Sickness enhanced dreaming

**JoannaB** · 03-02-2013 04:09 PM

I have been home with the flu for three days, and my son has been sick as well.

While being sick is no fun in many ways, but it has it's side benefits. I believe my dreaming has been enhanced by my being sick.

First of all while sick I have had more time to obsess about dreaming, spending time on here, reading about it, thinking about it.

Second, as part of trying to cure my flu, I have been napping during the day, going to sleep early and staying in bed longer. More time dreaming.

My son being sick has worried me, and this worry has I think stirred up additional powerful emotions, enhancing the chance of dreams.

I took NyQuil last night, and I think my dreams were enhanced as a result: I had several phenomenally vivid dreams throughout the night.

I also read that indigestion can often cause nightmares.

Do you know of other ways in which being sick may enhance dreaming? Mind you I am talking here about simple common illness, like the flu or indigestion, and I would appreciate it if we keep this topic light so if you have examples of serious deadly illness causing vivid dreams, that's not what I mean this thread to be about.

**snoop** · 03-02-2013 06:15 PM

Delirium resulting from fever can cause vivid dreams and nightmares. The Doxylamine Succinate and maybe the dextromethorphan (depending on if you took enough, probably isn't the case here) in NyQuil is probably what caused your vivid dreams. Doxylamine Succinate is a sdeative antihistamine like Benadryl (Diphenhydramine). Like Benadryl, it can cause more vivid dreams and nightmares. You don't strike me as the type to do this, but if you think of experimenting with taking either of these for dream enhancement, know that more often than not they make it much harder to actually recall your dreams once you wake up and can make it harder to realize that you are dreaming during which time you actually are.

The truth be told, vivid dreams that come about as a result of delirious states (fever, taking sedative antihistamines, etc.) make for nice non-lucids that can be very interesting, but they don't help you much in the way of lucid dreaming because of the drawbacks of delirium. You're much better off waking up and doing a wbtb and taking choline + galantamine or choline + huperizine A. Both Galantamine and Huperizine A are acetylcholinisterase inhibitors--acetylcholinsterase is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter that effects dreaming and lucidity) in the brain. Choline is a chemical precursor to acetylcholine that can cross the blood-brain-barrier. The two combined have a synergistic effect. Your body converts the choline to acetylcholine, and because acetylcholinisterase is being inhibited, rather than levels staying the same as excess acetylcholine is broken down to maintain normal levels, acetylcholine levels rise. This helps a lot of people with lucid dreaming and dream recall. It's also safe, and considered a nootropic (supplements or drugs that help with mental sharpness and intelligence).

**JoannaB** · 03-02-2013 06:23 PM

You are right that I am not the type to do this.

In fact I am a bit weary of using any supplements just for the sake of enhancing dreaming. Although I do admit that I have been drinking more applejuice lately based on what I read on here. Lol

**gab** · 03-02-2013 06:52 PM

One should be really cautious when taking any drugs. Even over the counter ones. Every drug may have a nasty sideffect.

There are safer methods, as you guys also mention, like apple juice, galantamine, etc.

You may have experienced vivid dreams because of the amount of sleeping you were doing.

*Moved to Lucid Aides

**JoannaB** · 03-04-2013 03:24 PM

My son and I are still home sick today.

On the bright side: I feel like I started DV and trying to get back into LD with a boot camp.

**melanieb** · 03-04-2013 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by snoop

Delirium resulting from fever can cause vivid dreams and nightmares.

I can attest to this. When I was young I came down with a high fever while I was asleep. I dreamed of Michael Meyers (Of the Halloween movies) was chasing me through the caverns of Huckleberry Finn. It was incredibly vivid and frightening, and I woke up terrified.

Of course I also woke up and immediately vomited all the way to the bathroom.

Sick dreams can be really vivid but I prefer less anxious dreams.