Thread: Uneasy about Lucid Dreams

Kid-Lucid's post made me uneasy about lucid dreams so I looked around and it seems that lucid dreaming can sometimes be harmful for a person. One of the problems was depression and using lucid dreaming; this quote especially unsettles me

I am caught in the position that I honestly believe that Lucid Dreaming is both a very good and very dangerous thing. Good, in that I have used it successfully for a number of purposes, all of which I am very proud to have done: works of Theurgy, healing rituals, and so forth. Dangerous, in that I cannot in any conscience endanger the mental well-being of any eager young neophyte. I speak as one who has himself suffered Depressive moods in the past, which I see with hindsight as nothing but my own fault.

I know that i am seeing the beginnings of clinical depression in my own life and cant help but look at why im trying to lucid dream and im starting to think that maybe this isnt such a good idea

Well everything is dangeorus, because anything can happen. It's too bad that LDing made him feel like that. It's up to you to decide whether to do it or not and calculate the pros and cons. I don't know why he experienced all those things (I couldn't realy tell from his post). Yes some techniques involve doubting reality or treating it as a dream. It might have been that or something else most of us (I guess) don't experience. There are at least a thousand active dreamers on these forums and I very rarely see posts like his. Some are natural LDers and I've heard that some have never eaven had a normal dream before. It just shows us something we all know, that people are very different from eacother. It's up to you to think this through. All I know is that every LD I have is amazing and I'm glad to have them. I don't care if I go mentaly insane, which I really doubt, because I'm going to die someday anyway. The only thing important is to have fun while I'm still here. LDs are fun and I'm going to try and have them as long as it is so. You can fly!

ok, im no scientist or physchologist...but i would have said LDing is beneficial not detrimental. Unless you get depressed from non-lucid dreams. I would say nothing can change; same as dreaming except you are aware. nothing to be worried about in my opinion.

i agreee with Bonsay: they are fun and exciting..

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.

LDs are capable of great and bad things... but it depends on the person. Fear and expectation of bad things will inevitably cause dreams to turn into nightmares, and even LD's can take a nasty turn. However, if you take a positive approach with dreaming, the positiveness will reflect in their nature. Why? Because of the nature of dreaming. Expect or fear something to happen and it will, so expect positive occurances and naturally they will happen. All in all, it all depends on your mindset. I find that in the three LD's I've had that they've generally been enlightening experiences. Now I just need to work towards getting more of them...

Kid Lucid showed us how Contagious Fear is.

Can you, honostly, explain to me how Lucid Dreaming is Related to Depression? In my experienc e it has only enlightened me and actually soothed my stressed mind. I can tell you from experience that some Lucid Dreams made me feel VERY well rested after only 3 to 4 hours of sleep not to mention they awoke me in pure exstatic joy much like the satisfaction of some real good sex but then purely Mental. This may indicate that Lucid Dreams increase Serotonin production making me more cheerfull, active and energetic; something that comes like rain in the dessert for someone suffering from 7 months of Insomnia.

Maybe Kid Lucid and this other guy you quoted were people having subjective, personal mental issues. Who sais they are related to Lucid Dreaming? Maybe they both couldn't find any obvious reason for their mental issues and pointed out Lucid Dreaming as the evil-doer. Many people, when faced with a difficult problem, tend to "blame" something or someone so they can eliminate that factor or person in the ignorant hope that their problem will then be gone.


I sure hope that with this Post the Fear-virus stops from spreading. Lucid Kid is a Scarecrow in the marvelous world of Lucid Dreaming. The fear is irrational and has no facts to be based on.

Lucid dreaming makes me a very happy person! The feeling of joy I experience from one good Lucid Dream, can Last me for weeks!

Listen to bluefinger and SKA. They know what they're talking about on this issue. Unless your lucid dreams are nightmares then they have far more potential for positive results than for negative. But even if they are nightmares, you're lucid! You know they are only dreams and can combat your threats without fear. Lucidity EMPOWERS you!

Originally Posted by DeeJayOz

Kid-Lucid's post made me uneasy about lucid dreams so I looked around and it seems that lucid dreaming can sometimes be harmful for a person. One of the problems was depression and using lucid dreaming; this quote especially unsettles me

I am caught in the position that I honestly believe that Lucid Dreaming is both a very good and very dangerous thing. Good, in that I have used it successfully for a number of purposes, all of which I am very proud to have done: works of Theurgy, healing rituals, and so forth. Dangerous, in that I cannot in any conscience endanger the mental well-being of any eager young neophyte. I speak as one who has himself suffered Depressive moods in the past, which I see with hindsight as nothing but my own fault.

First of all, nowhere in there does Kid-Lucid provide evidence to support such a concern. Being an LDer and being depressed doesn't mean squat. You think that being depressed excludes you from being capable of dreaming lucidly? Of course not. Some killers have had lucid dreams but that doesn't imply that awareness of the dream state breeds killers.

What in his/her post - besides Kid's negative attitude - says that LDing caused any problems at all? Kid-Lucid certainly seems to distrust the phenomena, yes, but only distrust is expressed. Not chain of events or cause and effect.

Originally Posted by DeeJayOz

I know that i am seeing the beginnings of clinical depression in my own life and cant help but look at why im trying to lucid dream and im starting to think that maybe this isnt such a good idea

That may be. You may choose to consult a specialist in depression about whether or not LDing is right for you. It's all about you, my friend. If something doesn't feel right to you - with regards to anything in life - then you need to evaluate the situation carefully.

That being said, LDing has never been known to cause or worsen any mental problems that I'm aware of.

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.

But depression shouldn't be worsened by questioning reality. It's simply a tool to be more aware of your surroundings. And how is dreaming lucidly "escaping reality"? You have to sleep anyway. It's nature. Dreams are a part of sleep whether you participate or not.

Enjoying your dreams doesn't make you have dreams. It enhances the dreams you already have.

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

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?

What she said.

just tyr it once. believe me, if it does cause depression, and im pretty sure it doesn't, it wil take more than 1 try. I say LDs would be worth any side effects, even though i bet there are none.

Originally Posted by DeeJayOz

Kid-Lucid's post made me uneasy about lucid dreams so I looked around and it seems that lucid dreaming can sometimes be harmful for a person. One of the problems was depression and using lucid dreaming; this quote especially unsettles me
I know that i am seeing the beginnings of clinical depression in my own life and cant help but look at why im trying to lucid dream and im starting to think that maybe this isnt such a good idea

The only relation between lucid dreaming and depression that I would see is that if a person tries really hard to have a lucid dream and is unsuccessful, that can be depressing.

Since lucid dreams, by their very nature, allow a person to control their own mind, and their own destiny, and virtually be the captain of their own ship, I feel that lucid dreams would be very therapudic and of great value to anyone suffering depression.

Not only would they be able to control their own mind and future, but they would also be able to escape whatever happened to be depressing them at the moment and enjoy themselves while in their dream world, which would be very therapudic for them.

Alright, i think some of you are missing the point of what im saying. Im not saying in anyway that lucid dreams are the cause of depression or that lucid dreams are harmful or that questioning reality is a bad thing. What im saying is, that for me at least, lucid dreams can become a form of escape and not in a healthy way. Lucid dreams allow you to create your own reality and its easy for me to retreat into that safety spot and ignore this reality and the hardships it presents. When your life is good then lucid dreams can suppliment that life and make it better; when your life is bad lucid dreams can help you ignore the other reality. I know theres a "waking life" and a "sleeping life" and that the two dont intersect each other but when your waking life is shit sleeping longer, more often and just getting through the day to go to sleep seems a lot more tempting.

Originally Posted by DeeJayOz

...I know theres a "waking life" and a "sleeping life" and that the two dont intersect each other but when your waking life is shit sleeping longer, more often and just getting through the day to go to sleep seems a lot more tempting.

But there's a difference between enjoying dreams and being too lazy to get up and face the day. Not to be harsh but, it's just sounds like an excuse to me.

And besides, there's plenty of people who don't know anything about lucid dreaming that are lazy and sleep their lives away.

Originally Posted by DeeJayOz

I know that i am seeing the beginnings of clinical depression in my own life and cant help but look at why im trying to lucid dream and im starting to think that maybe this isnt such a good idea

if anything, lucid dreaming can help with depression. I'm sure nothing bad is going to happen to you while you're lucid dreaming, after all, you're really just laying in your bed safe and sound while everything that happens in a lucid is all in your imagination.