Thread: Uneasy about Lucid Dreams

Yah, i'm about 99.9999999999% sure that there is NO conection between LDing and depression/psychological problems. I started LDing a few months ago and all it has done for me is i'm more perceptive and aware in waking life. I'm also more calm and in-tune with my subconcious. It makes me feel good about myself when I succeed at LDing so it has also improved my self-esteem. Believe me, there is nothing harmful about LDing. Have fun and good luck.

Its usually quite the opposite for me, whenever i wake up from a LD it gives me this great feeling of elation. And as for LD dreams making you doubt reality, well sure they do because they are just as real as waking life, but that shouldn't lead to depression. If waking life is just like a dream I don't believe it devalues it at all, just allows you to step back and take it a little more lightheartedly.

I dont think the problem i have with lucid dreams right now is doubting reality, rather its more trying to escape reality and ignore the problems i have.

Not to say that I agree completely with LDing being harmfull but I think if U feel that the method Ur using to have them is harmfull U will know it. I have been feeling that reality is a false front..generated by something or someone as a result of the 'MY LIFE IS A DREAM' method but I also realised that it is unhealthy to think like that. So it's really up to the dreamer's responsibility to ensure his own mental safety. There are many ways to induce lucidity even drugs which is also harmfull. So it really depends on how U get there rather than LDing being dangerous.

IMJ

Originally Posted by DeeJayOz

I dont think the problem i have with lucid dreams right now is doubting reality, rather its more trying to escape reality and ignore the problems i have.

I've heard people say that if they have a problem in life, they try to deal with it in lucid dreams and that gives them renewed confidence for dealing with things in waking life.

A lot of people try to escape from reality. I say that if the only thing you're doing to get away from it all is LDing... well then where is the problem with that? Now if you were doing drugs or getting wasted every night, then that would be a problem. I don't support escaping reality using any method, but if you're just doing it by lucid dreaming, then that's probably the least harmful method available.

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

A lot of people try to escape from reality. I say that if the only thing you're doing to get away from it all is LDing... well then where is the problem with that? Now if you were doing drugs or getting wasted every night, then that would be a problem. I don't support escaping reality using any method, but if you're just doing it by lucid dreaming, then that's probably the least harmful method available.

Very good point. ALOT of people in western societies try to escape from Reality: The Rush, the eternal haste, the nonstop mentally and physically exhausting prestation that is constantly demanded of you. It is not strange so many people want to get away from that.

However I'd rather see people Escape into the world of their Dreams consciously than that they expect drugs to relieve their stress/pain/anger..etc. I used to have a friend. He was kinda troubled in his relationship and started doing Cocaine. Now he's completely addicted, unwilling to admit that and he's become an ignorant, megalomaniac fool. He's out of his mind and has little friends now. Since he's also become quite an alcoholic. He has really come to relie on these substances to keep peace of mind.

Now Lucid Dreaming is also a way of "getting away" but at least it's a responsible way of doing so. Lucid Dreams can give an actual fulfillment that lasts. Drugs like Cocaine and alcohol only relieve the problem temporarily while on the long run making your mental and physical state deteriorate alot. My cocaine hooked frienmd isn't even a shadow of the person he once used to be. Also my Nightmares, especially from youth, were AWESOMELY disturbing and much more so than any Lucid Dreams. I would awake paranoid and scraed shitless sometimes, but seen that I stayed sane under the prerssure of so many very disturbing nightmares I don't see how Lucid Dreaming could put my Mind off-balance. In fact Lucidity is to learn to have more balance and control in your Mind.

No, Lucid Dreaming is a very responsible way of escaping the Rush of western society without damaging your body or mind. It's simply something that can give alot of fullfillment simply because the experience is so wonderfull.
If you're having trouble distinguishing reality from fantasy/dreams so bad that it becomes problematic for you then I suggest finding some help. Loosing grip on reality is a bad, disturbing thing. I wouldn't say Lucid Dreaming is to blame though, in fact: Lucid Dreaming teaches you to distinguish Waking life from dreams. Such problems are usually related to psychosis/psychotic related disorders and extreme emotional confusion. Try to find the sources of stress/negative emotions and specifically confusion outside Lucid Dreaming. You may find the causes of your confusion and apply lucid dreaming to actually confront and be free of this suffering.


Dreaming has no consequences, except maybe for waking you up in Joy, sadness or in panic. Drinking or snorting your problems away will, needless to say, have very negative consequences on you.

There is absolutely no correlation between lucid dreaming and depression. Depression, unless it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, is caused entirely by the individual. I know that some of you would say that that's bull, that no one chooses to be depressed, but I beg to differ. You mental state of being is the result of the images and the self-talk that occurs within the individual.

Yes it may be triggered by an unfortunate external event such as death of a close one or loss of some kind, but the eventual state of mind is entirely controlled by the individual. Let's take for example two people who have just suffered the loss of a parent. A tragic event that could easily cause depression. Person A choose to focus his mind on the positive, on the joy that they experience with the lost parent, on the good memories that they have. They choose to focus on going on with their life. This person will not experience depression. Person B allows the event to turn their focus to negative thoughts of loss and death. They focus on pain and unhapiness. Soon their thoughts degenerate to other unhappy thoughts and depression sets in until that person is able to change their state of mind and start focusing on life going on.

I talk about this with experience since in the past I have been diagnosed clinically depressed and medicated and have had bouts of depression in my life. It wasn't until I started to examine the images I held in my consciousness that I realized that I was causing it to happen. It wasn't until I change my focus that I was able to erradicate depression from my life for ever. It has now been many years since that time and never have I felt the slightess feeling of depression.

If you tell yourself that LDing will cause depression, then beware because in your experience it will. The mind is a powerful thing and listen very closely to what you tell it to experience. We are all the creators of our own universe.

Focus you thoughts on being healthy and whole. Focus on hapiness and joy. Tell yourself that lucid dreaming will bring unimaginable pleasures in your life...and it will.

That's my peace

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

I've heard people say that if they have a problem in life, they try to deal with it in lucid dreams and that gives them renewed confidence for dealing with things in waking life.

A lot of people try to escape from reality. I say that if the only thing you're doing to get away from it all is LDing... well then where is the problem with that? Now if you were doing drugs or getting wasted every night, then that would be a problem. I don't support escaping reality using any method, but if you're just doing it by lucid dreaming, then that's probably the least harmful method available.

Yup I have to agree with Mes here ^_^.

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

I've heard people say that if they have a problem in life, they try to deal with it in lucid dreams and that gives them renewed confidence for dealing with things in waking life.

A lot of people try to escape from reality. I say that if the only thing you're doing to get away from it all is LDing... well then where is the problem with that? Now if you were doing drugs or getting wasted every night, then that would be a problem. I don't support escaping reality using any method, but if you're just doing it by lucid dreaming, then that's probably the least harmful method available.

Excellent point Mes. Lucid dreaming sort of separates the champions from the losers, as those who are champions in life learn to deal with their problems in natural ways such as lucid dreaming or by getting high while meditating, while losers resort to doing things like drugs, or just ignoring the problems they might be having and feeling sorry for themselves.

Lucid dreaming and getting high from meditating provide the most useful method for anyone to deal with their problems in life, in addition to being good for a persons health and well being.

However, lucid dreams may not be for everyone, as not everyone has the heart of a champion that it takes to face their problems and deal with them through a natural means like lucid dreaming.

Well, most people wouldn't be affected by lucid dreaming, but if you have any kind of mental problem to start with (especially schitzophrinia [and pardon my bad spelling]) it might not be such a good idea. My dad's friend's daughter tried it, (she is schitzophrinic) and she couldn't tell dreams from reality. But I think for most people, it won't cause any problems. I don't think depression is related to lucid dreaming. Well, at least not directly. I mean, I guess it could be possible that in having lucid dreams, the world seemed so awesome and terriffic, that your real life started to look really bad.

Originally Posted by weelilhazel

My dad's friend's daughter tried it, (she is schitzophrinic) and she couldn't tell dreams from reality.

I've mentioned this elsewhere but I'll do so again:

If you can't tell dreams from reality then, by definition, you ARE NOT lucid dreaming.

LDing had nothing to do with your Dad's friend's daughter's confusion. Schizophrenia itself is the condition that makes its sufferers have trouble distinguishing external reality from internal reality.