Treating Insomnia and Nightmares with Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreaming is the ability to be aware that you are dreaming and by knowing this, being able to control what happens. 

Benefits of lucid dreaming

·         Improving dream quality

·         Facing phobias and also noticing anything that your subconscious may be trying to deal with

·         Dream recall is better

·         Dreams are more vivid

·         Falling asleep becomes easier

·         You will feel healthier

·         Improved mood and wellbeing

Tips to a better night sleep:

·         Limit alcohol and replace with chamomile tea which is relaxing. A nightcap may help you drift off but it suppresses the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep state that’s critical for lucid dreaming and a good nights rest.  

·         Make your last cup of caffeine mid-morning, different people process caffeine at a different rate through the liver and therefore it can cause a prolonged hyperactive effect on some people 

·         Have a bath with and add lavender salts to relax your mind and body before bedtime

·         Try not to watch TV an hour before bed as it can stimulate your mind too much and makes your thoughts busy and clustered

The sleeping hormone; Melatonin food sources

·         Cherry active has studies on its effectiveness for sleep

·         Sunflower seeds

·         almonds

Supplement support

·         5-HTP aids the production of melatonin

·         Taurine is an amino acid that supports the production of GABA. GABA is a very relaxing hormone that helps keep you relaxed.

Getting started with lucid dreaming 

·         Do daily reality checks to see if you are awake such as can you feel the wall or the ground beneath your feet.

·         If you think you don’t remember your dreams you may surprise yourself. Keep a journal next to your bed, as soon as you wake up jot down anything you may remember.  By doing this daily you may find that you are remembering more and also noticing common signs in your dreams

·         Be in darkness when you sleep, having the light on or having the TV on provides artificial lighting that affects your internal body clock by using up the melatonin present.  

·         Use a sleeping app on your phone so that you have an idea of what your sleep cycle is like

·         Practice the memory game when you go to sleep by trying to recall all the events throughout the day such as the colour of a colleagues jumper at work, what car was parked by you and the details of it, who served you at the supermarket, cover as much of the day as possible

·         Meditate daily, there are lucid dreaming you tube and Spotify playlists that you can use to talk you through this.

Happy dreaming, have fun!