Every practitioner of the phase (the world of lucid dreams and out-of-body experiences) knows it to be a pleasant pastime where you can fly, communicate with people inaccessible in reality, find out interesting information, take a walk in outer space or on the ocean floor, etc. According to the online magazine Bustle, however, doctors have also identified six benefits of lucid dreaming that have a positive effect on health. The information was shared by two medical doctors: sleep neurologist Naina Limbekar and psychiatrist Alex Anastasiou. So, what are the health bonuses available to lucid dreamers?
1. Less nightmares. Once you have control over your dreams, you can change the course of action within them and turn a negative situation into a neutral or happy one.
2. Anxiety relief. Symptoms of anxiety often occur due to a feeling of loss of control.
3. Increased creativity. There have been many people in history who made discoveries in their dreams, for example, August Kekulé, who discovered the structure of the chemical compound benzene.
4. Improved motor skills. Practicing different activities (such as playing basketball) within lucid dreams means that, even though you are not actually playing, the same part of the brain is activated, which contributes to success in reality.
5. Problem-solving. Lucid dreaming is a great mental exercise that allows you to visualize your plan first and then execute it. Acting out something in a phase state is a rehearsal for real-life scenarios.
6. Treating phobias. For example, you can use lucid dreams to change your attitude towards snakes by encountering them in a risk-free environment.
The doctors do, nevertheless, admit that the last point reflects only preliminary studies and anecdotal evidence. The association of lucid dreams with reduced anxiety has also not been confirmed. But, as we know, scientists are only now beginning to really study this phenomenon. So we will just have to wait for new discoveries!
