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Would you try lucid dreaming?

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Contributor: Falsepast Falsepast
Knowing that it has been proven that attempting to lucid dream (control your dreams - which is possible) has led to sleep paralysis
("Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon in which people who are either falling asleep or awakening from sleep temporarily experience a sense of inability to move, similar to that which occurs when an arm or leg goes "to sleep", but not associated with numbness." - Wikipedia)

WOULD YOU TRY IT?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Yup.
24  (63%)
NO!
9  (24%)
Other
5  (13%)
Total votes: 38
Poll is closed
09/15/2012
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Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
I have naturally-occuring lucid dreams on occasion, and it's never led to sleep paralysis for me. On the contrary, it made it way, WAY easier to wake up rapidly. SP usually happens to me when the room I'm sleeping in is too hot.

I've never heard that specifically attempting it could cause sleep paralysis, and at least two members of my family have been able to lucidly dream at will without issue (though admittedly, I don't know if they're prone to SP or not). Either way, I still occasionally give it a try, since I love my lucid dreams tremendously. Actually, I should start trying again. Really, lucid dreams are SO much fun!

At any rate, keeping a cool head during bouts of SP seems to help. I have a hunch that if I manage a lucid dream, dealing with the aftermath might actually be easier than with a normal dream.
09/15/2012
Contributor: blacklodge blacklodge
I've always felt like I've been able to have lucid dreams. Ever since I was younger I've been able to do it. It always baffled me that other people couldn't. It was such a regular thing for me I didn't know that most of the people I knew couldn't until I was having dream conversations with one of my friends in high school.

I do have sleep paralysis on very rare occasions. It actually happened this morning though, so it's kind of weird to stumble across this thread. Lol. I absolutely hate it. I know I'm awake but I can't do anything other than panic.
09/15/2012
Contributor: Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah
Sleep paralysis is very temporary.
09/15/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
Just had one today. No sleep paralysis though, I went lucid after I was already asleep.
And it was freakin' awesome.
09/15/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
(EF Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Falsepast
Knowing that it has been proven that attempting to lucid dream (control your dreams - which is possible) has led to sleep paralysis
("Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon in which people who are either falling asleep or awakening from sleep ... more
Sleep paralysis is a natural phenomenon that doesn't last and if you are prepared for the sensation isn't scary or uncomfortable. I had such night terrors as a child that I was taught lucid dreaming techniques to help me to get restful sleep. The sleep paralysis is merely a function of the body's sleep mechanism that allows us to vividly dream but not act out those dreams. It is necessary and bad things happen when the function is impaired. Simply relaxing and allowing your body to behave normally will speed the release of your body from the paralyzing hormones and keep you from experiencing the negative effects.
09/15/2012
Contributor: Artishok Artishok
Yup.
09/15/2012
Contributor: darthkitt3n darthkitt3n
That actually occurs for me pretty frequently without me trying to force it to happen. I have never experienced sleep paralysis.
09/15/2012
Contributor: PropertyOfPotter PropertyOfPotter
It's something that I would have to look into before trying it.
09/15/2012
Contributor: Sera26 Sera26
I tried to lucid dreaming to get over nightmares when I was a teen (I used to study dreams). However fter a while my brain would overpower whatever "trick" I was using to control and end the nightmare so it wouldn't work anymore. I can't do it anymore.
09/15/2012
Contributor: Falsepast Falsepast
Quote:
Originally posted by Sodom and Gomorrah
Sleep paralysis is very temporary.
Not when you fight it. I tried to fight it and break out of the paralyzed state and it felt like an eternity
09/15/2012
Contributor: js250 js250
I thought lucid dreaming was the normal--until I talked to my husband about it. Then I felt kind of like a freak--but again--someone brought up lucid dreaming here on EF and I realized that it is not the normal, but a different way of dreaming. I do this all the time, even when I daydream...Never had sleep paralysis.
09/15/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
I was JUST going to say, as I saw the title of this thread, that years ago, when I pursued Lucid Dreaming, the frequency of my Sleep Paralysis increased greatly.

It's a cool thing (Lucid Dreaming) but if you are at risk for Sleep Paralysis, it's probably better not to.

JMO. I've been through it.
09/15/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Sodom and Gomorrah
Sleep paralysis is very temporary.
But, it feels like an eternity when it's happening and can cause you to be afraid to sleep again for weeks after an episode. It can also cause insomnia (from fighting sleep) and daytime fogginess and inability to do one's job during the day. It isn't benign for many of us.

Those of us who have suffered with SP will do anything to avoid it.
09/15/2012
Contributor: Zombirella Zombirella
I don't even know how I would try. But, I'm not interested.
09/15/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
I also wanted to say, Night Terrors and Sleep Paralysis are not the same thing, although they may occur in the same person. Night Terrors are when someone starts screaming and thrashing (obviously NOT in REM, as you can't move in REM) and is difficult to waken. When someone does awake from a Night Terror they usually don't remember any of it, or remember a dream "fragment" opposed to a full dream superimposed on reality.

Sleep Paralysis, as I talked about and linked in the other thread, and it occurs during REM, when the person has some wakefulness but a feeling of malevolent presence, paralysis, difficulty breathing, odd sounds, along with extreme fear etc. They are caused during differing cycles of sleep (Night Terrors in Deep NON REM sleep, and Sleep Paralysis during the transition between REM and waking.) and cannot occur at the same time. Although, some people will scream when coming out of a Sleep Paralysis episode, it is not the same as Night Terrors. Night Terrors are more common in children, while SP is more common in teens and people in their 20s through 40s.
09/15/2012
Contributor: Kitka Kitka
No way, I'll stick with my usual dreaming, thanks.
09/15/2012
Contributor: ViVix ViVix
Quote:
Originally posted by Falsepast
Knowing that it has been proven that attempting to lucid dream (control your dreams - which is possible) has led to sleep paralysis
("Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon in which people who are either falling asleep or awakening from sleep ... more
Temporary inability is okay...unless there is a fire or something.
09/15/2012
Contributor: Allstars316 Allstars316
Nope I will not be doing that
09/15/2012
Contributor: amazon amazon
I'm fine with things the way they are now
09/16/2012
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Falsepast
Knowing that it has been proven that attempting to lucid dream (control your dreams - which is possible) has led to sleep paralysis
("Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon in which people who are either falling asleep or awakening from sleep ... more
I have had lucid and self directed dreams, where I have a problem to solve and went to sleep thinking about deliberatly dreaming about it. I not only DO, but with a lot more brain power devoted to the problem during sleep, I often wake with a few viable solutions...and REMEMBER THEM (especially if I write them down right away. We keep paper and pen on the nightstand just for this reason).
09/16/2012
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Sera26
I tried to lucid dreaming to get over nightmares when I was a teen (I used to study dreams). However fter a while my brain would overpower whatever "trick" I was using to control and end the nightmare so it wouldn't work anymore. I ... more
More neuro hard wire response occures as we age, unless we work hard at maintaining neuro flexibility.
09/16/2012
Contributor: Rory Rory
I don't try anything different.
09/29/2012
Contributor: Bethy Cassatt Bethy Cassatt
I've controlled my dreams in the past before. The paralysis has never been that bad for me.
09/29/2012
Contributor: Andrey2052 Andrey2052
Yup.
09/29/2012
Contributor: subwayrailings subwayrailings
yes !
i;ve lucid dreamed accidentally before, but have also tried it with the help of an herb called mugwort that induces lucid dreaming. It works sometimes, really fascinating experience.
09/30/2012
Contributor: Lioncub Lioncub
Not for me.
09/30/2012
Contributor: Eugler Eugler
[quote]Knowing that it has been proven that attempting to lucid dream (control your dreams - which is possible) has led to sleep paralysis
[/quote]

I think it's sad that there are statements in the internet without a quote or a source. I've been studying lucid dreaming with success for 6 years now and have never heared about the sleep paralysis story before this posting on 9gag.

Also in the dreamer's community there are very few people who experience sleep paralysis and the most got rid of the sleep paralysis through lucid dreaming.
11/28/2012