Using Lucid Dreams to heal emotional trauma?

[Naiad780]

I just got a book that suggested it would be about healing emotional trauma via lucid dreams.  I was disappointed--it had absolutely no information on practical techniques!  So let me ask you guys:  have you ever used lucid dreams to help heal your emotional traumas?  Any suggestions on where to start?

[Telos]

Actually, I read of a study that suggested the more somebody had lucid dreams the more likely that they would go into depression. I could definitely understand, lucid dreams are intense and lovely, and this world is comparitively not. If you're the only person you know who lucid dreams, you can eventually find yourself feeling lonely and disturbed, and ironically for the sake of others since you feel bad that they are not choosing to experience the wonders that are available to them...

Can you tell I'm speaking from personal experience?

The physical world is more useful for healing emotional trauma IMO. Lucid dreaming easily exacerbates it.

Maybe that's why we're here?

[Naiad780]

Telos, interesting.  Do you have a source for that study so that I can look at it?

My experience is the opposite--lucid dreaming is a wonderful experience for me that opened my eyes to worlds beyond everyday consciousness.  And yes, lucid dreams are lovely and intense, but my waking life is just as amazing to me.  FWIW, though, I have friends who lucid dream.

Have you ever tried using lucid dreaming to heal emotional trauma?  If so, what was your experience?

kj

[Logic]

I had one lucid dream where when I became lucid I was in purgatory. Theres was nothing but dark grey buildings and dark grey skies and I couldn't get out. It made me realise that the mind can contain worlds, but at the same time it can be desolate and lifeless.

[Little Star Orion]

Hi,

I was once depressed, but I actually used my lucid dreams to be able to get over my depression. In my lucid dreams, I could visit the scenes that caused my depression and I was then able to change them. By doing that I also changed myself.
I know that one could create anything in a lucid dream, the environment changes when you think different.  It is really working, for my, maybe for some one else this would be different. It depends a lot onto how you think about it. If you believe it is impossible, it certainly will be impossible in your lucid dream, cause that is what you created by yourself.

regards,
Little Star Orion

[Naiad780]

I was once depressed, but I actually used my lucid dreams to be able to get over my depression. In my lucid dreams, I could visit the scenes that caused my depression and I was then able to change them. By doing that

Thanks, Orion, that's good to know.  Did you exclusively work with scenes that actually happened in your real life, or did you create scenes to work with issues that were less specific or not fully understood?

[Telos]

Naiad, it was part of a paper I read on the internet almost 2 years ago. I haven't been able to find it again through google.

Had I read it while I was much younger, I would've said it was certainly bogus. That was when I was experiencing the daily highs of lucid dreaming. But over the years I've met lots and lots of new people, and none were interesting in lucid dreaming. None. I'd mention it, and they'd kind of nod their head and move to a different subject -> it didn't have anything to do with the real world or, more importantly, their part of the world.

I just live in a very disconsolate, dry and sad city. I'm an adult, it's time I move. I also need some spontaneity. Maybe I'll leave tonight... ?

[Little Star Orion]

Hi,

First of all I do not know anyone with the interest in lucid dreaming, so I don't even speak of it because I know most people find it strange, they don't understand it or don't believe in it. So I don't bother them with the subject.

About the dreams that helped me healing emotional wounds;
A few times I just went to the place that was connected with my emotional wound. Mostly a place has a strong connection with the memories of what happened there, so my dream already create the scene that took place there. So knowing that I dream I can change the way I did act when I got the injury in everyday life. In stead of being a victim I can now fight back, or just try to not be influenced by the people that caused my emotional wounds.
Sometimes I just ask my dreams for help with a specific problem. If I am lucky the dream (normal dream no a lucid one) sometimes helps me by creating something of use. It is really funny how it sometimes woks (it does not work always). It is up to the dreams what they want to how us, and what is useful for us.

PS. Ever heard of soul retrieval?

regards,
Little Star Orion

[Cyrus]

I just got a book that suggested it would be about healing emotional trauma via lucid dreams.  I was disappointed--it had absolutely no information on practical techniques!  So let me ask you guys:  have you ever used lucid dreams to help heal your emotional traumas?  Any suggestions on where to start?

I think i´m lucky atm, that i have no emotional traumas (at least no serious traumas) left. But i think that LD´s can be great tool for curing them. I have used LD's to cure my fear of heights (by lot of flying in LD's) for example and it has worked. Also lot of chatting with DC's with easy mood (because you cannot take your DC's too seriously) has helped me to overcome some social phobias when encountering some people IRL.

Maybe try to find those people who hurted you when you have LD. Talk with them about that. Ask why they did so. Ask what you did wrong (if you feel that it might be partly your "fault" also). Feel free to consider what else to ask from them that could give you some info (but don't take it for granted, as sometimes DC's talk nonsense). But if you start to face boldly the people who hurt you in LD's you become (i hope so) more bold when encountering them IRL. In LD's your mind might figure out the reasons why they hurt you, who they really are (at least for you) and dismantle them. Seeing them as DC's will decrease the fear toward them. Knowing that you encountered them boldly in LD's will help you to stay more calm when you encounter them IRL.

Maybe it helps somehow.