Newbie with one lucid dream to his credit...

[overeasy]

Hi - It wasn't until I was in my thirties that I discovered there was even such a thing as "lucid dreaming," though I'd had one as a child that scared he half to death. It was the image of a spectral demon coming down out of our attic (the entrance was via a closet in my bedroom) and sitting on my bed. I SWORE I could feel the pressure of his weight! This was when I was about four. Fast forward. While I am near 50 now, that moment still stays with me. However, my interest in dreaming has changed somewhat since I've gone on antidepressants and now have nightmares and anxiety ridden dreams nightly. I know this may not be the perfect place to post this, but I thought you might be able to answer a question. Recently, I've realized that, in my dream state, I am remembering other dreams I've had. I'm actually referencing former dreams, not real or imagined events. I find this really bizarre and a bit off-putting. Is this a common experience or do you think it may be caused by the Lexapro? The truth is, I often wake exhausted and depressed BECAUSE of the dreams, which is sort of counter to what the drugs are supposed to do! Thanks for you help and advice. Ron

[Oneironaut Zero]

Welcome to Dream Views, Overeasy. 8) Well, its been said (more than once) that many modern medicines cause more problems than they terminate, so you might have just found one more support beam for that bridge. HOWEVER, to sort of offset your concern, as far as the revisiting of dreams being Unusual, I really don't think it is. It is important to remember that things you have long since forgotten are not forgotten by your subconscious. It doesn't matter if you are 50 or 95, memories from your childhood (Even dreams. They are Experiences just like your waking life experiences, and I'm sure are logged just as tactfully) are liable to resurface if the right schemas are activated. While conscious, you have all of the waking world trash to deal with. Your view on life is so hindered by your waking world perception of "self" and the world around you, that the schemas that aren't needed all the time are shelved into the back of your mind. While you are asleep, anything is fair game. Your subconscious holds anything you've ever touched, tasted, seen, smelled, heard, thought or even Dreamt. When you are dreaming, your subconscious makes up the world around you, so there is as good a chance as any as things you've long since forgotten about, even dreams, will make an appearance at some point in time.