-
Man, this one is very useful for people in sports or others who require pretty good motor skills (skills which help in our use of muscles of our body). Studies have shown that practicing some sort of physical skill is much more effective and fast in improving your motor skills.
3.Improvement in problem-solving-
Lucid dreamers and researchers have confirmed that lucid dreaming also improves one's problem-solving as it improves their creativity, dreamers also say that they found real-world solutions to real-world problems as they substitute the characters and elements of the dream to the real-world elements.
4. Improvement in Creativity-
Dreamers found an incredible boost in their creativity.
Many people fear sleep paralysis that they have very scary experiences,
Let's try to explain this, as you reach the REM stage (after 90 minutes of falling asleep), now when you're at the REM stage you will have a temporary state of paralysis as your brain signals the spinal cord to cease muscular movement so that you don't injure yourself by acting of your dreams like striking your arm against something, kicking, etc. Now at REM, you dream and it is here when you are dreaming at the state between consciousness and unconsciousness and it is easy to slip into one of the two, now sleep paralysis occurs when you got slipped and became conscious.
Now finally, we came to sleep paralysis, where you got accompanied by some hallucinations and ominous feelings. This sounds
That’s a great question, especially if you’re a first-time lucid dreamer. The answer is no, it’s not dangerous. Lucid dreaming is generally considered safe.
There are a number of inaccurate myths and misconceptions that surround lucid dreaming, but this phenomenon has been studied extensively by researchers.
However, although there aren’t any significant dangers of lucid dreaming, we do advise practicing with caution. Without awareness and practice, lucid dreaming may cause:
Sleep deprivation. Because your dreams can be so vivid, you might have trouble going back to sleep, which might cause sleep loss.
Confusion and hallucinations. Some people with mental health disorders may have trouble distinguishing between reality and dreaming.
Just make sure you enter the dream world with knowledge and proper preparation, so you can have a safe and enjoyable lucid dreaming experience.
Many people face nightmares and scary thing and it is obvious, but what many people experiencing is the right method and practise to overcome scary things So, with proper, regular practise and guide it is easier to overcome scary things easily.
In fact, here are some famous lucid dreamers, you might even recognise some of the creations or inventions that have been INSPIRED by lucid dreams:
Chris Nolan
Chris is an avid lucid dreamer and film producer, and actually mined his own lucid dreams to get inspiration for the film, ‘Inception’.
You may know Inception as being the first major film to bring lucid dreaming to a bigger audience.
2 .Nikola Tesla
Nikola was an avid lucid dreamer, and actually performed many ‘impossible’ or incredibly complex and even dangerous experiments in the safety of a lucid dream.
This enabled him to test out theories and ideas without risking himself or others, and then bring that inspiration BACK to the real world.
3. Salvador Dali
Salvador is a famous artist who created really interesting and abstract works of art like the melting clock picture you may be familiar with.
These works of art have been inspired by or created IN lucid dreams, and then bought to life in the waking world. And there are lots more benefits of lucid dreaming…
Now, as incredible as it is to craft your own dreams, sometimes it can be a bit scary. There are several “scary” situations that may occur but you can safely practise lucid dreaming:
1. Sleep Paralysis
The most common negative experience lucid dreamers have is sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis is the inability to move when you’re asleep.
Sleep paralysis happens to everyone, each time they enter REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Since we have vivid dreams during REM sleep, our body enters a state of paralysis to prevent us from acting out those dreams.
Lucid dreaming happens in a state between consciousness and unconsciousness and it is very easy to slip fully into either state.
When you enter REM sleep and have a lucid dream, it is possible to become conscious during this state when your body is still paralyzed. Hallucinations and ominous feelings can also accompany this stage of sleep, so paired with the paralysis, it can be terrifying to experience.
It may sound scary, but being aware of the possibility and knowing that it is totally natural can help you overcome the fear if it happens to you.
Fear perpetuates sleep paralysis and makes it intensify and continue.
Relaxing into the paralysis and remembering that it is natural is the only way to overcome it.
It is not dangerous and will not harm you.
2. Getting Trapped In A Dream
Some people feel that they will get trapped in their lucid dream, unable to wake up and come back to reality.
This has, of course, never happened.
You can feel safe knowing that everyone who has ever had a lucid dream woke up in the safety of their bed.
This fear often results from a “false awakening” experience where a lucid dreamer attempts to wake up but realizes that they are still dreaming.
Upon attempting to wake up again, the lucid dreamer discovers that they are still dreaming. This cycle can continue for some time until the dreamer is able to pop themselves back into reality.
This fascinating phenomenon can be frightening, but it can also be seen as an opportunity to explore an altered reality.
Fighting the cycle will likely result in more false awakenings, but giving into it and accepting that you are lucid dreaming can awaken a world of possibilities to explore.
You won’t get trapped, so just give in to the experience and test out your abilities to control your environment.
You will eventually wake up, just as you do every time you go to sleep.
3. Lucid Nightmares
Just like any dream, lucid dreams can become nightmares.
Lucid dreamers are conscious of this experience, which can make the nightmare even more frightening.
However, lucid dream nightmares can actually be less frightening than normal nightmares, because the dreamer is able to exert some control over the dream.
If you experience a nightmare in a lucid dream, unlike a normal nightmare, you have the ability to remind yourself that it is just a dream.
Typically, when you experience a nightmare, you have no way of distinguishing it from reality.
In a lucid dream, your awareness gives you the advantage of saying,
I’m in a dream. This is all in my mind.
Some experienced lucid dreamers actually have the ability to transform their nightmares into pleasant dreams.
If you encounter something unfriendly in a lucid dream, since you know it is all in your mind, you can let the unfriendly thing attack you and observe what happens.
Lucid dream nightmares give you a great opportunity to conquer your fears, unlock your courage, and process negative feelings.
4. Being Unable To Distinguish The Dream World From Reality
This fear gets a lot of press and may likely be the biggest reason people fear lucid dreaming.
Just like any activity that lets someone escape from reality, it can become addicting for those who have a hard time dealing with reality.
Unlike other addictions, however, lucid dreaming is really easy to stop.
For the vast majority of lucid dreamers, being able to distinguish reality from the dream world is not a problem.
Even those who make a profession out of lucid dreaming (authors, teachers, and public speakers) are able to balance their time between the two worlds, without confusing the two.
If you have a mental illness or suffer from other addictions, you may want to consult a professional psychologist before attempting lucid dreaming. Your risk of being awake and thinking you’re dreaming is extremely low, but for those with certain mental conditions, it may be a possibility.
If you’re attempting lucid dreaming as a form of self-discovery or simply as an interesting hobby, this possibility is unlikely to occur.
Can You Die In Real Life From A Lucid Dream?
Because there are no real dangers to lucid dreaming, the simple answer to this is: no.
No matter how exciting or exhilarating the experience of lucid dreaming is, the reality is: it’s still just a dream.
Which means it’s no different than any other dream.
Even if you die during your lucid dream, you’ll wake up safe and sound in your bed.
In fact, some researchers suggest lucid dreaming is an excellent opportunity to confront an existential fear of death.
Will Lucid Dreaming Affect My Sleep Quality?
Although we mentioned being cautious of sleep deprivation, many lucid dreamers feel refreshed and awake after a lucid dreaming experience.
Since lucid dreaming happens during REM sleep, the body and mind are able to get the rest they need and continue through their normal processes.
Being aware of the dream state doesn’t seem to affect this for most people.
Occasionally, lucid dreaming may feel like a tiring experience.
If this does occur, simply lessen the time you spend attempting to lucid dream. Try getting a full night’s sleep every night and then attempting to lucid dream a couple times a week during naps.
This will eliminate any possible sleep deprivation you might experience