Lucid Dreaming Research Paper

Lucid dreaming and even dreaming in general is a topic that has not been researched for a very long time. Dreaming itself is our subconscious mind creating images, emotions, and sensations during sleep. Dreams are often associated and experienced with the third stage of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and is where we get our deep sleep and are harder to wake up. This is because our brain is helping our body regrow tissues and build our immune system, and this is typically when our subconscious mind is left by itself. Our subconscious mind then taps into our memory and what we found important or significant and then processes them into dreams so that we can remember them more vividly and understand them better. Lucid dreaming, however, is the …show more content…
LaBerge makes the statement that “when we ‘escape’ from a nightmare by awakening, we have not dealt with the problem of our fear or our frightening dream, but merely relieved the fear temporarily and repressed the fearful dream. Thus we are left with an unresolved conflict as well as negative and unhealthy feelings. On the other hand, staying with the nightmare and accepting the challenge, as lucidity makes possible, allows us to resolve the dream problem in a fashion that leaves us more healthy than before.” Lucid dreaming opens new possibilities and ways for one to face fears and challenges. They have the ability to combat the monster or their problem in any way they wish as well as have the ability to examine their problems and what it could symbolize. A no-mouthed monster or figure may symbolize their inability to public speak and lucid dreaming could help them learn many of their insecurities and what these symbols and figures mean in relationship to their being and character traits. We are less likely to fear things that we know are not real and we can practice combatting our fears with lucid dreaming. We are able to change these monsters into harmful objects like harmless bunnies or inanimate fruit and it could help us cope with the fear and show how we can conquer the fear. There are studies linking Lucid dreaming as a treatment for nightmares, one being conducted by Spoormaker and van den Bout. The goal was to see the effects of lucid dreaming treatment on individuals that suffered from chronic nightmares and they found that LDT was able to decrease the frequency of the nightmares. Lucid dreaming is also a pro in the way that it can help people gain control of their dreams and therefore their life. They are able to choose where they go and can feel in control or in power. They can live through vacations or relationships. They can imagine themselves flying through distant

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