Psychosis and Lucid Dreams

Most people think of psychosis as a break from reality. It's characterized as a break to a person’s thoughts and perceptions, causing them to question and not be able to tell the difference between what’s real and what isn’t (NAMI). People who experience it say psychosis is a very frightening and confusing experience. People with psychosis may hear, see, or taste things other people don’t, and they may have persistent, unusual thoughts that they can't set aside. They may also have strong inappropriate thoughts, or no thoughts at all, may withdraw from family and friends, decline in self care, and have trouble thinking or concentrating (Drugs.com).

Psychosis gives hallucinations (auditory hallucinations, strange sensations and unexplainable feelings, and seeing glimpses of objects that aren’t there), delusions (believing external forces are controlling thoughts, feelings, and behaviors), the belief that events and objects have a personal significance, or thinking they have special powers, or are on a special mission (NAMI).

Treatment includes coordinated specialty care, psychotherapy, and medications (NAMI). Lucid dreaming will only worsen this disorder. As Karen Kalkony said, a mental health disorder which causes the patient to question reality will not complement lucid dreaming, and psychosis is one of those disorders which will be worsened by lucid dreaming, causing them to further confuse what is and isn’t (Timperley).

Picture by Anda Lupulet