Thread: Questions on Lucid Dreaming?

Please bare with me, I have a lot to ask. .__.
Alright, so I just joined this site yesterday. I've recently gotten interested in Lucid Dreaming, and I told my mother about it. She told me it was "Unsafe, could make you go insane, and not worth it." Also on how it was unhealthy that you wouldn't know if you were in a dream or not. Could Lucid Dreaming mentally screw you up? I heard it was safe, but I never actually spoke to someone who was lucid before.
And then there's Sleep Paralysis. I'm scared to death with just hearing the name. I heard that, at times, you see demons and go through terrifying experences. If you were to attempt Lucid Dreaming, would you be more likely to get sleep paralysis? And do you have to go through that just to become lucid?
Finally (Sorry for all the questions), I've been paranoid ever since I looked up Lucid Dreaming. I really want to lucid dream, I have the dream journal, I've been writing my dreams down, I'm just scared that if I do realise I'm awake in the dream, that I'll create my worst nightmare. Is it true that whatever you think just pops up? Knowing me, I'll see something that scares the daylight out of me. Is there anything I can do to avoid this?
Thanks so much.

As far as I know, lucid dreaming isn't dangerous, if you're healthy.
If you are already insane... well then it could be dangerous, but then anything you do could be dangerous.

Sleep paralysis isn't something to be afraid of, you go through it every night, only you don't normally experience it because you are already asleep. And by the way, you will only experience demons and monsters if you believe they exist, because then your mind will make them exist. If you don't believe in all that nonsense then there is nothing to be afraid of!

Being lucid means that you know that you are dreaming, so if you do summon some of your worst nightmares you will know its just a dream and that it won't be able to actually hurt you.

and lastly, if you practice lucid dreaming you will be better in separating real life from the dream world than a person that doesn't practice lucid dreaming.

These are my answers to your questions, of course it for you to decide whether to continue or not, but don't let yourself be scared of by people that don't know anything about lucid dreaming.

Ohh, I see. I was just a bit worried, but this helped me a lot. Thanks

Ladusence is right. You actually enter sleep paralysis every night, and you never notice it. As far as lucid dreaming being dangerous. It's very rarely dangerous, as it is easy to distinguish the differences between real life and a dream by doing reality checks. When it comes to becoming lucid creating a nightmare that shouldn't happen, because when you become lucid you're in control of the dream not just a spectator as with normal ones. So if you were to summon something you don't like it could be easily taken care of.

Just to add onto what the others have already said.

Lucid dreaming is no different than regular dreaming, with the exception that you understand everything around you is fake. As such, Lucid Dreams are exactly as harmful/safe as regular dreams. Lucid dreams have a specific "feel" to them, just like a regular dream, so you won't be mistaking a lucid dream for reality unless you are already mentally unstable. That is the only reason that I understand lucid dreams could be harmful.

As for sleep paralysis, if you haven't been going through sleep paralysis already, you likely won't in the future unless you practice the WILD technique.

For things appearing in your dreams, it is moreso what you EXPECT to happen, not usually just what you think. If a monster pops into your head, that doesn't mean it will appear. However, if it pops in your head, and you expect to turn around and see it, there is a high chance it will be there. As the others said, if this happens just know it is a dream. I find that facing monsters in a friendly manner, as if we were good friends, usually makes them harmless or even enjoyable. You will learn to control your dreams with practice.

Anyway, don't get paranoid about it. This is a forum FULL of lucid dreamers and we are still sane and able to distinguish reality from our dreams. If your mum ever has doubts, tell her to ask us questions and we will do our best to resolve her fears. Good luck, welcome to the forums, and happy dreaming!