Connection between stress and lack of lucid dreaming?

[theMagician]

Has there been any evidence? Or is there any effect on the type of dreams or dreaming cycles?

[KingYoshi]

Hmm...in my experience, stress definitely effects your dreams. I struggle to remember my dreams on days/nights when I am super stressed out. Over the years, I have known many dreamers to struggle with recall/obtaining lucidity when they are really stressed. Like most things, it probably depends on the dreamer. If you have been really stressed lately and are struggling in the dreaming area, than there is definitely a good possibility.

[MischiefManaged]

I'm sure there is. Just recently I've been stressed out like never in my life before and it affected me physically - I was literally shaking and I felt stabs of pain all over my body. I seriously thought I screwed up my health once and for all. The difference in dream recall was too obvious to even suggest there was any other reason apart from stress. And if stress affect recall so much, I'm pretty sure it can be an obstacle for lucid dreaming. On the other hand, I've heard that people who are already good at LDing can actually use it to reduce stress. I think it makes sense, as it's always easier to bear with difficulties when you are experienced in whatever it is, not only lucid dreaming.

[Dre4m3r]

When you are stressed you are tiring out your mind. Being so physically and mentally drained may be effecting your rem sleep. As for it being prove, I'm not to sure. Would be something interesting to look into.

[Arra]

I'm sure it's true, but I don't know whether it's the actual sleep itself that's different while stressed, or just our increased preoccupation while awake making us lack focus on our dreams. While stressed, like the last few days, I've definitely remembered fewer dreams, but that might have been because I was focusing so much on the essay due I didn't have as much time to get excited about dreaming and therefore had no lucid dreams or memorable dreams.