Releasing suppressed anger in lucid dreams?

**Enjyu** · 10-11-2011 03:09 AM

I am wondering if it is possible to use lucid dreaming to get rid of suppressed anger.

For as long as I can remember, whenever I got angry I simply suppressed it instead of expressing it. I thought that if you would just wait until you are not angry anymore, it would be gone (for example, just like pain). I did not realize suppressed emotions would build up and get worse. Now it has gotten to the point that I can barely control myself whenever I get angry. When that happens I also start feeling very sick for the rest of the day. Luckily this does not happen very often.

Now I want to release this suppressed anger before I end up hurting those close to me or doing something else I may regret. I thought that lucid dreaming could help me with this. What I was planning to do is simple: have a lucid dream, find a way to release this anger and throw it all out.

However, there are two reasons why I think this may not work.

1. Because it is a dream, whatever is happening is not real. Instead of really releasing it, I will only dream of doing so.

2. As soon as I try to release it I may wake up, similar to how you wake up if you get too excited in your first lucid dream.

Anyway, what do you think? Do you think this will work or not? Or do you have any other advice?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

**FancyRat** · 10-11-2011 06:56 AM

Well, if you're having problems that need to be dealt with, then of course that needs doing in real life. I'd say if it is something that can be dealt with IRL, even something small, that should come first. If your problem is more a reaction to something you know is irrational on your part then releasing it in an LD could help.
I did this once in a LD. It wasn't planned but it felt like what I needed to do at the time. I don't know if it helped IRL but it felt right at the time so I let myself go wild.

**ShadowOfSelf** · 10-11-2011 10:06 AM

My advice would be do both, dont think that lucid dreams will solve everything, instead find something to release yourself, something you enjoy doing.

When ive got a lot going on in my head i just draw random pictures/patterns, do something musical or just plain relax

Heres a tip, just because your angry, doesnt mean you need to do angry things to let it out, evil begets evil. Instead try to replace it, learn breathing techniques (yogic breathing i think its called or, breathing with your belly) do something positive, replace negativity with positivity. Do NOT remedy negativity with negativity, i think you will create even more problems. Smile at foes and laugh away your problems.

P.S by all means go wild in your dreams, your not affecting anyone else but yourself therefore you can see the results of any venting or expressing and how it affects you and your enviroment

**Enjyu** · 10-11-2011 01:07 PM

Thanks for your replies.

Originally Posted by ShadowOfSelf

Heres a tip, just because your angry, doesnt mean you need to do angry things to let it out, evil begets evil. Instead try to replace it, learn breathing techniques (yogic breathing i think its called or, breathing with your belly) do something positive, replace negativity with positivity. Do NOT remedy negativity with negativity, i think you will create even more problems. Smile at foes and laugh away your problems.

I have heard from a lot of people that an approach like this works great. There is however one thing preventing me from trying this myself.

Right now I know that I should get rid of this anger. However, as soon as I get angry for whatever reason, I don't want it to go away. It's kind of difficult to explain, but you could say that when I am angry, I feel a lot stronger and more confident than normal, and I don't want to let go of that feeling. That is why I want to try to get rid of it when I'm not angry.

That's why I thought lucid dreaming could help me with this. Also because in a lucid dream you are more or less able to change your subconscious mind, and you suppress emotions subconsciously.

(Dunno if that last sentence makes sense; I just woke up.)

**ShadowOfSelf** · 10-11-2011 01:42 PM

I see,..
My advice, which is my beleif so take it or leave it its up to you, would be research Chakra / Meditation / Yin & Yang etc.
Because Good always triumphs over Evil, feeling happy and confident that no one can bring you down, not even the devil himself will make you infinetly more powerfull than someones whos just got a confidence boost from getting angry, whos reckless and cant think straight

'The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.' - Buddha

**Enjyu** · 10-11-2011 02:15 PM

I will try that out. I still have one question, however.
Will developing positive emotions also get rid of the negative ones, or only mask them?

**ShadowOfSelf** · 10-11-2011 02:28 PM

Your emotions are a direct response to your thoughts, if your still thinking negatively you will continue to feel like that, its essentially reprogramming the brain of its associations- Normally if someone pisses you off your response would be to get pissed off back at them, creating a flow of bad energy between the both of you, however if you was to be the bigger man/woman not to retaliate in the same way, all that bad energy bounces back at them, you can walk away feeling positive and happy with how you handled the situation, whilst they are left with all the negative energy that they created and werent allowed to 'release'.

There are no negative thoughts unless you think them.

**Enjyu** · 10-11-2011 06:05 PM

Thanks for all your advice. I will do some research on Chakra, Meditation and Yin & Yang, and see if that works for me.

**ShadowOfSelf** · 10-11-2011 08:53 PM

Hope it helps, I really recommend meditation though, most soothing and calming experience you can experience, better than any drug there is. Take care