I wonder how much control we have of our dreams?

[Tobin S.]

I was having some nightmares the other night, one after the other they kept waking me. I said a little prayer asking for relief and then slept well for the rest of the night.

All of my dreams have been ranging from negative to nightmarish lately. I don't know why. Everything is going well in my life, both personally and at work. So I was mulling this over a bit, and then last night I had a much more pleasant dream than usual lately.

But that makes me wonder that if we do have some control over the nature of our dreams then why would the default be one way or the other? That is, if I chose not to try to control my dreams why would they all be bad?

[dameatball]

1. I noticed a trend like that a few years ago. It was not long afterward that I was diagnosed with

sleep apnea. Doctor told me some patients reported more vivid dreams, including nightmares.

[No Vested Interest]

6. Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I occasionally had dreams of a huge bomb falling,

similar to the one in Dr. Strangelove, though no one was riding the bomb in my dream.
I also had dreams of my teeth being loose in my jaws, ready to fall out.
Perhaps other odd ones I can't recall at present.

That was ca 15 years ago. I have used a C-PAP every night for ca 15 years and no longer have those dire-type dreams.
As a matter of fact, I no longer remember what I dream, though I may not be getting enough sleep each night (usually 61/2-7 hours.)

[Tobin S.]

7. I do have sleep apnea, but I've been using a CPAP for over 5 years.

[dameatball]

8. I still have the dreams but in general they are less alarming and they tend to dissipate sooner

after awakening. The only reason I brought it up is something that surprised me after having a cardiologist check me out. One of the things he asked me is whether or not I had more vivid dreams, nightmares or dreams that seemed to take longer to dissipate upon awakening. I was kind of surprised to hear him ask that question, but it turned out to be on target somewhat. Anyway, I know that wasn't where your OP was heading, so I won't drag it out. Hopefully you will get answers that help.

I found that changing from a mask to a nasal pillow helped a lot. I think it has been about four years.

[Buzz cook]

2. There is a thing called Lucid Dreaming.

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/how-to-control-your-dream-lucid-dreaming/all

Sorry for linking to Oprah. She was just the first google hit.

There are undoubtedly more authoritative sites. But this should give you an idea about Lucid Dreaming.

[fierywoman]

3. You can control where your dreams/nightmares are going if you are

conscious enough at the time you're dreaming; you can stop it like a video, "rewind" back to where it started getting gnarly and demand it go in a direction YOU want. It can be done, I've done it. Sweet dreams!

[The River]

4. See

Lucid Dreaming

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Some people claim to be able to control their dreams.

For me, when I'm dreaming I generally have no clue I'm dreaming, just caught up in whatever is taking place.

The rare times I do become aware I'm dreaming, I don't seem to be able to do anything about it.

[hunter]

9. At my worst, my nightmares will merge into daytime hallucinations, a 24/7 hell.

That's how I ended up in the locked psych ward last time.

Meds work remarkably well. Then I travel between alternate realities when I sleep or daydream. I have some control over that.