logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2021
11m 36s

Can You Control Your Dreams? Pros and Co...

Quickanddirtytips.com
About this episode

Have you ever sprouted wings or swam with unicorn dolphins? Lucid dreamers can conjure these and any other fantastical scenario they can, well, dream of. Is this ancient art a real brain phenomenon? Can you do it, too? In this first part of a two-part series on lucid dreaming, we explore the neuroscience of lucid dreaming and discuss whether it's a good idea to try at home.

Read the transcript.

Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows.

Subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Links:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/what-lucid-dreaming
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Oct 6
Brain rot is real. What scrolling is actually doing to your brain
576. You pick up your phone to check one thing and 45 minutes disappear. You try to read a book and can't get through a page. You sit in a meeting and your mind keeps reaching for something it can't name. Brain rot isn't just a meme — it's Oxford's 2024 Word of the Year and a now ... Show More
11m 48s
Sep 29
Existential Depression: Why do I feel empty when nothing is wrong?
575. You’re functioning. You’re achieving. Nothing has gone dramatically wrong. And you wake up one morning and realize you genuinely can’t remember the last time something felt worth doing. A lot of people describe this as a feeling of emptiness. This week Dr. Judy Ho unpacks ex ... Show More
18m 59s
Sep 22
The love that controls you: Understanding coercive control
574. It doesn't start with a bruise. It starts with devotion that slowly becomes suffocation. The Netflix documentary Death of the Pastor's Wife, released August 26, 2026, has put coercive control back into the national conversation — a pattern of behavior that is now more common ... Show More
24m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2025
Can you control your dreams?
Have you ever had a scary or weird dream and wished you could switch your brain-television to another channel? Great news! You can learn to use “lucid dreaming,” a technique that helps you realize when you’re in a dream. Once you know you’re dreaming, you can teach yourself to sh ... Show More
6m 9s
Jun 2009
Can you control your dreams?
<p>In a lucid dream, the sleeper is aware that he or she is in a dream state. Does that mean you can control these dreams? Where did this concept come from? Tune in to this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com to find out more about lucid dreaming.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad- ... Show More
26m 8s
Jul 2023
Are You a Lucid Dreamer?
A sleep researcher who studies what dreams can tell us about the possible onset of some mental disorders believes lucid dreamers might hold a lot of answers in their head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
11m 27s
Mar 2023
How to Lucid Dream (Even if You Think You Can’t)
Want to take control inside your dreams? Turns out it’s a skill you can practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
7m 35s
Nov 2024
Lucid Dreaming: The Bonkers World Inside Our Minds
Some people can control their dreams. While they're fast asleep: they fly, create new worlds, live other lives. But Wendy isn't one of them. So in today's episode, Wendy and the Science Vs team find a scientifically approved method to try to lucid dream. We test it out — and biza ... Show More
46m 11s
May 2022
Why do we dream?
Dreams are weird, but can they be a scientific tool? Can they teach us anything about humanity? About ourselves? For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox ... Show More
23m 25s
Jun 2021
Lucid Dreaming
Lucid dreaming is a state of consciousness where a person is aware they're dreaming. This gives them a level of control over it. With practice you can increase this ability and explore your greatest fantasies. I spoke with E.S. Fein. An author and lucid dreaming expert who teache ... Show More
38m 27s
Mar 2024
Dreams: What Could They Mean?
Dreaming might be the weirdest thing that our brains do. Out of thin air we may see ourselves battling a triceratops, or stressing for an exam that we don't have … so why do we do this?? What is going on in our brains to create these bonkers images? For years, the land of dreams ... Show More
44m 54s
Jul 2020
Lucid Dreaming for Confidence
Some of the greatest creatives and innovators in history have cited dreams as their main mode of inspiration. You can, too. In this episode, Chad and Steph discuss what lucid dreaming is and how it can open your mind's eye to new ideas and new emotions. --- You can subscribe to o ... Show More
9m 50s