Are LDs a sign of OCD?

**Empty** · 07-27-2012 10:40 PM

Hi everyone.

I talked a bit about LDs in another forum (long time ago) and with a therapist (recently) and in both cases a question occurred, which I can not answer.
I can not answer, because the counter-argument always is, that "this is a subconscious block", which prevents me from seeing "the truth" or something like that.
The question always is: "Aren't LDs a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?" - This question rises, because "normally" dreams are something to life with, passively. The attempt to control your dreams shows, that one wants to reach perfection or that one can not accept, that some areas of life can not be controlled.
And this argument always rises, after I repeat what I have read about LDs, life:
"You can train your sport/instrument (music) and get a hang of the movements and timing" or
"You can clear some problems in your mind" or
"You can test some real life situations" and so on.

I hope we can discuss this a bit more serious here.

As for me: I don't believe this is some kind of OCD. I haven't had any LDs yet, but I know a bit about the theory. And I don't see, why one shouldn't try to LD. For me it is some kind of meditation while sleeping. And no one ever said "Meditation is OCD" to me.

Btw: I have searched but haven't found this topic yet. So I hope it is a new topic.
If not: I am new here. Please forgive me.

**Empedocles** · 07-27-2012 11:29 PM

No.

**Robot_Butler** · 07-28-2012 12:04 AM

I don't think so. Lucidity does not necessarily imply control. It only requires awareness. You want to be more aware of your dreams, aware of your state of mind while awake, and aware of your memories. It can be fun to exert control over your dreams, but it is not required.

**Empty** · 07-28-2012 09:32 AM

Well, but they often regard the attempt to be aware "even in dreams" as your wish to control yourself or your awareness even more. On the other hand they implied, that dreams are the only time of a day, were you finally don't have to be aware (-> relaxation).

And if I want to counter this arguments, I only defend my wrong unconscious desire to control everything.

The sad thing is: This thinking pattern gets deeper in my mind than I want, so it may block my LDs a bit. (That is why a newbie like me shouldn't discuss this topic with someone who rejects the idea of LDs)

**Shamaness** · 07-28-2012 12:39 PM

I don't thinks so. The main reason why I want to train myself to lucid dream is curiosity, it sounds like an awesome experience and I would like to try it out first hand. A desire to control the environment and ourselves is normal to human nature, it's the key to progress in our everyday lives, to take an active part in the shaping of our surroundings. The wish to consciously build our dream experiences in my opinion doesn't have to do anything with obsessive compulsive disorder either, I think of it more like a manifestation of innate human creativity. Why not take this opportunity to lucid dream if we can?

**dms111** · 07-28-2012 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Empty

I can not answer, because the counter-argument always is, that "this is a subconscious block", which prevents me from seeing "the truth" or something like that.

The reason you can't answer that counter-argument is because it's not an argument at all. They might as well be saying "shut up I'm right you're wrong."

Originally Posted by Empty

Well, but they often regard the attempt to be aware "even in dreams" as your wish to control yourself or your awareness even more. On the other hand they implied, that dreams are the only time of a day, were you finally don't have to be aware (-> relaxation).

We are always aware in our dreams. If we weren't aware during them we wouldn't be having them or remembering them. And relaxation has nothing to do with being aware or not aware.

Originally Posted by Empty

The attempt to control your dreams shows, that one wants to reach perfection or that one can not accept, that some areas of life can not be controlled.

Except we can have control in our dreams. It is not an area that is beyond our control. So that's no argument unless the person doesn't believe lucid dreams are possible and thinks all we ever do is strive for one that will never come.

You're talking to some stupid, or deliberately manipulative people.

**Empty** · 07-28-2012 06:04 PM

I just received my new book "Lucid Dreaming - Gateway to the Inner Self" by Robert Waggoner.

I think he gives a great analogy:
A lucid dreamer is to a dream like a sailor is to the sea.

We can not control our dreams, we can "focus" on different aspects and "wish" or "intent" something. But the dream is controlled by another instance, which gives everything a colour, odour, taste, smell and touch and also movement, physics, a story etc..
So lucid dreaming just means, that we can move more freely and interact with the scenery.

dms111:
Well I wouldn't call them stupid. I think they just don't know about this and maybe they are not open minded enough and try to defend there believes, but I also would say I wasn't able to describe it good enough, since I am naturally not very persuasive.

btw: I have to thank you for all the good replies so far.