GIFTED AND BLESSED SPIRITUAL AWAKENING ACADEMY (GBSAA)

LECTURE NOTE

WEEK 8 QUARTER 8

COURSE: LUCID DREAMING

Studies suggest that lucid dreaming may involve the activation of

specific brain regions, particularly in the prefrontal and parietal
cortex, areas associated with executive function and self-awareness.
Therapeutic Applications:
Lucid dreaming has shown promise in treating conditions like
nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In Conclusion: Lucid dreaming is a fascinating phenomenon with
potential benefits and scientific interest. By understanding its nature
and utilizing various techniques, individuals can explore the possibility
of experiencing and even controlling their dreams.
5 Lucid Dreaming Techniques to Try
1. History
2. How to lucid dream
3. How to wake up
4. Benefits
5. Cautions

If you want to try lucid dreaming, some strategies, including

performing reality checks, can help train your mind to recognize its
own consciousness.

What is lucid dreaming?

Lucid dreaming is when you’re conscious during a dream. This
typically happens during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the
dream-stage of sleep.
An estimated 55 percent of people have had one or more lucid
dreams in their lifetime.

During a lucid dream, you’re aware of your consciousness. It’s a form

of metacognition, or awareness of your awareness. Often, lucid
dreaming also lets you control what happens in your dream.

Some people report that lucid dreams feel very vivid and real, while
others say they feel a bit hazier. Others say their lucid dreams feel
different every time.

History
In the last 20 years, psychophysiologist Dr. Stephen LaBerge has
become the pioneer of lucid dreaming research. Not only did he
invent one of the most popular lucid dreaming techniques, but he has
also led many scientific studies on the subject.
LaBerge’s work has helped researchers discover therapeutic benefits
of lucid dreaming. It may be useful in treating conditions, like PTSD,
recurring nightmares, and anxiety.

Lucid dreaming usually happens spontaneously. However, it’s possible

to learn how to lucid dream through various methods.

How to have a lucid dream: 5 methods

Lucid dreaming techniques train your mind to notice your own
consciousness. They’re also designed to help you regain or maintain
consciousness as you enter REM sleep.

1. Wake-initiated lucid dreaming (WILD)

A wake-initiated lucid dream (WILD) happens when you directly enter
a dream from waking life. It’s said WILD helps your mind stays
conscious while your body goes to sleep.
You’ll need to lay down and relax until you experience a hypnagogic
hallucination, or a hallucination that occurs when you’re just about to
fall asleep. WILD is simple, but it’s difficult to learn.

Practicing the other lucid dreaming induction techniques will increase

your chances of WILD.

2. Reality testing
Reality testing, or reality checking, is a form of mental training. It
increases metacognition by training your mind to notice your own
awareness.

Your level of metacognition is similar in your waking and dreaming

states. So, higher metacognition when you’re awake could lead to
higher metacognition when you’re dreaming.

This may be related to the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which plays a role
in both reality testing and lucid dreaming. To enhance your
metacognition, you can do reality tests while you’re awake.

To try reality testing, follow these steps several times a day:

Ask yourself, “Am I dreaming?”

Check your environment to confirm whether you’re dreaming.
Notice your own consciousness and how you’re engaging with your
surroundings.
You can set an alarm every 2 to 3 hours to remind yourself to do a
reality check.

Here are common reality checks that people use to lucid dream:

Mirrors. Check your reflection to see if it looks normal.

Solid objects. Push your hand against a wall or table and see if it goes
through. Some people push their fingers into their opposite palm.
Hands. Look at your hands. Do they look normal?
Time. If you’re dreaming, the time on a clock will constantly change.
But if you’re awake, the time will barely change.
Breathing. This popular reality check involves pinching your nose and
seeing if you can breathe. If you can still breathe, you’re dreaming.
It’s recommended to pick one reality check and do it multiple times a
day. This will train your mind to repeat the reality checks while
dreaming, which can induce lucid dreaming.

3. Wake back to bed (WBTB)

Wake back to bed (WBTB) involves entering REM sleep while you’re
still conscious.

There are many versions of WBTB, but consider this technique:

Set an alarm for 5 hours after your bedtime.
Go to sleep as usual.
When the alarm goes off, stay up for 30 minutes. Enjoy a quiet activity
like reading.
Fall back asleep.
When you go back to sleep, you’ll be more likely to lucid dream.
While you’re awake, choose any activity that requires full alertness.

Research suggests the chances of lucid dreaming depends on the level

of alertness and not the specific activity.

4. Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD)

In 1980, LaBerge created a technique called Mnemonic Induction of
Lucid Dreams (MILD). It was one of the first methods that used
scientific research to induce lucid dreams.

MILD is based on a behavior called prospective memory, which

involves setting an intention to do something later.

In MILD, you make the intention to remember that you’re dreaming.

Here’s how to use the MILD technique:

As you fall asleep, think of a recent dream.
Identify a “dreamsign,” or something that’s irregular or strange in the
dream. An example is the ability to fly.
Think about returning to the dream. Acknowledge that the dreamsign
only happens when you dream.
Tell yourself, “The next time I dream, I want to remember that I am
dreaming.” Recite the phrase in your head.
You can also practice MILD after waking up in the middle of a dream.
This is usually recommended, as the dream will be fresher in your
mind.

Pro tip
Research suggests that a combination of reality testing, WBTB, and
MILD works best. You can combine WBTB with MILD by setting alarm
to wake up in five hours. While you’re awake, practice MILD.

5. Keeping a dream journal

Keeping a dream journal, or dream diary, is a popular method for
initiating lucid dreaming. When you write down your dreams, you’re
forced to remember what happens during each dream. It’s said to
help you recognize dreamsigns and enhance awareness of your
dreams.

For best results, log your dreams as soon as you wake up. It’s also
recommended to read your dream journal often.
How to wake up
Sometimes, you might want to wake up from a lucid dream. Lucid
dreamers use a few different techniques.

Try the following methods to wake from a lucid dream

Call out for help. It’s said that yelling in your dream tells your brain it’s
time to wake up. Or, if you manage to speak out loud, you might
wake yourself up.
Blink. Repeatedly blinking may help your mind get ready to wake up.
Fall asleep in your dream. If you’re aware that you’re dreaming, go to
sleep in your dream, so you can wake up in real life.
Read. Try to read a sign or book in your dream. This could activate
parts of your brain that aren’t used in REM.
Benefits
There’s some evidence that lucid dreaming has therapeutic effects.
Lucid dreaming might help people do the following.

Overcome nightmares
It’s common to have a nightmare now and then. Recurring
nightmares, however, can cause stress and anxiety.

They’re often associated with:

◼ post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

◼ depression
◼ anxiety
◼ stress
◼ sleep disturbances, like insomnia
◼ substance use
Lucid dreaming might help by letting the dreamer control the dream.
Additionally, when a dreamer knows they’re dreaming, they can
recognize that the nightmare isn’t real.

Lucid dreaming is often used in imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). In

IRT, a therapist helps you reimagine a recurring nightmare with a
different, more pleasant storyline.
When used with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), IRT with lucid
dreaming induction can help increase dream control.

A small 2017 study examined this effect by looking at 33 military

veterans with PTSD and recurring nightmares. Some received CBT
with IRT, while others received CBT alone. The group that received
CBT with IRT experienced higher dream control, which reduced
nightmare-induced stress.

Relieve anxiety
Most scientific research has focused on PTSD and nightmare-induced
anxiety. But according to anecdotal evidence, lucid dreaming can also
ease anxiety caused by other reasons.

People claim that controlling their dreams lets them face situations
that cause them anxiety.
Improve motor skills
Lucid dreaming could potentially benefit physical rehabilitation.
Research from 2013 suggested that mentally performing motor skills
may increase the physical ability to do them.

This means that people with physical disabilities could potentially

practice motor skills while lucid dreaming. The authors of the article
speculate that people without physical disabilities could possibly use
lucid dreaming to improve motor skills as well.

Cautions
Generally, any dangers of lucid dreaming are caused by induction
techniques.

Negative aspects might include:

Sleep problems. WBTB and MILD involve waking up in the middle of

the night. These interruptions can make it difficult to get enough rest,
especially if you have a sleep disorder or an irregular sleep schedule.
Derealization. Sleep disturbances can lead to derealization, or the
feeling that people, things, and your environment aren’t real.
Depression. The sleep interruptions of induction techniques may
increase depressive symptoms.
Sleep paralysis. Lucid dreaming may occur with sleep paralysis, which
can be brief yet unsettling. Plus, sleep problems can increase the risk
of sleep paralysis.
When to see a doctor
See a healthcare professional if you experience:

frequent nightmares
nightmares that regularly disrupt sleep
fear of sleeping
traumatic flashbacks
emotional changes
memory problems
trouble sleeping
These symptoms may indicate PTSD, a mental health issue, or a sleep
disorder. Your clinician can determine if therapy with lucid dreaming
is right for you.

The bottom line

Lucid dreaming happens when you’re aware that you’re dreaming.
Often, you can control the dream’s storyline and environment. It
occurs during REM sleep.
When used in therapy, lucid dreaming can help treat conditions like
recurring nightmares and PTSD. Researchers think it might also aid
physical rehabilitation.

If you’d like to lucid dream, try the techniques listed above. These
methods can train your mind to be conscious of your consciousness
during sleep.

It’s best to see your doctor if you think you have a sleep disorder,
PTSD, or another mental health condition.

How we reviewed this article:

Sources

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