Rsd

First post. Problem I have: RSB = REM Sleep Disorder. Symptoms: Acting out dreams. Usually includes talking, shouting, moving during REM sleep. This makes the dream very difficult in attempting to move during dream as muscles are paralyzed during REM, and they can sometimes be dangerous. I have fallen or thrown myself out of bed hurting myself several times. Now have bedrail. I have had this disorder for about seven years; involves minimum average 2 per month with max of nine in a month. Read about LD and did learn to recognize as a dream and therefore wake up to stop the dream, but that stopped a while back. Disorder was diagnosed by neurologist with medication prescribed. Med helps some, but does not eliminate dreams. I want to learn to recognize that I am dreaming and be able to wake up. LD seems like it could be helpful. Any suggestions or comments? Am I in the right place? Thank you.
Jim

If you are attempting to use lucid dreaming to wake up during all of your dreams, I must admit that I don't think it might be the most effective cure.

First, know that the mind requires REM sleep in order to function. REM sleep is so important that if you deprive yourself of time in REM, you will have even more REM sleep the next night (it automatically compensates). If you try to wake up during every dream, you are depriving yourself of REM. This could cause irritability and excitability.

Second, know that lucid dreams are fairly uncommon, even if you have trained to have them. I've been working at it for almost two years, and I have a lucid dream about once a week, during one dream. Keep in mind you dream multiple times per night. You report that your disorder occurs uncommonly, too (2-9 times per month). It would be rare for a lucid dream to intersect with an episode of RSB, don't you think?

I'm not telling you to write off lucid dreaming completely. If RSB episodes contained some dream sign that set it apart from all other dreams (if you could feel your body moving under the sheets, for instance), then practicing to recognize that dream sign would bypass both of the problems I mentioned above. If you had such a dream sign, then practicing lucid dreaming will be highly beneficial.

Also, when you lucid dream, you don't necessarily have to wake up. I think you could have a good dream without moving your dream body (and thus, not moving your real body in your case). You could fly Superman-style, requiring no body movement at all! Or you could summon a hover board under your feet, and "walk" around your dream world that way.

Good luck!

Evidently I don't understand LD's that much. I am just trying to find a way to stop the dreams which cause the discomfort...straining to act out the dream and waking very tired from the exertion. Thanks for your input.
J