Lucid dreaming: Controlling

the stories of sleep

Medically reviewed by Raj Dasgupta, MD — Written by Maria Cohut, Ph.D. — Updated
on July 27, 2020

It is true that the boundary between dreams and reality is something that lucid
dreaming appears to explore. In this spotlight, we look at what qualifies as
lucid dreaming, whether these experiences can have any practical
applications, and how a person might be able to become a lucid dreamer.

What is lucid dreaming?

Typically, when we dream, we do not know that the dream is not real.
However, some people are able to enter a dream and be fully aware of the
fact that they are actually dreaming. “A lucid dream is defined as a dream
during which dreamers, while dreaming, are aware they are dreaming,”
specialists explain.

It is unclear how many people actually experience lucid dreaming, though

certain studies have tried to gather information regarding its prevalence —
and it seems that this phenomenon may be quite common. For instance,
researchers in Brazil surveyed 3,427 participants with a median age of 25.
The results of the survey indicated that 77% of the respondents had
experienced lucid dreaming at least once.
When does it happen, and what is
it like?
Like most dreams, lucid dreaming will typically occur during rapid eye
movement (REM) sleep. For some people it occurs spontaneously, but others
train themselves to start dreaming lucidly (or to become better at it).

A lucid dreamer told that she was able to manipulate the dream narrative in
order to create a pleasant experience for herself. “Usually,” she explained, “I
can control the narrative in the dream, so for example, if I’m unhappy with the
way things are going in the dream, I can change it.”

What are its applications?

Lucid dreaming is certainly an attractive and fascinating prospect; being able
to explore our own inner worlds with full awareness that we are in a dream is
intriguing and has an almost magical flavor to it.

Lucid dreaming may help people get rid of their nightmares and resolve their
fears, which may affect a person’s quality of life. Some people take on
superpowers or special abilities, so they can fight back against the attacker.
Lucid dreaming also has the potential to help people with phobias, such as a
fear of flying or a fear of spiders.

This is possible because dream environments can provide a realistic enough

experience without it actually feeling unsafe. During lucid dreaming, an
individual knows that they are not in the real world, so they may safely explore
their fears without actually feeling threatened.

‘Lucid dreaming is a kind of creative activity’

At the same time, lucid dreaming is also attractive as an unusual means of
entertainment — much like the immersive experience of virtual reality. An
experienced lucid dreamer might be able to “go on an adventure” and interact
with people and things in ways they may not be able to in real life. Lucid
dreaming is a kind of creative activity — dreamers get to explore what their
dreams are telling them a little bit versus what their conscious mind wants.
People enjoy it, and as someone who enjoys storytelling, it’s a similar
experience to writing a story or playing a video game. You get immersed in a
narrative that involves you in some way.

Concerns and risks

One concern that some people express about engaging in lucid dreaming, if
they are able to achieve it, is that they may get “stuck” in a dream and find it
more difficult to wake up. Another concern people have is that engaging in
lucid dreaming requires focus and effort, which might mean that the sleeper
does not get enough rest. Some people expressed concern that frequent lucid
dreaming may lead to disrupted sleep. Other problem of this is schizophrenia.
This condition may cause people to have difficulty distinguishing between
hallucinations and real-life events. In some cases, lucid dreaming may
actually exacerbate the condition. Other scientists ask whether or not
encouraging lucid dreaming might blur the line between sleep-wake
psychological boundaries. They call for more research into how it might affect
certain vulnerable people, including those who experience dissociation.

Lucid dreaming may be a fascinating, helpful, or pleasant experience, but you

should consider why you are interested in achieving it and what you expect to
get from it before trying to experiment.