LUCID DREAMING AND SEX
Dreaming is an essential part of our lives. We tend to remember some of the things we dream about while others remain vague.
Yu & Shen (2020) defined lucid dreaming as a state of dreaming and being conscious enough to know that you are dreaming. There are two types of lucid dreams, controlled and uncontrolled. During a controlled lucid dream, one is aware that they are dreaming and, in a way, can direct the dream's narrative.
The ability to control the dream narrative or lucid dreaming has been used as a therapy method to improve mental health and reduce nightmares. According to Cappadona et al. (2021), lucid dreamers can be able to transform nightmares into normal dreams and deemed creative. Creativity in lucid dreaming can be used to one's advantage. Mastering the art of lucid dreaming can lead to achieving that. In lucid dreams, the dream world appears real to the dreamer, so they can interact as they would with the real world. This article talks about lucid dreaming and its use in our sex life.
Controlled Lucid Dreams
A controlled lucid dream is the ability to control lucid dreams. However, it takes practice. According to Aspy (2020), doing the following can help induce lucid dreaming:
Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)
In the wake from a dream and while intending to go back to sleep, create a "memory intention" by repeating a phrase like "next time I'm dreaming, I will remember I'm dreaming." Memory intention reinforces a set intention that can be acted on when one becomes lucid.
Senses-Initiated Lucid Dream (SSILD)
This can be done after waking up from a few hours of sleep. Close your eyes and shift your attention between your visual, auditory, and physical sensations before going back to sleep.
Wake-up-back-to-bed (WBTB)
The wake-up-back-to-bed technique involves waking up after 5 hours of sleep, then going back to sleep and trying to dream some more.
Lucid Sex Dreams
Most people have sexual fantasies that they often wish could come true. It can be as simple as experiencing an orgasm. What about lucid dreams and sex? People have always had sex dreams. Some even have orgasms while dreaming. However, waking up after a sex dream can be confusing. We might be unable to recall every detail of the dream or even feel awkward after dreaming about someone we are not attracted to.
How Can Lucid Sex Dreams Benefit a Person?
Advantages of Lucid sex dreams include experiencing intense orgasms as in real life. Orgasms during the dreams can be very convincing and even result in having a real orgasm. During lucid sex dreams, fearing protection or even contracting sexually transmitted diseases is no use. This is because the actual act is not taking place. If you have a partner, you do not have to end up feeling like you have cheated on them. You can as well use lucid dreams to try out new sexual experiences.
How To Improve Lucid Sex Dreams Experience
Dreams are an extension of real-life experiences and emotions. The continuity theory suggests that what we dream about is related to our daily life experiences (Hmidan, 2019). To improve on lucid sex dreams, the following can be done:
Visualize Your Perfect Dream
During the day, try to fantasize about how you would like your sex dream to be about. Play out your dream as you get ready to sleep. When trying the wake-up-back-to-bed technique, you can also try to visualize what you would want your dream to be like.
Act Out the Dream In Real Life
Since dreams tend to reflect real life, having a good sex life in the wake can contribute to experiencing great lucid dreams. Make sure to have hot, memorable sex in your life.
Have Sexy Thoughts
Keep sexy thoughts in your mind all through the day. This will translate into you having sex dreams at night.
Keep a Journal With You
Have your journal by your bedside and take note of your dreams and fantasies. Note down the parts you remember in your dreams daily as soon as you wake up. Take note of every detail.
Always Practice
The art of lucid dreaming cannot be achieved overnight. You have to keep working on it and noting your progress. Sometimes we may lose control of our dreams or senses, but with time and enough practice, we'll get the hang of it. During the day, try to ask yourself if you are in wake life or you are dreaming. Keep your senses on alert during the day. This will help you recognize that you are dreaming at night and take control of your dreams.
Conclusion
With all the potential a lucid dream can have, it is understandable how popular it has been and why most people are learning to take control of their dreams. Sex can be transformed into the fantasy we want it to be. Lucid sex dreams can improve our moods and alert us without getting into the physical hustle of getting laid in real life. Take note of the steps outlined above and get into practice. Keep in mind the tips given, and take your time to work on controlling your dreams. Remember, it may not happen overnight, but dreams come true.
References
Yu, C., & Shen, H. (2020). Bizarreness of lucid and non-lucid dream: effects of metacognition. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2946.
Cappadona, R., De Giorgi, A., Di Simone, E., Zucchi, B., Rodriguez-Borrego, M. A., Lopez-Soto, P. J., ... & Manfredini, R. (2021). Sleep, dreams, nightmares, and sex-related differences: a narrative review. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 25(7), 3054-3065.
Aspy DJ. (2020). Findings from the International Lucid Dream Induction Study. Frontiers in Psychology; 11:1746.
Hmidan, A., & Weaver, A. D. (2019). Sex dreams: Gender, erotophilia, and sociosexuality as predictors of content, valence, and frequency. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 28(2), 177-189.