Sleep Disorders: The Causes and Cures of Sleep Problems


Learning to lucid dream does not generally increase your risk of developing certain sleep disorders. There are some unusual phenomena you might encounter (such as false awakenings and sleep paralysis) but nothing to seriously worry about (such as insomnia, sleepwalking or night terrors).

This section is here to help you understand more about the sleeping brain. Often, it's only when mechanisms break down that we can start to understand more about the system. With that in mind, learning more about sleep disorders is a worthwhile pursuit for oneironauts as we strive to achieve more lucid dreams.

Here you will also learn more about the stages of sleep, the in-between states of consciousness and hypnagogia, and even how to stop nightmares.

The Effects of Sleep DeprivationHow Long Can You Survive Without Sleep?

It's less than you think. Find out about the debilitating effects of sleep deprivation and how one 1950s experiment changed its volunteer forever.

Escaping From NightmaresEscaping From Nightmares

How I become lucid in nightmares: to confront the source of my fear, to learn and grow emotionally, and to extinguish dark dreams at the root cause.

Lucid NightmaresLucid Nightmares

What are lucid nightmares and what causes them? How are they different from lucid dreams or regular nightmares? Learn about this enlightening sleep state.

False AwakeningsFalse Awakenings

Explore the bizarre nature of false awakenings, or the dream-within-a-dream, and the close relationship they have with lucid dreams.

What Is Sleep ParalysisSleep Paralysis

Is sleep paralysis stopping you from getting a good night's sleep? Find out how to stop sleep paralysis and use it as a gateway to lucid dreams.

Sleep Paralysis VisionsSleep Paralysis Visions

What is sleep paralysis? Guest author Ryan Hurd elucidates this sleep disorder shrouded in mystery - and poses it as a gateway to lucid dreams and OBEs.

Sleep Paralysis Kit ReviewSleep Paralysis Kit Review

Sleep Paralysis Kit by Ryan Hurd is a breakthrough guide to sleep paralysis nightmares, lucid dreams and out of body experiences.

SleepwalkingSleepwalking and Sleep Talking

Explore sleepwalking, sleep talking and other parasomnias. Is sleepwalking murder real? Read about the case of Kenneth Parks' automatism trial.

Night TerrorsNight Terrors

How to stop night terrors in children and adults. Learn about the causes of sleep terrors and how to cure this sleep disorder of intense fear at night using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Fatal Familial InsomniaFatal Familial Insomnia

Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI): The Family That Couldn't Sleep. Discover the tragic fatal insomnia sleep disorder caused by genetic prion disease.

The Man Who Never SleptThe Man Who Never Slept

About Fatal Familial Insomnia and other accounts of total insomnia including the stories of Michael Corke, John Alan Jordan and Ngoc Thai.

How to Sleep BetterHow to Sleep Better

Learn how to sleep better with these top 10 tips for getting more shuteye. Knock sleep deprivation on the head and get better sleep every night.

How to Get a Better Night's Dleep InfographicHow to Get a Better Night's Sleep Infographic

Learn how to sleep better with these top 10 tips for getting more shuteye. Knock sleep deprivation on the head and get better sleep every night.


About The Author

About The Author

Rebecca Casale is a lucid dreamer and a science writer with a special interest in biology and the brain. She is the founder of World of Lucid Dreaming and Science Me.