The problem is... you know when you are dreaming, therefore you know you cannot be hurt. However, real-life is a completely different situation. Can some people give me examples of phobias they may have cured through lucid dreaming?
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The problem is... you know when you are dreaming, therefore you know you cannot be hurt. However, real-life is a completely different situation. Can some people give me examples of phobias they may have cured through lucid dreaming?
I don't really have phobias, but you can manifest the object of your fear and confront it directly. And it is possible to be hurt in lucid dreams if you want to.
What is your phobia?
Its sort of confidence building, like if you're afraid of heights, you could go on top of a big building or fly really high. You would then know that you are safe because you're in a dream. Your subconscious then puts this into the back of your head and you slowly get rid of the phobia.
Its all self belief really, you will get rid of this fear.
I don't really have any. Spiders if anything, but only the ones with big butts. Heights slightly, but nothing major. Won't stop me from going on the world's tallest rollercoasters or going on airplanes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coolv
I'm just doing some personal research that's all ;)
I just had a related experience. My dream a few nights ago involved one of my biggest fears. Which is jumping from a high place into water. To this day if I walk to the end of a diving board that is any higher than 5 feet above water, I just lock up.
Its incredibly embarassing too... last year I was white water rafting and all these little kids were jumping off this rock into the water, but I just stood up there and stared down. But a few nights ago I was dreaming that I had jumped out of a helicopter into water, and the second I jumped out of the helicopter everything became entirely real. I could feel the wind and hear it rushing past my ears, for a split second I was scared, but then I quit being scared and focused on getting in the correct position for the impact. It wasnt until after I hit that I realized it was a dream. But during the part that I thought was real, I somehow just got over it.
yea im going to use my LDs to help me cure my rolercoaster fear. i live in florida and i will not go on any roller coaster higher then space moutain in disney. (rode it 18 times with my friend last week, new record for me!)
Yeah, I don't really like jumping off of high places, due to the fact that it can hurt when you hit the water...Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteUnit
Sure dosn't work for me im always really high in dreams and im still nervous when im up in high places. The way I got rid of my fears for spiders is to feed them everday as a vollunteer job.
I think it depends on the fear. I can confront a lion in my dreams but I wouldn't do so in real life. I think a great phobia that can be cured kind of by lucid dreaming is public speaking. Instead of just standing in front of a mirror a couple of times you can actually perform the speech in front of dc’s to make it feel like you actually already given it. Not really curing a phobia just making it easier.
I watched a documentary a while back about people that were deathly afraid of certain things. Their phobias were so great that it greatly affected them socially and personally. For example, a woman that avoided spiders at all cost would not even step on grass. Every day she would make sure every crevice in her house was covered with tape. To sleep, she would cocoon herself in thick clothing (like snow gear and whatnot). That is intense.
A psychologist conducted an experiment using virtual reality to help her. In one event, she would see a pixilated kitchen and a spider dangling in front of her. She was afraid and it took a few tries before she could actually deal with it if I recall right. Anyway, the researcher told her to reach out and imagine that she is touching it with her hand. Then they dangled a rubber spider in front of her to touch. She reacted as though it were real, as expected.
Now, in this experiment, she knew it was not real, but she was still afraid. Eventually, using that technology, they paced her into the real events. Now, she can actually hold spiders in her hands, something the researcher was even a bit hesitant to do.
A similar experiment was conducted by the same psychologist on a guy that is afraid of heights. I don’t remember this one as well, but he was barely able to step on curbs and, if I recall, he couldn’t climb stairs, or go across bridges (not to mention ride an airplane). Again, he had a phobia so great that it restricted his life.
With the same poor form of virtual reality, they had him riding on an airplane and stepping onto bridges. Then, they would have him experience these events in real life until he is content with his ability to handle it. I think he can ride planes now, but I don’t recall how well he could handle it afterwards.
The point is, as you have probably already taken, is that exposure can make you overcome that which you are afraid of. It does take time, and it may require you to experience the same, or similar, events in the real world. I think all of us would agree that the dream world feels far more real than a virtual reality headset. Not to mention, a dream can look as real as real life itself. Furthermore, dreams have shown an improvement in ability through practice and exposure within the dream.
The only drawback I see is that a patient would be less likely to face a phobia that they are hugely afraid of if it is a voluntary operation. My guess is, without someone there holding the patient's hand, those that are deathly afraid of these things probably won’t willingly put themselves in those situations (not that they don’t want to overcome it but that they are too afraid to try); however, that does not mean you can initially build them to the point where they can, and then they can practice on their own.