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Does meditating really affect dreams?
Hello guys, I am a sufferer of generalised panic disorder who has gained massive benefits from buddhism.
I recently read an article on mindfulness meditation and richard davidson's research which suggests its capabilities for rewiring the brain to avoid anxious thoughts, this has me incredibly eager to practice this form of meditation.
The problem is a massive part of my anxiety comes from fear of sleep and vivid dreams and i keep reading of how meditation makes dreams more vivid, and as desperate as i am to practice mindfulness meditation i can't handle the thought of having more vivid dreams. I think that mindfulness meditation would probably make me less scared of the idea of vivid dreams anyway, but i'm finding it tough to get myself to do it as a result of this fear.
What are people's experiences with meditation and dreams? Should i have this concern?
Thanks guys
I recently read an article on mindfulness meditation and richard davidson's research which suggests its capabilities for rewiring the brain to avoid anxious thoughts, this has me incredibly eager to practice this form of meditation.
The problem is a massive part of my anxiety comes from fear of sleep and vivid dreams and i keep reading of how meditation makes dreams more vivid, and as desperate as i am to practice mindfulness meditation i can't handle the thought of having more vivid dreams. I think that mindfulness meditation would probably make me less scared of the idea of vivid dreams anyway, but i'm finding it tough to get myself to do it as a result of this fear.
What are people's experiences with meditation and dreams? Should i have this concern?
Thanks guys
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Comments
I will say, however, that there is no "instant effect" from meditation. Any change it causes in your mental state would be gradual, over the course of months, not days. You need not worry that you will meditate Mon-Fri and have a more vivid dream on Saturday. It doesn't work like that.
Quite the opposite, I find that stilling the mind before I go to sleep makes for a better night - and yes, I do know what you mean about vivid dreams!
Palzang
I suffered terribly wiuth nightmares as an adolescent and, again, for the first three months of being on beta blockers. I was often so scared of sleep that I would go for days without, until I would almost pass out.
As a teenager, it was 'demonic' stuff (fed by reading Wheatley et al.) and i found comfort, until the nightmares stopped, from one particular rosary, which I still have. The closest I got to meditation was prayer but it certainly helped. It didn't make the dreams go away but it added an element of hope to them which finally gave me control. I did not tell anyone about my night terrors: not the sort of thing we said in my family.
When I told my doctor when hideous dreams started again when I was in my 50s, he described them as a side-effect. Side-effect? They were the centre of my concerns. At the time, i was coming back to a practice of meditation and it certainly enabled me to get to sleep - staying asleep was, some nights, a different matter. the real difference was that I could see the fear for what it was and feel differently.
I really can't say whether meditation helped the dreams to end, nor can I say if it made them clearer (they were quite clear enough, thank you!). What I know is that both times were 'episodes': theyt came, stayed a whiole and then went. They were uncomfortable in the extreme and I am grateful that I now rarely have dreams that wake me in terror. Rarely - not 'never'.
I agree, Palzang-la, that there is much to be learned from our dreams and the trime to reflect on them is "recollection in tranquility". A Dream Diary can help.
Palzang
I have a panic disorder as well (small world...but I wouldn't want to paint it...:D). I developed it when I was still a kid and it's been the single greatest challenge of my life.
I'm also very grateful for it because it was a catastrophic panic attack I had a few years ago that finally forced me to find a way to live in this world and that's how I found Buddhism.
As you already know, the practice of Buddhism is particularly helpful for those of us with panic and anxiety disorders and meditation is really the cornerstone of that practice. Untrained minds, especially with overactive imaginations, are often prone to panic and anxiety. Meditation is a very powerful training system for taming the mind and it will be your most trusted ally as you walk this path. You don't have to be afraid of it at all. Just start as a beginner using the simplest of techniques...watching the breath. (If you need more info on this you can PM (Private Message) me any time and I'll gather up some trusted resources for you.)
Many things can cause vivid dreaming, like eating right before bedtime or sleeping during the day (my father swears this is true). But as Palzang points out, there is nothing to fear from dreams. They can be quite useful. They're also a lot like finicky cats. When you don't want them around they won't leave you alone and when you want to pick them up or even just pet them they won't come near you.
Incidentally, I use a form of rewiring the brain to manage the panic disorder and not only has it been extremely helpful it's also a fascinating process. The human brain is one amazing lump of gray jelly! If you want to trade ideas, techniques etc., again just PM me.
I'm very happy for you that you found Buddhism. It's the one true thing in this world that will give you everything you need to conquer fear once and for all.
If you don't already know how to practise metta meditation, PM me and I can send you a quick guide. Or someone might know an online source for instruction?
I was at one of her shows in the early 90's and she had big, thick, plastic fingernails taped to her right hand with black duct tape so she could get a really LOUD strumming going with her whole hand. Very fun! She busted a guitar string halfway through and asked if anyone in the audience could change the string for her (she couldn't do much with her right hand all taped up) while she told one of her great stories. My friend, who was also a great singer/songwriter herself, changed it for her in about 3 minutes. Ani was very impressed!
Aaahhh! Good times!
Awesome story, Brigid!
I saw her last summer at the Folk Festival, and when she sang those lines, my friend turned to me and said, "That's so perfect! It's just like your philosophy of life!"
I said, "I don't have a life philosophy. I'm just trying to keep my head above water and take each day as it comes."
"That's exactly what I meant," said my friend. :smilec:
You're not by chance taking Strattera for your panic disorder are you?
A few I have known on Strattera have had issues with dreams being 'too' vivid, some to the point of them not sleeping for 3 days to avoid them. It's a common side effect of Strattera...though you may not be on it and this may have nothing to do with your situation. I was just curious.
Gassho.
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<o></o>Passionately wealthy
As you practice, combine this with investigation of all phenomena that arise. You'll then learn that mindfulness is the natural state of a human being. What is this that you call fear? Is it not just another undefined emotion? Who are you? What is this? Etc. Etc.
Please practice mindfulness, and question/investigate everything. You'll then see that your nightmares will transform, fear will transform into love. Do you know anything? I don't know anything. I don't know what's going on right now; how can I have the authority to define an emotion as this word 'fear' when the mind can't even understand itself. I used to have 'nightmares', locked in rooms without keys etc. All these types of dreams. They transform. We don't know anything; remember that. Always keep 'don't-know' mind -- I think you'll find the teachings of Zen Master Seung-Sahn helpful if you're dealing with panic attacks/fear mental health situations.. etc.
Hope that helps!!
Oh and let's say that a panic attack comes/fear comes.. let it come don't judge it and just say oh what was that i don't know what that was which is true right? so just like that they will go away. by themselves.
My view is that dreams are just reflections of daytime events, emotions and mental chatter. When discursive thoughts begin to lessen in intensity with regular meditation practice, the same thing occurs with dreams.
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