Lucid Dreams Could Stop Smoking?

[r2d2651]

This was just a thought that I needed to post. Could a smoker who wanted to quit train their bodies by making themselves know. "I can have all the cigarettes I want to but later..." While they are training to learn to lucid dream they can have a FEW cigarettes on the side. I figure since LD's feel real could this work?

[trev]

interesting idea. what little i know about cigarette smoking is that the your body forms an addiction to the nicotine, which is a bio-chemical addiction and not just based in a given person's psyche. so, there is the question of whether the brain could satisfy this chemical need for the nicotine simply through simulating it in a dream -- i suspect it cannot. nonetheless, it would definitely be worth a try and i think it would help ease some of the psychological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. nicotine patches or a similar product would complement this dream-smoking nicely

[tommo]

Good idea. Coz apparently some people still get the urge to smoke years after quitting. So they could LD and smoke in there. Obviously there would be no PHYSICAL addiction left after a week of quitting, just the mental side to take care of.

[xyzzy]

I quit smoking in 2005. One of my favorite ways to maintain lucidity is to conjure up a cigarette and enjoy it while I explore the surroundings.

[Baron Samedi]

While I was quitting smoking, I would smoke in dreams, then get annoyed with myself, and throw the cigarette on the ground. It helped me quit.

[Invader]

While they are training to learn to lucid dream they can have a FEW cigarettes on the side. I figure since LD's feel real could this work? Absolutely. You're brain is already familiar with the high and can produce the same effect on it's own by producing more dopamine, a naturally occurring chemical in your brain. Nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc all produce similar feel-good effects. This is relatively easy to accomplish in dreams, but some practice achieving the same effect through meditation. In short, yes, you can smoke in your dreams and feel it. It may work better for some than others, you wont know until you try.

[Kabloom]

Hey, what if they smoked in their dreams? I know my mum would be sad enough too D:

[verbalexost]

I am currently wanting to quit cigarettes. I have tried so many times before, but the physical addiction is too great to overcome. Personally, I don't think LDs could help me quit, but I suppose it might vary from person to person. Anyway, I thought I might mention that I have felt high in a dream before, so you probably could recreate the feeling of a nicotine buzz in a LD. Also, you gave me a great idea! I have trouble doing regular reality checks unless I do them simultaneously with something significant. If I start doing RCs when I smoke a cigarette I am confidant I will remember better, because I often smoke cigarettes in dreams. Thanks for the idea!

[r2d2651]

Glad I could help

[Alexander1656]

ying he didnt want it in his life, and he quit smoking.

[DjSuspense]

This is a very interesting subject. I do believe that one may be able to actually make this work, but I'm guessing it would take a good bit of will power and mental practice.. Also Trev brought up a pretty good idea with the whole combining LD smoking with something like the nicotine patch, that could actually make it a lot easier I'm guessing. On a side note, for those who do smoke, have you ever been in a dream and had a strong urge for a cigarette? I had one last week and it was very strange. I honestly felt like i NEEDED a cigarette and I didn't feel that urge subside until I actually got my hands on some in my dream. However, when I finally did obtain a pack, and smoked a cig out of it, that urge was replaced by the same exact feeling I get after my first cigarette of the day or something. This is one of my main reasons for thinking that this whole idea could be plausible. Edit: My bad didn't realize this thread was a few months old..

[Dogod]

There's nothing wrong with reviving an old thread - especially a helpful one. If this really does work, then some people could end up living years longer than they would have otherwise, and healthier also.