Severe insomniac here, how will this condition impact my ability to dream?

[CFH983743]

I have extreme insomnia. I will attempt to regulate my sleep schedule in the future but currently I take hours to fall asleep and this makes it impossible to attempt to WILD. I am currently practicing reality checks and hope that will work. I would also like to ask about Xanax and Ambien; I usually need at least one mg of xanax and/or 10mg of ambien if I hope to sleep within a couple of hours after lying down. Will this negatively impact my REM sleep times? Discontinuing these drugs is not an option. Also what is the ideal schedule for a lucid dreamer sleep-wise? I am going to attempt to get around 8 hours of sleep to start. Is this acceptable? Have you more experienced dreamers found a better schedule or ideal time to be asleep? Any tips for regulating my sleep schedule from other insomniacs?

[Wolfdog]

Benzodiazepines have sedative and amnesic effects which could impact REM in a negative way. Zolpidem (a non-benzodiazepine), for example, has the capacity to induce anterograde amnesia. Likewise, I would like to add that certain drugs show a strong capacity to induce an increase in vividness in dreams, including the possibility of a higher chance of experiencing nightmares. On the other hand, some drugs depress our capacity to remember dreams. Some can even shorten the time and frequency we find ourselves in REM. Anyway, what's important here is to know whether the particular medicine you're taking affects your capacity to remember dreams. If it doesn't, then using them won't affect your ability to lucid dream. But remember, health is always the top priority over lucid dreams, any day. A lucid dreamer should strive for 7-9 hours of sleep, imo, to optimize the possibilities for the practice of lucid dreams. While this is not mandatory, sleeping for longer hours (provided it's for healthy purposes) boosts one's chances to achieve a lucid dream. As far as tips go that you can use to build a much more healthier sleep schedule, sleeping early and exercising regularly are proper aids that could facilitate the amount of time it takes for you to sleep. Meditation or any other relaxing activity is a very efficient way to reduce overall stress levels and trains the mind to induce relaxation whenever needed. You should use the bed only for sleeping, and not any other activity (apart from sex) that alerts you or keeps you awake. It's recommended also that you stop doing any activity in the computer, cell phones, or watching TV, an hour or two before sleep. Avoid any substance or food with stimulant effects, and always sleep with the lights off. I've seen some people choose to read before falling asleep, and an activity like this could reduce the difficulty with getting to sleep. If you feel like staying for hours in bed without being able to sleep, it's always better to get up and do something to occupy the mind, then return whenever you feel sleepy. When in insomnia it's important NOT to take naps as it messes with the sleep schedule you're trying to build and might cause an inability to sleep when at night. There are also certain practices you can do while at bed, which could help you sleep faster, though note that the effectiveness of this depends on each individual person. For example, my brother is a very fast sleeper (it takes him less than 5 min. to sleep), and he says he just starts visualizing things and going with that visualization until he finds himself asleep. Sometimes a passive observation at the blackness when you close your eyes is all it takes to be guided into sleep. Some people count down from a hundred and fall asleep. Some love to hear music while at bed, and that helps too.

[CFH983743]

Thanks for the advice - but trust me, my insomnia has been a problem for quite a while. None of those things are an issue, I exercise regularly, avoid large meals, caffeine and bright lights before bed - even when I'm severely sleep deprived I don't take naps. My doctor has jumped through every hoop there is, my sleep hygiene is perfect. It doesn't matter what I do, meditation, relaxation, showering, or reading nothing helps and I've tried everything. I still take hours to fall asleep and drugs are pretty much my only option.

[Michael]

You probably won't remember your dreams very often at all, and they won't be very vivid, and probably be bizarre dreams when you do remember. Those drugs impact focus and awareness too much.

[PercyLucid]

Give mugwort a chance instead of those pills or (and only if your doctor is okay with it) take it before going to bed (in addition to whatever medication) 100% legal herb that you can buy at health stores or organic food retailers. Mugwort increases lucidity and it has very mind sedative effects. It will help your pineal gland to segregate serotonin which will help with dreams. Good luck!