55% of people have experienced one lucid dream or more in their lifetime. 23% experience lucid dreams once a month or more.
Lucid dreaming can have a positive impact on your mental health. It is important, however, to maintain a healthy balance with reality and not use dreams as a way to escape.
Let’s dispel some common misconceptions about lucid dreaming
1.Lucid dreaming does not automatically mean you can control the dream. Control over dreams sometimes requires additional practice and honing of specific techniques, distinct from achieving lucidity itself. There is always something more to learn with lucid dreaming. Lucidity is a spectrum and not always easy to define. The definition of lucid dreaming is awareness of the dream state, but this is a range of levels of consciousness. It’s okay to come up with your own scale from semi-lucid to fully lucid.
2. Do not let the internet scare you. Your expectations and beliefs will impact the dream environment. So think positive, and have fun. Lucid dreaming is not dangerous. It is a natural phenomenon and we don’t miss out on our regularly scheduled REM sleep when we dream. Lucid dreaming can be refreshing and healing for many people. There are no rules about what you can and can’t do. It is the dreamer’s subconscious playground where anything is possible. The dream may react in funny, odd, or eerie ways, but that is okay. It’s a dream and you are safe to explore.
3. This is not purely recreational. While many people are drawn to lucid dreaming for the potential to explore fantastical worlds or fulfill desires, it also has practical applications. Lucid dreaming has been studied for its potential therapeutic benefits, such as overcoming nightmares, treating PTSD, or enhancing creativity and problem-solving skills. Viewing lucid dreaming solely as a form of entertainment overlooks its broader potential for personal growth and well-being.
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