Solving human psychological problems using lucid dreams

Lucid dreaming, in which individuals become aware they are dreaming and can sometimes exert conscious control, represents a hybrid state between waking consciousness and dreaming that offers insights into inner life and the subconscious. While traumas are often processed during dreams, the psychotherapeutic application of lucid dreaming remains untested, though it has been used to treat recurring nightmares linked to trauma. The article explores the potential of lucid dreams for addressing psychological problems.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The article discusses that some people throughout their lives feel that they are “waking up” and are conscious during sleep and even make conscious decisions during them. Such “lucid dreams” are not only a vivid and memorable experience for the dreamer, but are also of great interest to neuroscientists and psychologists. This is because they represent a strange mixture between the waking consciousness and the dream, which can reveal entirely new things about the inner life and the subconscious. Many of the traumas that people experience throughout life are processed in dreams. So far, the psychotherapeutic use of lucid dreaming remains untested, but it has been used to treat recurring nightmares that are often associated with trauma. The purpose of the article is to consider the possibilities of using lucid dreams to solve human psychological problems.