Would it be dangerous for me to lucid dream...?

A few months ago I discovered lucid dreaming and was really excited about it. I tried to do it and met good success - I was finally able to realise I was dreaming. But then real life pulled me away and I discovered (after visiting a psychiatrist) that I might have schizophrenia.

It's early days yet, and I haven't been properly diagnosed, but I have been showing signs of the illness. I've been experiencing mild hallucinations (and no, schizophrenia isn't about having a split personality if anyone thinks that) which have ranged from the annoying to terrifying. I still had my interest in lucid dreaming, but had become wary of it for obvious reasons.

But now I feel I really want to get back trying to achieve a proper lucid dream. However, there is a part of me that is worried that this could do me more harm than good.

Basically, I'm looking for opinions from people that have fully experiencing lucid dreaming. Would it be stupid for me to attempt lucid dreaming considering that I might be suffering from schizophrenia? Or would it be safe enough as long as I am careful?

hmm... i think this would depend on how bad the schizophrenia is, and i think it would come down to if you could always tell if your dreaming or not, without confusing them. i think this is a question for a psychiatrist though so try to ask them.

I don't see how it would be any more dangerous than normal dreaming..?

Ask your doctor.

Better safe than sorry.

I agree with WinRic, you should ask your doctor. We can give opinions and personal ideas, but it is unlikely our advice would be better than your doctors. If there IS a risk, I am sure many posts here will not acknowledge that simply because of lack of knowledge. Your doctor would know much better than we would.

Well, LaBerge insists that lucid dreaming is perfectly safe for anyone who is mentally healthy. The risk is to someone whose mental health might cause them to lose track of what is real and what is a dream. Your psychiatrist should know at least a little about lucid dreaming; I concur that it would be best to ask his opinion next time you see him.

In my opinion it couldn't hurt, and possibly would make the experience more interesting as long as you can differentiate between dreaming and reality as someone already said. It seems like if there was a problem you'd experience it whether you were lucid or not, probably in the form of a nightmare. But I'm not a doctor and it'd probably be best to run it by him/her first.

Yes, I thought that was what I should do - go to the doctor. Although I don't think my doctor is going to be too versed in lucid dreaming. Still, I'll ask.

My own personal feeling is that I shouldn't have a problem. Lucid dreaming could stop my nightmares which would only be too welcomed.

You need to print out two or three pages which in detail describe lucid dreaming. Give that information to him, kindly ask him to read it, and tell him you have interest in learning this skill but are afraid to, for obvious reasons. I wish you all the best.

Jakob

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My own personal feeling is that I shouldn't have a problem.

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As far as a topic like lucid dreaming goes, I'd take your own advice before any doctor's advice.

-K

Lucid means aware. The harm from dreaming could be a loss of a grasp of reality, or possibly obsession. Is there any other possible harm?

We always dream even if we don't remember our dreams.

If you are lucid dreaming, you are aware you are dreaming.

As I see it, you cannot lose a grasp of reality from dreaming, because you do it every night. You cannot lose your grip on reality from being aware what is a dream and what is real. Lucid dreaming actually increases your grip on reality, because if you think you might be dreaming while awake, just do a reality check to test.

It is possible to get obsessed, but that is really simply perception. I say if a person watches 40 hours of TV a week, they are obsessed, yet the average American does just that. I did become obsessed with lucid dreaming. One reason is I was able to finally end two decades or more of nightmares.

If lucid dreaming interest interferes with work, family, or school, then it's a problem. Other than that, you are probably going to be able to end your nightmares.

I once read that a person with schizofrenia shouldn't try lucid dreaming. Last thing you want is to mix reality with dreams. :|

I think as a whole you shouldn't be worried about it... depending on what you think, though, you might not want to try any WILD techniques since you may not be able to differentiate between your conditioned hallucinations and hallucinations that can come naturally after SP.

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Originally Posted by Ndm

I once read that a person with schizofrenia shouldn't try lucid dreaming. Last thing you want is to mix reality with dreams. :|

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That is the opposite of lucidity.

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Originally Posted by WakingNomad

That is the opposite of lucidity.

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It is, and yet it's not. For a mentally healthy person, that is; beyond that I don't think either of us knows very much.

from what iv heard what you have makes it so your mind, in your waking life anyway, the line that separates fact and fiction is somewhere else. when your dreaming almost anything can happen if you put your mind to it. as long as you dont confront a powerfully pissed off demon, you should be peachy keen.

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Originally Posted by Supernova

It is, and yet it's not. For a mentally healthy person, that is; beyond that I don't think either of us knows very much.

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Lucid dreaming is not mixing reality with dreams. Lucidity means knowing when you are dreaming, and when you are awake.

I would say be cautious. You might end up with depersonalization/derealization along with your other issues.

I should add you might not want to listen to me because I don't think you're crazy.

For me the question is: Do those hallucinations cause any kind of anxiety or other disturbances?
"Seeing" things others can't see, does not always mean those things are not real. Some people just have a different kind of awareness.