Is it possible to control your dreams?

Imagine waking up from frequent unpleasant dreams you do not have control over. Sweat trickling down your face while panting and wondering if you could have, perhaps, stopped experiencing those series of events while in your sleep.

People have been captivated by dreams for as long as possible, but their meaning is still unclear. According to theories, dreams help control hidden cravings, resolve disputes, and regulate our emotions.

But do we have the ability to control what we dream about?

The facts

Humans, including most animals dream while they sleep. Not everyone remembers the content of their dreams. The majority of people dream about their worries and experiences in life.

Also, because the portion of the brain that is in charge of making sense of the world turns off while we sleep, a lot of our dreams are weird. These dreams, which occasionally recur, usually involve confrontations with scary people, being pursued, falling, or physical hostility.

Caffeine, alcohol, benzodiazepines, and mental health drugs are a few examples of substances that might interfere with sleep, which can therefore have an impact on dreaming.

There are historical reports of dreams being able to anticipate certain occurrences. Scientists are also said to be devising ways to help people manipulate their dreams either through the dream engineering method or lucid dreaming.

The arguments

Throughout all phases of sleep, significant electrical and chemical activities take place in the brain and body. Only a handful of scientific research currently exists to support the idea that dreams can foretell the future. However, some study indicates that some dream forms may be able to forecast the start of illness or mental decline in the dream.

The rise of ‘Dream Engineers’

A growing number of neuroscientists and psychologists are challenging long-held beliefs on the disconnection that occurs between our body and brains when we sleep. This team of scientists, referred to as “dream engineers,” is using touch, smells, noises, and even physical motions to affect what people dream about. They claim to have seen remarkable results as a result, including enhanced mood and quality of sleep as well as increased learning and creativity.

Critics have raised concerns about its potential misuse. “I have no doubt that dream engineering could open many minds, heal others and help us to understand one another more clearly,” says Adam Haar Horowitz at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He added in the report by NewScientist that the move could also become an advertising gimmick. “We have to proceed with caring and watchful eyes,” Horowitz cautioned.

Lucid dreaming becomes an alternative

Dreams and nightmares can change as a result of life events and phases. More intense dreams or nightmares may result during pregnancy. Trauma can affect your sleep as well, and there’s a link between trauma and mental health problems and more nightmares. Your total sleep quality may be adversely affected by nightmares.

This is where lucid dreaming, which is when a person is aware he is dreaming, comes to play. It comes through the rapid eye movement (REM) where the brain is extremely active. Many believe that lucid dreams help to control anxiety, nightmares, and increase motor skills.

Despite it being rare that lucid dreams are frequent, about 55% of people have experienced this phenomenon. About 23% experience lucid dreams, at least, once a month.

A report by Healthline says one can extend REM sleep by adapting to result-proven routines like following a sleep schedule, daily exercises, avoiding electronics before bed, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, as well as creating a relaxing sleep environment. Some also resort to keeping a dream journal to help their brains become more aware of their dreams.

To find out if being more “awake” in your dreams results in less restful sleep, more research is required especially with regards to day-time tiredness. More lucid dreaming has been linked in several studies to poorer sleep quality, though not always to nightmares.

Negative impact of lucid dreaming

Mental health concerns have been raised because according to research studies, the mental health of some people who resort to lucid dreaming is at risk. For instance, people diagnosed with psychosis are likely to fall prey with the negative impact of lucid dreaming. This is due to the fact that it calls for a certain kind of self-awareness that necessitates viewing yourself from the outside in.

According to science, a lucid dream’s third-person self-view is comparable to a dissociative mental state. Dissociation is a feeling of being cut off from your body and having difficulty telling what is real. This situation is prevalent in the early stages of psychosis.

A few films have spread fanciful ideas about lucid dreams, but the stories they present are unsupported by data. Though they seem real, lucid dreams are not at all like reality. For example, one cannot communicate with the deceased or with someone in a different location through lucid dreaming.

Health experts say people who are interested in lucid dreaming should thread with caution as it may occasionally cause sleep paralysis or false awakenings. Most importantly, people who have (post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression should consult a medical officer for guidance on managing their sleep patterns.

Ultimately, though, dream interpretation remains a significant mystery that will never be fully understood. Whether through the dream engineering or lucid method, if you’re trying to figure out what your subconscious is attempting to tell you, seek for hints in your daily activities.