Lucid Dreams – The Awakening of a New Consciousness
Dreams have long been a somewhat mysterious aspect of human existence. No matter how imaginative, brain-driven hallucinations can feel genuine and cause various feelings, from melancholy to panic. And the idea of lucid dreaming elevates things to a completely different level.
The concept of lucid dreaming entails realizing that your dream is a dream, not a reality. For some people, it also involves the power to alter the “plot” of your dream as it develops. This kind of controllable dream may lessen anxiety and nightmares.
If you have come here to know how to experience a lucid dream, this article is for you. Read on to learn about lucid dreaming, including what it is, when it happens, and how to induce it.
When Does Lucid Dreaming Take Place?
Your brain alternates between non-REM sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when you are sleeping. There are three different phases of non-REM sleep. During non-REM, your heartbeat, eye tracking, and electrical activity all gradually calm down.
Your brain is jam-packed during REM sleep. Your breathing and eye movements quicken as well. Lucid dreaming typically occurs during REM sleep, much like most dreams do.
When you are awake and conscious while dreaming, it is called a lucid dream. When you’re in a dream, you’re conscious of your consciousness. A lifelong lucid dream is something that about 55% of people have had. But it’s uncommon to have regular lucid dreams. At least once a month, 23% of persons report lucid dreams.
How to Experience a Lucid Dream?
Given the inconsistent self-reporting nature of data, it is difficult to tell how particular effective strategies can be. However, research has mostly concentrated on a small number of participants who claim to be effective techniques. Use a grain of salt when reading this.
- Keep a Dream Journal
A dream notebook, also known as a dream diary, is frequently used by people to promote lucid dreaming. You are forced to remember your dreams if you write them down. This is said to assist your brain in being more conscious of dreaming.
If you wish to keep a dream diary, keep a paper notepad and a pen beside your bed. When you are up, write down your dream. To help your brain become accustomed to your dreams, read your diary frequently.
- Reality Check
Reality testing entails continuously evaluating the “reality” of your surroundings throughout your waking day. Examples include straining to breathe through a squeezed nose, pressing against tangible things, and staring at your reflection in a mirror.
If you perform these tests frequently enough while awake, you will eventually perform them in your dreams. When you see that these tests behave differently when you are dreaming, you will realize that you are dreaming.
- Try Some Techniques
While lucid dreams frequently occur randomly, they may also be brought on using induction techniques. These techniques consist of:
- Retire to bed (WBTB): Five hours after going to bed, get up. You’ll have a higher chance of entering REM sleep while you’re still awake when you go back to sleep.
- Lucid dream induction with mnemonics (MILD): Declare that you’ll have lucid dreams tonight. Before going to sleep or when you’re awake during WBTB, you can do it.
- Lucid dream triggered by waking up (WILD): WILD allows you to transition into REM sleep while still being aware. You lay down till you get a hypnagogic hallucination.
Benefits of Having a Lucid Dream
Here are some benefits of lucid dreams.
Remove Anxiety:
Lucid dreaming may lessen anxiety brought on by nightmares by reducing them. Additionally, PTSD-related anxiety is treated with it. Additionally, anecdotal data suggests lucid dreaming may reduce overall anxiety, although more rigorous studies are required. It allegedly enables some people to go over their anxiety’s root cause.
Build a Creative Mind
Your creativity could be enhanced by lucid dreaming. Usually, creative persons are more prone to lucid dreams. This could result from their improved capacity for dream recall and event visualization. It suggests that it can also operate in reverse.
People assert that lucid dreaming fosters imagination and creativity. However, it hasn’t been scientifically verified; many claim that lucid dreaming helps them be more creative.
Final Word
You are conscious of your dream while it is occurring when you are lucid dreaming. In rare circumstances, you could have some influence over the plot of the dream.
Lucid dreams may lessen nightmares, ease anxiety, and enhance creativity and motor abilities.
Proceed with caution if you have a sleep or mental disorder. Sleep disruptions and derealization are two hazards of attempting to lucid dream. Before attempting lucid dreams, consult with a therapist or sleep expert.
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