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Posted: 25-11-2012 00:31 Post subject: Unwanted lucid dreaming

I'm not sure where this belongs out of Notes & Queries, The Human Condition and Chat, so mods, I shall defer to you!

Does anyone know anything about *unwanted* lucid dreams?
For those that don't know, a lucid dream is one where you're aware that you are dreaming, and can often influence the events in the dream.
It sounds like it should be a fantastic thing, and many people practise to achieve it.

However, I have a friend who never tried to do it on purpose, and had never experienced it until she had a car accident (no head injuries) just over a year ago. Since then, she lucid dreams every night and finds that she never, ever, feels rested (presumably as she's 'concious' during sleep). She desperately wants to return to having normal dreams but doesn't know who or where to turn to for help (her doctor has said it's just one of those things!) - can anyone offer any guidance?

Posted: 25-11-2012 01:35 Post subject:

How traumatic was the car crash that your friend was involved in? It sound like she might be suffering from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder.

I've had lucid dreams, a long time ago. They can be induced, however, similar to other sorts of vivid dreaming, they're usually sign that that some part of the sufferer, either mentally, or physically, is trapped. Whether it be by being wrapped tight in the bedsheets, caught in some sort of stressful situation in waking life, or being trapped in some sort of mental loop caused by an extreme event. Lucid dreams can allow the dreamer to take control of dream events, because it is much more difficult to cope with conscious events in waking life, whether ongoing, or past events in a short-hand of knotted emotions, still too much in the forefront of the sub-processes of the semi-conscious mind. Manifesting as a zombie process running in the background. The best way to deal with them, is by digging them out, root and branch.

Maybe she should go back to her doctor and emphasize just how much distress these lucid dreams are causing her? Talking it all out with a good therapist might help.

Posted: 25-11-2012 10:44 Post subject:

I had dreams of that kind after my wife died. Still have the occasional one. They are unpleasant because though you make decisions in the dreams they still end up where you didn't want them to. Still, perhaps they were trying to tell me there was nothing I could have done to prevent her death. (It was cancer, not an accident or anything).

Posted: 25-11-2012 18:13 Post subject:

If she's lucid, could she perhaps decide to go to sleep in the dream?

I find that I easily get distracted from lucidity by focusing on details. Sometimes I even fade in and out of lucidity as a dream calls for it.

Posted: 27-11-2012 15:30 Post subject:

There's more to 'lucid dreaming' than simply being aware one is in a dream. Awareness of being in a dream can happen in a liminal state - e.g., just before fully awaking. Full-blown lucidity connotes not just awareness of being in a dream, but being able to think and act as a proactive agent within that dream context.

I suspect what your friend describes as lucid dreaming is actually an increase of awareness (if not frequency or duration) of being in a liminal state. This in turn could be a symptom of either (a) inability to get into or stay within a deeper sleep or (b) heightened background stress / anxiety levels. Both of these would involve a sleep disturbance condition consistent with her not feeling well rested. It wouldn't require full-blown PTSD to cause such sleep disturbances.

In other words, this sounds to me like a sleep disturbance issue. I'd suggest starting with facilitating a better sleeping situation (regular hours; sufficient sleep time; eliminate stimulants near bedtime; etc.).

Posted: 28-11-2012 08:44 Post subject:

I've only ever had one lucid dream and I didn't understand at the time that's what it was. It was during a period of great stress - it only happened once and has never happened since.

I'm not sure I agree with EnolaGaia - having read fairly extensively on the subject now, not many deliberate practicioners will experience full-blown lucid dreams every night, nor would they recommend it, and I don't think that's purely a sleep-issue.

It seems there is a cause and effect thing going on with the car accident, and there are so many weird things that can happen to someone after such a physical or emotional trauma (e.g. like taking a knock and ending up speaking in a foreign accent). Maybe she should try a bit of hypnotherapy and have the therapist put her in 'safe mode' and try to effectively re-boot her.

Posted: 28-11-2012 12:31 Post subject:

Posted: 28-11-2012 15:38 Post subject:

Posted: 28-11-2012 15:51 Post subject:

Understood - heard that, thanks.

Posted: 30-11-2012 07:29 Post subject:

Agreed that it's likely trauma-related, OP. All it takes to register as a traumatic experience in the brain is that she believed she was in mortal danger at the time.

I have PTSD as well as lucid dreams (both intentional and unintentional) There are distinct differences and it can be distressing. seeking the help of a doctor or therapist would be good, as well as reviewing any medication she might be taking.

Posted: 02-12-2012 14:21 Post subject:

Thanks for all the replies, everybody Smile

I'll pass along what you've said and see what her thoughts are.
EnolaGaia's point is valid - I'm not sure what the level of lucidity is, only my friend can really answer that.
I may point her to this thread so she can take part in the discussion herself, if there's no objections?