Hi, Everybody!

[Branden982]

Hello! You might have guessed it, but I'm new here! But I'm not new to lucid dreaming. I've had 13 of them. I hope I can get alot more though! I have a question: are there any negative sides of lucid dreaming? I think there isn't, but my friends/family do. Thanks in advance.

[ninja9578]

No, there are no side effects, it's just sleep, same as every other sleep, you're just aware of it. Welcome to Dreamviews! Feel free to post questions, and check out our tutorial section.

[Branden982]

I knew it! I told them that same thing and thay wouldn't believe me!...Oh well. Can't be helped

[Seeker]

The only side effect is people tend to thing you are a weirdo. Many of the people at work know I'm into lucid dreaming and I suspect I am the butt of many of their jokes when my back is turned. Too bad they cannot uderstand the degree of freedom and adventure that the lucid dreamer experiences...oh well, their loss!

[JJA79]

Too bad they cannot uderstand the degree of freedom and adventure that the lucid dreamer experiences...oh well, their loss! I like people who are open to new ideas better than those who instantly dislike or ignore them. Most of the kids i have told about LD they have thought i was insane.

[Abra]

What about lucid dreaming do they think is dangerous/negative?

[Naiya]

Welcome to Dreamviews! Lucid dreams are no more dangerous or negative than regular dreams. Being lucid just means you know it's a dream while you're still in the dream--no more, no less. What you do with that knowledge is up to you, and some spiritual beliefs may vary about what exactly you should or should not be doing from that point on.

[Branden982]

My friends/family think you aren't getting the rest you need, but its not your body thats becoming active, its you brain. so you still get the same amount of rest, if not more. That's what I say. They also say things like, "This lucid dreaming stuff is riuning your sleep!" .....no coment.

[Abra]

My friends/family think you aren't getting the rest you need, but its not your body thats becoming active, its you brain. so you still get the same amount of rest, if not more. That's what I say. They also say things like, "This lucid dreaming stuff is riuning your sleep!" .....no coment. Lucid dreaming tends to influence your sleep positively. The most successful lucid dreamers make sure they get enough sleep, and also make sure their sleep is healthy. Unhealthy sleep means less dreams and poorer recall, after all! Lucid dreams are in no way more "active" than normal dreams. They are both REM. Also, it's not like you're forcing yourself to stay in REM, either (the dream will end at a normal time, no matter if you are lucid). Quantitatively, it's the exact same as a normal night's sleep. The only way lucid dreaming can be detrimental to sleep is if you are overly focused on WILD (but keep failing). If that's the case, I strongly recommend switching to DILD.

[Branden982]

Just to get it out there... I'm not bashing lucid dreaming, niether is my friend. we both agreee it has its ups and downs. but this is merly his thoughts on one of the downsides of lucid dreaming...true no matter how stupid it seems My friend sees it like this: Dreaming in a concious state interferes with your normal subconcious ability to take in what you percieve,experience and learn throughout the day when you're awake. Confusing the subconcious part of the brain that distinguishes non-reality from reality. For example bungie jumping in a lucid dream is entirly different in its feel physically as well as mentaly teaching the subconcious mind that there is no consequences if something goes wrong. In realty if something goes wrong you're screwed. This is how the subconcious mind is affected, creating from the dream, an entirely false yet subconcious view on reality which can do harm to a person mentaly as well as phisically. Unfortunatly you won't or don't even know it. And also lucid dreaming(for those who do this alot) it is true that it can affect the amount of rest you need. This time, the physical factor doesn't apply. No matter what, your body will aways get enough rest. The danger lies with your mind. When a dream is not lucid in any way that is when your concious mind has a chance to rest, not being used much more than a subconciously influenced normal dream. Lucid dreaming requires the use of ones concious mind dening it the rest it needs in order to funtion properly. Thus ruining sleep.

[Branden982]

I don't really see any downsides, though.......

[Conkt]

When you sleep, your brain is in fact more active than when you are awake. The only difference between the normal sleeping mind and the lucid sleeping mind is that in lucidity your logic centre is turned on. I don't understand why your friend would think lucidity makes you less aware of what is real and what isn't. Lucidity is all about learning to differentiate the two, a skill that most non-dreamers lack. If anything, you have a better understanding of the world, and are not only lucid in sleep but in waking life as well. At least, that's what you preach, right Naiya?

[Branden982]

See, your thinking is like mine. I also don't see why, but I won't go into detail. But I guess some people take it differently, so...yeah.