Lucid dreaming is when you are aware you are dreaming. The term was introduced in 1913 by Frederick van Eeden, a Dutch doctor and psychiatric researcher. He said the lucid dreamer retains some degree of consciousness in the dream state. Practitioners say there are two kinds of lucid dreams. In the first, you fall asleep, begin to dream and become lucid, or aware, while dreaming. In the second, you are awake and go directly into a lucid dream. Most lucid dreams are the former.
When you have a lucid dream, you can expect some awareness that you are dreaming. How much awareness varies, however. Sometimes the dreamer is only vaguely aware he is dreaming. At other times, the person is fully aware and can even make decisions about what he does in the dream.
Some people say they can control lucid dreaming, choosing to enter the state at will. Lucid dreams happen most often during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, when brain activity is similar to that during wakefulness. REM sleep comes in cycles throughout the night. The first REM cycle usually comes about 90 minutes into sleeping, so some people bring on lucid dreaming by taking a nap immediately after waking. Try telling yourself that you want to be aware of your dreaming.
Researchers say people can use lucid dreaming to solve a problem or to stop a reoccurring nightmare. Put something next to your bed to encourage this, such as a photo of the person with whom you are having difficulties. To end a nightmare, envision an alternate ending when you find yourself in the lucid dream.
If you want to remember your lucid dream, don’t get out of bed as soon as you wake up. Lie quietly and try to focus on what you’ve dreamed.