Reframing Trauma by Lucid Dreaming

[Astral Shaman]

Hi... I work as a neuroscientific researcher and privately as a hypno/psychotherapist. We use a technique in Psychotherapy referred to as reframing.... ie. replaying a past trauma in the mind but in a different context... for example.... I suffered the sudden loss of my father earlier this year... While dreaming lucidly about his death and the funeral, I evoked his spirit into the dream and hugged him and expressed my love for him and said goodbye while watching him walk into the distance.... This had a immediate resolution to any depression and grief that I was feeling... As I believe dreams are the gateway to the subconscious, and that dreaming is a form of memory consolidation, by reframing past trauma in lucid dreams may offer therapeutic resolution.... I propose an experiment in Phobia Resolution to test the hypothesis.... We'll use a methodology called the "fast phobia cure" in hypnotherapy... this is a tried and tested methodology for the resolution of phobias.... People entering a lucid dream state can visualise the following.... (this will induce a nightmare, but the outcome will be worth it if it works) 1. Enter a cinema 2. Sit in the balcony looking down at another version of you watching your worst fear or phobia on the cinema screen...(detatchment from the fear) 3. Watch yourself watching your phobia being played through on the screen and then freeze-frame... 4. Switch the colour to black and white, and rewind the film three times faster while clown/funny music (or your favourite music) is playing.... (desentisation) 5. Repeat until no more anxiety is felt (usually 3 - 5 times) Next morning test the level of phobia resolution by exposure to the phobic stimulus (if possible).... It would be interesting to see if this works in lucid dreaming to the same degree as it works in hypnotherapy (95% success rate)... Have fun! .

[Seeker]

What a neat idea for a poll! I've never used lucid dreaming personally to confront my fears, however, I have talked quite a few people through the process here at DreamViews and am happy to report that they have shown either great improvement or total freedom from their phobias. I wish I had kept notes on the cases, some of them were quite intense. My work continues in this area with other members. ( You know who you all are ) Are you considering adding Lucid Dreaming to your arsenal?

[Astral Shaman]

Hi Seeker... In reply to your question, I am seriously considering utilising the phenomena of lucid dreaming in psychotherapy. This could be utilised as a form of self therapy outside the clinic by the client....a skill learned whilst in therapy and which can be used for the lifetime of the client (thus removing the need for return visits, although detrimental to my pocket, beneficial for the greater good). I know from personal experience that Hypnosis and Lucid Dreaming are very similar, although Lucid Dreaming is equivalent to somnambulism (a state reached only by 5% of people undergoing hypnosis) and which is the best for therapeutic resolution... I think the future lies in self-therapy (and more than likely the past - meditation/spirit journeys, tools which technology and advancement have forgotten) and if a methodology could be developed to interweave LD and Psychotherapy, a whole new field of therapy could be born... (you heard it first here)...

[Hedphelym]

I was really pissed off when my x-girlfriend left me, because i could not get a chance to tell her how i felt (it was not nice things i wanted to say..), but i was thinking about this, and got all angry inside.. but one night, i had a dream, that i was in her appartment, and that she was acting like a moron as she usually did (calling me things, and just being nasty), i got so pissed off that i suddenly just started to scream at her, and tell her all the things i wanted to say to her (not nice things), then when i woke up the next morning, and untill this day, i have never thought about it anymore, because i felt that i sayd what i wanted to say. so for me it definetly worked, and it was a non-lucid dream (i havent managed to become lucid yet..).. But when i do, i want to "meet" my grandfather wich passed away some weeks ago, and just ask him how he is.. because his death was realativly sudden, and i met him 2 days before he died to see him for a last time alive, and it really made a impression on me..

[Howie]

Hello Astral Shaman! Originally posted by seeker What a neat idea for a poll! .....I second that! I have two examples of ussing Lucid dreams for the benifit of trauma, or as I see it. First I can't say I was ever really riddled with nightmares, however I can say I had my fair share. As I learned to lucid dream and because most of my nightmares were reacurring nightmares, I was able to use them as a dream sign to become lucid. Once I confronted a series of obstacles, I have yet to have one agian. I have had a rare nightmare from time to time. But very rairly. Second, is my mother. She sadly passed away in 1995. I would dream of her often. Even when I became lucid, my dreams with her were terrible. By being conscious I was aware that she was merely a DC. Or so I believe it to be. So inturn the dream would often turn soar. For example, when I would see her she would have no emotion, like a zombie. Or even worse, at times, turn into a corpse. As I saw this as an obstacle and realized that it is all in my head. There must be an answer to this. The conclusion I came up with is that I would enjoy each visit with her opon lucidity. I would simply enjoy her company and revel in the fact I can see her in such a visual state. I simply surrendered to the fact that she is a character in my dreams, but one I can enjoy none the less.

[Howie]

Originally posted by Astral Shaman Hi Seeker... In reply to your question, I am seriously considering utilising the phenomena of lucid dreaming in psychotherapy. This could be utilised as a form of self therapy outside the clinic by the client....a skill learned whilst in therapy and which can be used for the lifetime of the client (thus removing the need for return visits, although detrimental to my pocket, beneficial for the greater good). * I know from personal experience that Hypnosis and Lucid Dreaming are very similar, although Lucid Dreaming is equivalent to somnambulism (a state reached only by 5% of people undergoing hypnosis) and which is the best for therapeutic resolution... I think the future lies in self-therapy (and more than likely the past - meditation/spirit journeys, tools which technology and advancement have forgotten) and if a methodology could be developed to interweave LD and Psychotherapy, a whole new field of therapy could be born... (you heard it first here)... Through psychotherapy is how I was turned on to lucid dreaming. And through it I have learned so much. I am greatful for my doctor to be so open minded as to use dreams as therapy. And as you note Astral Shaman that hypnosis & Lucid dreaming are very similar. I believe it to be one in the same. A form of self hynosis. Wich coralates well with what you say next about self-thereapy. Self help -self hynosis -lucid dreaming!

[Yume]

I used LDing to contact my dead girlfriend. It was a relieving experience. It helped me through the realization that she was innocently shot for no real reason. LDing has brought much good into my life. I have always thought of this as a good idea. I talked to my father about it, but he always said that too many people couldn't LD so it wouldn't work well (Including him). I had hoped that more people could learn. I didn't even know it was called LDing till I found this site. Me and my father always said "Knowing when you were dreaming and under control" which is the long way. I recently found out he had books and packets by Stephen Laberge and went to see him talk. If this can work I will be overjoyed. I am thinking of getting a degree in Psycology. I will have to wait till I am older to decide.

[MarthaM]

In 2001 I was dealing with a clinical depression with anxiety, all family issues. The doctor gave me Prozac (20 mg) and Desyrel (300 mg). In December I had a lucid dream where a former boyfriend came to me and said, "I'm sorry that your childhood was so bad." The next day I felt so much better and was amazed at how I felt. I was able to stop taking the Desyrel within a week and eventually the Prozac.