Out of Body Experiences?
Dreamer: Clarice, 9, American female
My little sister (Clarice) is having what you call (I think) "out of body experiences." When she goes to sleep she sees herself laying there in her bed. This experience is scaring her and she has started to have panic attacks in her waking hours. She is 9 years old. Now she keeps thinking (during her waking hours) that she might be dreaming, and is having trouble figuring out between dreaming and reality, because the dreams she has been having seem so real. It scares her and she doesn't want to go to sleep because she is afraid of having a so called "bad dream." Once asleep she will see herself laying there and it scares her and she wakes up and cannot go back to sleep. She is also thinking if she goes to sleep that she won't be able to wake up again. Please lend me a hand for her to explain. Thank you.
PS: I would not be able to explain to her about "out of body experiences" because it may scare her and I don't think our father would like that idea. (He doesn't believe.)
Mr. Hagen's Reply: Out of Body Experiences?
Scientists have experimentally been able to trick the brain to produce OOBE's (watch video).
As a university student, I read with interest the cult classic Robert Munroe's Journey's Out of the Body which explores altered states of consciousness and dreaming. Munroe who reportedly was experimenting with sleep learning, in order to understand the nature of consciousness and accidently stumbled across a new form of experience. Munroe reportedly also took part in the American military remote viewing "Stargate Program". The phenomena of altered states, sleep learning and remote viewing have been discussed in other interpretations posted at the IIDR website.
In 2007 scientific out-of-body experiements were conducted in Finland (Dr Henrik Ehrsson) and Switzerland (Dr Olaf Blanke, Ecole Polytechnique in Lausanne). The researchers were able to produce these experiences in the laboratory.
In order to make it less frightening, explain the experience to her as a "lucid dream" and not as "out of body experiences (OOBE's)." This link explains a few common questions about lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is relatively common, although they must be very scary for a nine-year-old who has no concept and only you as her support. If you need some literature for support, Stephen LaBerge's book "Lucid Dreaming" is the best authority. Lucid dreaming can be very enjoyable and not frightening at all. This stage will be important to the dreamer's future dreams, which I hope become more enjoyable and less frightening.
If you have more questions, just send a message.
Hope these thoughts are of help and provide some insight,
Mark H.