Thread: Can Lucid dreaming help people cope with depression, or can it cause/worsen it?

We have a few threads like this, asking how did LDing change your life.

One of the links http://www.dreamviews.com/general-lu...king-life.html

I'll post more when i find them.

I have been trying for over a month now in hopes that It will. I believe it will because it is a sense of accomplishment. After working so hard towards something you finally made it. Now it's time to do it again and get better.

If you are depressed and seeking help with dealing with that depression, the first thing you should do is consult a mental health professional. Have you done that?

I battled with anxiety for a few months back and have finally managed to get through it, I know they are two different things (anxiety and depression) but anxiety basically removed my ability to lucid dream, mainly because I was lucky to get 3 hours of sleep or more a night, which was tuff. To answer your question, the first ever time I became lucid, it was the shortest time ever, and it lasted about a minute, max, but it was one of the happiest days I had experienced for a while, so yeah, it made me happy, and depending on what you do in lucid dreams really is the factor that decides whether or not you come out of it happy or sad.

Originally Posted by gab

We have a few threads like this, asking how did LDing change your life.

One of the links

I'll post more when i find them.

Thanks I will check that out, I appreciate it!

Originally Posted by Mewtwo

I have been trying for over a month now in hopes that It will. I believe it will because it is a sense of accomplishment. After working so hard towards something you finally made it. Now it's time to do it again and get better.

That makes sense, especially since lucid dreaming is such a process, it can feel great to even have a moment of actually accomplishing it.
thanks

Originally Posted by Bobblehat

If you are depressed and seeking help with dealing with that depression, the first thing you should do is consult a mental health professional. Have you done that?

I am not actually depressed, I am doing research on lucid dreaming and I was curious to know how people react to lucid dreaming, and if all experiences are positive or if some are negative. Or both.
but thank you for your concern

Originally Posted by Phased

I battled with anxiety for a few months back and have finally managed to get through it, I know they are two different things (anxiety and depression) but anxiety basically removed my ability to lucid dream, mainly because I was lucky to get 3 hours of sleep or more a night, which was tuff. To answer your question, the first ever time I became lucid, it was the shortest time ever, and it lasted about a minute, max, but it was one of the happiest days I had experienced for a while, so yeah, it made me happy, and depending on what you do in lucid dreams really is the factor that decides whether or not you come out of it happy or sad.

Interesting, I never really thought about anxiety so that is cool that you brought it up. I think I understand what you mean that anxiety can prevent it with lack of sleep. Can't sleep don't dream as often. I imagine that peoples lucid dreaming can affect ones emotions, as well as emotions influence how well/often a person lucid dreams.
But because a lucid dream was a happier time than waking life,the next day did that give you a negative attitude toward waking life, or did you feel happier about waking life. I don't know if I am wording that right, but I guess it is how you feel the day after you lucid dream?

It depends on the person really. Lucid Dreaming for me, has allOwed me to experience the stories that I create, but has also served as a kind of "escape" at times. The whole "escape" part of it might further depression in some people as they become more dissatisfied with waking life. I wouldn't go as far to say that I was supposed after I'd awoken, but I was let down by how dull everything I'm really was I'm comparison to what I'd imagined.

I think that if it really is having that much of a negative effect on you, just do it in moderation. Personally I find ways to get the same happiness that I do in my dreams in any way.