Despite semantic arguments, there is generally a lack of control over dreams except for what is called LUCID DREAMING.

In a regular dream we recognize our self as an actor or the main observer of the actions being dreamed, but we cannot step aside an become an observer of ourselves dreaming. In other words, for the normal dream the dream is perceived real and non-logical events cannot be seen “not possible”.

However, in LUCID DREAMING, the dreamer is aware that he/she is dreaming and the components of the dreams do not make sense, then the emotional LUCID dream is less threatening because we know it is just a dream. Lucid dreamers can often direct their dreams.

The question is if we can use lucid dreaming to treat “nightmare” disorders. With respect to the potential therapeutic role of lucid dreaming in treating nightmare, the lucid dreamer may consciously perceive that nightmare is a DREAM and not real, thus less terrifying. It may also be theoretically possible to change/control the content of the dreams, thus the nightmare if one is proven to be lucid dreamer.

Another critical question! Do evidence support that we can induce LUCID DREAMING in clinical setting? And is the method proven to be of cognitive benefits to help nightmare disorder? There exist lucid dreaming goggles ( see below figure) that supposedly help the patient enter the dream as the main character. These goggles sense the rapid eye movements of REM sleep ( built-in EOG) and they initiate flashes of red light. These flashes are not sufficient to wake the person but they are sufficient to generate the conscious awareness that a dream beginning.