How is it possible? conscious yet asleep

*** Diamond Eyes *** · 02-09-2011 10:31 PM

I was just curious, before I ever had a lucid dream but had heard about the concept, I couldn't comprehend how it was possible to be dreaming but still be conscious.. I thought, wouldn't you just wake up if you became conscious? How is it possible to be sleeping and dreaming but conscious and aware without waking up? I've had many lucid dreams now but still don't understand how it works.. does anyone know or have any ideas? The human brain sure is mysterious.

**Arra** · 02-09-2011 11:04 PM

People often think of sleeping as a necessarily unconscious state, even so much as to refer to a sleeping person as 'unconscious', the words 'sleep' and 'unconscious' being used almost synonymously. The answer to your question comes simply upon recognizing that this isn't true. Sleep consists of strange brainwaves and other strange things happening in our bodies. It usually involves a lack of awareness of our waking life, but it doesn't have to. If you're defining consciousness as our awareness of waking life, this is the answer I'd give.

But, I'd also argue that we are conscious during sleep, even while not lucid. We simply lack awareness of waking life. We have minds, we think, we're aware, during dreams.

**rkenning** · 02-09-2011 11:14 PM

Sleep paralysis. Your body is asleep but your mind becomes awake. This can only happen while you are in REM (dream) sleep though.

**Peetee36** · 02-09-2011 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by rkenning

Sleep paralysis. Your body is asleep but your mind becomes awake. This can only happen while you are in REM (dream) sleep though.

It doesn't only happen in REM sleep. It's just that the majority of dreams (And it's a big majority) happen in REM sleep, but you can have some outwith it.

*** Diamond Eyes *** · 02-09-2011 11:30 PM

I dunno, maybe conscious wasn't the right word. I know you're still conscious to an extent when you're dreaming even if you're not lucid, but becoming aware that you're dreaming but knowing that you're asleep at the same time seems like it wouldn't be possible. I know it is possible cause i've done it lol, but it would seem like we would just wake up when we realized we were dreaming but instead we stay in the dream while were aware and can control it.. it's just really neat to think about how the brain can achieve such an amazing thing.

**graphito** · 02-10-2011 12:33 AM

Interesting observation. I have achieved lucidity a lot of times and the first few times upon realizing i was in a lucid state, woke up. I kept working at it, experimenting with different techniques until I finally mastered how to remain in the lucid state, knowing my physical body was asleep. The truth of the matter is while we are asleep, our real essence (the spark of God that inhabits our bodies and keeps it alive) temporarily ventures out for exploration into other realms. I dare say that when someone dies, that spark or element cannot return into the physical abode. You may want to check a website I came across called dreamtwits.com for further analysis of your questions. Forum members are really experienced and have some very interesting and challenging views that rocks!!!

**rkenning** · 02-10-2011 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Peetee36

It doesn't only happen in REM sleep. It's just that the majority of dreams (And it's a big majority) happen in REM sleep, but you can have some outwith it.

So ur saying i could suddenly become aware that i am sleeping but not be dreaming and having no visual senses? Because i dont think thats possible. For me at least.

**rkenning** · 02-10-2011 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by graphito

The truth of the matter is while we are asleep, our real essence (the spark of God that inhabits our bodies and keeps it alive) temporarily ventures out for exploration into other realms.

oh so thats the truth

**insideout** · 02-11-2011 12:27 AM

I think it likely works something like this: When you are dreaming, your brain is working differently than when you are awake. Certain functions are inhibited, such as logical reasoning, and memory, (basically normal waking consciousness). When you become lucid within a dream, parts of your waking consciousness starts functioning again, but your brain is still mostly functioning in "dream mode," so you remain in the dream state and you don't wake up from it.

*** Diamond Eyes *** · 02-11-2011 12:56 AM

Inside out ; Ya that makes sense. thanks for that reply

**changed** · 02-11-2011 01:11 AM

We are conscious during non lucid dreams as well. We just aren't aware they are dreams. If we weren't conscious how would it even be possible for us to perceive and remember the dream. I believe we still make small decisions in our dreams even if we aren't lucid. Are decisions are just different because in a dream certain functions such as our logic center doesn't work, but when we become lucid it is possible for our logic center to work again. Just because we are asleep doesn't mean we are unconscious, did you know during rem our brain is the most active, more active than when we are awake?

**Peetee36** · 02-11-2011 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by rkenning

So ur saying i could suddenly become aware that i am sleeping but not be dreaming and having no visual senses? Because i dont think thats possible. For me at least.

That's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying that you might not be in REM sleep but can still dream. You're getting mixed up with something else.