Teens have difficulty lucid dreaming?

Hello there!

First off, I believe this is my first post. I have been a long time lurker, but never posted. I have known about lucid dreaming for about a year now, and give light nightly attempts. (more on that later - I'll explain, and no, I have not attained lucidity)

I am a teenager, and I was wondering if there was a biological barrier that has prevented me from lucid dreaming. This is just a thought I have been playing around with. It certainly doesn't apply to everyone, however. I am sure many teens have mastered lucid dreaming. Please correct me if I am wrong with some of my information.

There are many fascinating studies that show the differences and developing areas of a teenager's brain vs. an adult or child's brain. Look them up on the great 'ol Google (I'll post some links in a little while). One of the main parts that begins to develop during the teenage years is the frontal lobe - logic center. Because this not fully developed, teens rely heavily on the instinct "gut feeling" part of the brain (more in the center). This explains why teens behavior is often....impulsive :cheeky: :roll:

(If you are a teen, I suggest you read some articles, it explains what is going on up there :) Parents - it is quite interesting, and explains why are destined to be in conflict with your child. It may bring some peace of mind. :D)

When dreaming, the logic center turns off in the brain, which is why crazy things occur without objection. Lucidity occurs when you realize the insanity, and your logic center becomes active. Now, if the logic center is underdeveloped, could this inhibit attaining lucidity?

While I won't go saying I have a fully developed logic center, and I want remain humble, I do believe that I am more mentally mature and smarter than most teenagers my age. This could be a flaw in the theory?

Once again, this is just a thought. If there is another thread similar to this, or an article that proves/disproves, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I have a gut feeling ;) that this has already been discussed.

Please respond with your thoughts.
I am also setting up an age poll. I'm not a creeper looking for people's ages online, it is merely curiosity. If the results show something interesting, I may further pursue this.

I'm 17 now, and have a LD about once a week--in some cases more, some cases less. Just depends, but my average is once a week. My first LD was back when I was a kid, before I even learned what a LD was let alone knew I could take control of my dreams.

While I do like your theory (it certainly makes sense to me), I don't think it applies to everyone, as you mentioned in the second chunk of your post. Like I said, I'm a frequent lucid dreamer. However, I'm also a very logical-thinking teen--so maybe that has something to do with it? Like yourself, I'd consider myself to be more mentally mature than my peers (it's rather hard to word without sounding arrogant or anything, but whatever).

Another exception to your theory is kids that are able to LD. As they have reached adolescence let alone passed it, their frontal lobe wouldn't be nearly as developed, and thus their logic is under-developed (which makes sense--talk to a kid about things, and they'll justify things in what seem like completely irrational reasons to adults, but make perfect sense to kids).

So, while I do like your theory, I don't believe that the frontal lobe's development has anything to do with the ability to LD...but maybe I'm wrong. I almost hope that I'm wrong, because then that'll mean LDing would get easier as I pass into adulthood...who knows. :P

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Originally Posted by slurry

Like yourself, I'd consider myself to be more mentally mature than my peers (it's rather hard to word without sounding arrogant or anything, but whatever).

Another exception to your theory is kids that are able to LD. As they have reached adolescence let alone passed it, their frontal lobe wouldn't be nearly as developed, and thus their logic is under-developed (which makes sense--talk to a kid about things, and they'll justify things in what seem like completely irrational reasons to adults, but make perfect sense to kids).

So, while I do like your theory, I don't believe that the frontal lobe's development has anything to do with the ability to LD...but maybe I'm wrong. I almost hope that I'm wrong, because then that'll mean LDing would get easier as I pass into adulthood...who knows. :P

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It is hard to word, isn't it? Hahaha...

Kids? Maybe its something with an extremely underdeveloped frontal lobe? I understand what you are conveying.
I also highly doubt lucid dreaming is entirely dependent on the development of the frontal lobe. There are all sorts of variables that contribute.
Just a thought that I have been throwing around. I feel like it would be about time to lucid dream!

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Originally Posted by slurry

...as I pass into adulthood...

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Good luck later in life!

I've had my fair share of lucid dreams (see signature), and I started when I was fifteen years old - I just turned 17. I'm sure there isn't that much of a difference between age groups.

Nope. Most people who have had lucid dreams have them when they were a small child.

So if your theory is correct that the part of your brain that helps lucid dreaming begins to develop in teen years that would mean that as a small child that part of your brain hasn't developed at all.

Interestig theory, but I feel most people experience lucid dreaming because of a personal mentality, and less so with physical, even the brain. It might not necessarily be your age's logic center development working against it, but more so the strength of your gut feelings, because they make you very impatient. Patience is definitely a large part of becoming lucid, because if you're impatient and you fail to get lucid, it will annoy you and possibly make you try less subconsciously.

I started lucid dreaming at 17 , but was interested in dreaming for a couple years before... It's just that noone told me I could control them.

As for the young kids, I remember going into dreamworlds as a kid, although I wouldn't call that lucid dreaming in the same sense I understand it now.

I'm 15 and i lucid maybe twice a month. I've read that it's more common for teenagers to lucid, as their minds are more accepting to things like flying, etc.

Thanks guys for the replies.

I have had lucid dreams since I was a young child. I cannot remember when exactly it started unfortunately.
They became very frequent and more intense as I grew older, but nearly stopped halfway through high-school.

It's only at the age of 24 (last year) that I learned about what lucid dreaming actually is, and found this forum trying to get back into it.

I am 21 but started lucid dreaming around 14 or 15. Then there was a large gap of time where I didn't lucid dream at all. Not surprised that most of these lucid dreamers started off in there teens as that is the age where teens experiment with different stuff. Not sure how man of these are natural or induced lucid dreaming. :)

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Originally Posted by pepsibluefan

Not surprised that most of these lucid dreamers started off in there teens as that is the age where teens experiment with different stuff. Not sure how man of these are natural or induced lucid dreaming. :)

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I am not experimenting with stuff :) (Honestly)

I'll be honest, I'm 15. (Yes, don't give age out on internet, etc) (Do not worry, I am not some irritating immature one who types lIkE tHiS Cuz guyzzz i Can PwN sOmE n00bzzz omg haxor alt-QQ)

I have had one and a half dream realization that I can remember. I was very young, and it happened to be an identical nightmare to one I had probably a year previously. If I remember correctly, I realized that it couldn't possibly be real, and told my self to wake up. That day I asked my parents if you could be 'know when you're dreaming' (or along those lines.) They said that was impossible (of course, this was coming from a child), and that was the end of that.

The only other time I can remember was (while dreaming) telling my friends about a lucid dream I just had (the previous dream that night). I never put 2 and 2 together and did NOT become lucid. It was only after the fact that I realized. :(

I'm pretty sure the majority of our members fall in the 13-18 age group. I don't know if this supports the results, or invalidates them.

id say that teens have it much easier since we seem to usually accept things like this much more easily...And i have only had one lucid dream that was induced the rest were perfectly natural but when i tried to tell my parents about lucid dreaming they thought i was crazy or either on something so i think the younger the better probably

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Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

I'm pretty sure the majority of our members fall in the 13-18 age group. I don't know if this supports the results, or invalidates them.

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Both? Not a very diverse group to get statistics from, but it shows that teenagers have no problem what so ever lucid dreaming. I'm just a lemon :D

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I am also setting up an age poll. I'm not a creeper looking for people's ages online, it is merely curiosity. If the results show something interesting, I may further pursue this.

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And here, I got dissapointed...

Anyway, 20, started practicing at 5, so don't know about teens lol

I think young people have a much easier go of it. My son is 15 and he says just about every dream he has is Lucid. It just seems very normal and common place to him. I had no idea of this until a talk we had about dreaming.

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Originally Posted by Hukif

And here, I got dissapointed...

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Why are you disappointed?:cry:

I want creeper ;.;
Obvious joke is obvious, of course.

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Originally Posted by Hukif

I want creeper ;.;
Obvious joke is obvious, of course.

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I get. Hahaha. I guess I read into it too much.
Maybe we should start to post links to Dreamviews on active pedophile networks.

*(Moderators - don't take that out of context. Its a joke. Sometimes people take it a bit seriously.)*

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Originally Posted by Omniscient

Maybe we should start to post links to Dreamviews on active pedophile networks.

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I believe this qualifies Omniscient as a known pedophile, quick, alert the authorities!

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Originally Posted by slurry

I believe this qualifies Omniscient as a known pedophile, quick, alert the authorities!

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Aw snap! They're on to me! Run!:panic:
Before I hit the road, I believe I deserve an award for 'Ruining Reputation on First Post':awesomed:

im 14 and ive only had 6 ld's and it's extremely hard because i always feel like the stuff in my dreams make sence idk why but whatever

They're only as hard as you think.

I'm 13 and I've probably had around 40 lucid dreams total.

I am also very mature and smarter then most kids my age. I have a gut feeling that this is indeed why I can LD so well.

You talk in a very smart manner. Inspiration to kids everywhere!

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Originally Posted by timbowman1

I'm 13 and I've probably had around 40 lucid dreams total.

I am also very mature and smarter then most kids my age. I have a gut feeling that this is indeed why I can LD so well.

You talk in a very smart manner. Inspiration to kids everywhere!

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Me? Thanks.
Happy dreaming!

I am 18 and no LDs since I joined. Most of the people on this site are 13-18 and I don't think most have a problem lucid dreaming.

Age doesn't matter. I'm 17 and I can LD Abnormally Crazy. Its just different for everyone..on how individual mind works when they're awake or asleep. Some had impact after LD, some didn't.
Etc.

15.


Started when I had just turned 13. I've only had 2 or 3 Lucid Dreams :/

I agree with Shinice. People just have to have the right mindset, and the dedication to do it. Many teenagers just aren't that open to lucid dreaming (as with other age groups) and may be skeptical at first, which can hinder their ability to LD. However, I'd already had an LD before actually trying to induce them, so I knew they were possible, and after that I could LD easily.

I recall I had my first lucid experience when I was 8 or so, but I started to comprehend and see them frequently between 12-14. That was when I started to understand how to invoke them.

I'm sure I'll get it. I'm 13 and my friends(some of them younger than me) have actually been into lucid dreaming longer then me and never told me about it. once I talked to them about it I realized that my friends could lucid dream REALLY well nearly every night. I'm the only one out of the four of us who practice lucid dreaming who can't do this with such ease. So I think there is no age barrier.

I had natural LDs when I was younger, and still do...I'm a teenager now, and just from practicing a little I shot up with my ability to LD...
It took me only 3 days to get my first one when I started DV

I started when I was 12 or 13 when I joined waay back. I completely forgot about it for the most part when I started high school, until recently. I'm now 17, had my first (new) LD a couple of weeks ago, and trying hard to work towards more. While I've always been good at remembering my dreams, I've never been a 'natural' lucid dreamer as far as I know. I know that continuing this will lead to getting lucid every few days :)