The Effects Of Lucid Dreaming On The

Frequency Of Nightmares Essay, Research Paper

Running head: The Effects of Lucid Dreaming on the Frequency of Nightmares

The Effects of Lucid Dreaming on the Frequency of Nightmares

Abstract

Six patients were offered treatment with the major focus on alleviating nightmares. Three patients were treated through lucid dream training paired with psychotherapy and three were treated through psychotherapy only. Of sixty-eight non-psychotic patients seen in a psychiatry emergency room these six individuals volunteered to participate in our study. The benefits of the skills developed through lucid dream training extended from the alleviation of nightmares into other dynamics of the individuals life. The lucid dreaming technique we chose to use beared successful results in reduction of the severity, frequency, intensity and degree of disturbance of the nightmares. We suggest that further research be done to use lucid dreaming as an adjunctive treatment for patients with nightmares and may also be a useful technique in psychotherapy as well.

The Effects of Lucid Dreaming on the Frequency of Nightmares

The purpose of this study will be to explore the potential effectiveness of applying lucid dreaming techniques as the treatment for recurring nightmares. We have gathered much research suggesting that lucid dreaming should be significantly beneficial to those persons suffering from recurrent nightmares. Lucid dreaming may be able to give clients a new insight into overcoming their own fears with this self-healing technique. This rather new technique will not only help alleviate the nightmares a client experiences, but it will also enhance their self-esteem and self-confidence. Lucid dreaming has proven to be a very rewarding technique used to treat several problems associated with the psychological aspects of one’s world.

A growing body of research has indicated the technique known as lucid dreaming can be used to reduce the frequency and severity of nightmares in an individual. We will define lucid dreaming as follows: ” lucid dreaming is an altered state of consciousness, in which one is aware that one is dreaming” (Abramovitch, 1995, p.141) Nightmares, in reference to our study, will be defined as “vivid and terrifying dreams which arouse the dreamer from sleep.”(Abramovitch, 1995, p. 140). Being that such dreams are not due to another mental disorder or some other identifiable physiological effects or medical conditions(Abramovitch, 1995, p.140)

In recent literature, several authors have suggested various psychological benefits that may be obtained through lucid dreaming (LaBerge, 1985; Brylowski, 1990; Zadra & Pihl 1997) The notion that lucid dreaming may be of benefit in a clinical context, especially in the treatment of nightmares, is not new. In the past decade, several papers have been written concerning the clinical utility of lucid dreaming. Unfortunately few controlled studies have been conducted in the effects of lucid dreaming on the frequency of nightmares.

LaBerge (1985) has made several reports on nightmares becoming lucid through extensive training, thereby changing the course of the dream from a negative to a positive direction. Similar accounts are contained in LaBerge and Rheingold’s (1990) book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming.

Halliday has been involved in two case studies in which he successfully treated recurrent nightmares by applying lucid dreaming techniques during nightmares and attempting to alter the scenery within the dream. In an article written by Brylowski (1990), he reports the case of a client with a case history of major depression, borderline personality disorder, and nightmares. The client experienced nightmares between one and four times per week. Brylowski used the technique of lucid dreaming as therapeutic intervention with his client and in turn assisted the client in reducing the frequency and severity of the nightmares.

Tholey (1988) describes what he calls the “self-healing program ” based upon his research of lucidity training. The program “contains guidelines on (1) in the techniques for inducing and ending lucid dreams, (2) on methods for incubating and manipulating the contents of lucid dreams, (3) on the appropriate behavior regarding resistance (such as ‘defense’ or ‘avoidance’ mechanisms), and (4) on helpful principles for interaction with other dream figures” (Tholey, 1988 pp. 272-273). Tholey reports his program to be successful in the treatment of recurrent nightmares as well as improving other symptoms the client may be suffering such as anxiety, shyness, and social adjustment difficulties.

In this study we have attempted to identify that lucid dreaming is beneficial in the treatment of clients suffering from frequent nightmares. It was assumed that the techniques developed by well known researchers in the field of lucid dreaming will provide a more holistic, self-healing response within the individual undergoing treatment for nightmares than the use of more evasive techniques such as drug therapy, shock therapy, and neurosurgery. Study the effects of lucid dreaming on the severity and frequency of nightmares is a very important step that must be taken in order to provide support for the technique as a beneficial tool in the psychiatric field.

Method

Participants

Six of the 68 non-psychotic pa