The Algorithm as an Architect of Anxiety: 'Lucid Dreaming' Content Precipitating Acute Somniphobia in a Preadolescent—A Case Report on the 'Digital Pathogen' Phenomenon and Culturally Responsive Mediation
Scientia Psychiatrica November 19, 2025 Ni Wayan Saka Rahayu, Putu Risdianto Eka Putra
A 10-year-old Balinese boy developed severe sleep anxiety, a racing heart, and fear of falling asleep after watching online tutorials about lucid dreaming, astral projection, and reality shifting. Because he was at a concrete stage of cognitive development, he misinterpreted these concepts as a literal threat of his soul leaving his body. A four-week intervention combining Balinese spiritual coping, cognitive reframing, and structured parental mediation reduced his anxiety from the 98th percentile to a normal level and cut his time to fall asleep from 140 minutes to 25 minutes. The case illustrates how certain abstract digital content can harm vulnerable children and that culturally responsive parenting strategies can reverse the harm.