what are lucid dreams

Lucid dreaming is a type of dream in which the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming while they are dreaming. During a lucid dream, the dreamer is aware that the events flashing through their brain are not really happening, but the dream feels vivid and real. Lucid dreams are a trainable skill and can be induced using different methods. They are most common during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a period of very deep sleep marked by eye motion, faster breathing, and more brain activity. Some people may be more predisposed to lucid dream control than others. Lucid dreams can be about anything, from flying to talking with the characters in the dream to having sex. The ability to control dreams is something of a secondary element that comes after lucidity. Lucid dreaming has shown potential for overcoming fears, but frequent lucid dreams might decrease sleep quality or affect one’s mental health.