Can I remove memories via lucid dreams?

[Midwinter Mist]

Still lacking experience in the lucid dream department, I'm not entirely sure what I can and cannot do, but I assume that we can access 'files' within our mind, including anything from memories to hidden aspects of our personalities.

Through a lucid dream (or even outside of one), can I 'delete' any memories or at least bury any of them?

Here is a funny example. I absolutely hate the modern music industry, but it's very dominant and is forced, where possible, on anybody within its reach. Most people don't care if they hear something they don't like, but I'm in a position where I can't avoid it and I hate the fact my memory or higher 'whatever' memorises every little thing. I don't have much control over my brain, and things I dislike tend to pop up and rule over me. It's like how you can spontaneously dream of something irrelevant from decades and decades in the past. I sometimes feel like certain things are like 'clutter' in my memory, and if there is a way I can get rid of them completely, then I'd like to do that.

[wstein]

Originally Posted by Midwinter Mist

Through a lucid dream (or even outside of one), can I 'delete' any memories or at least bury any of them?

I have lots of experience with lucid dreaming. I do not think it is a very good tool for deleting memories. It is a very good tool for facing your fears.

Burying memories is not a good idea either as they build up and fester. Eventually they erupt in life damaging ways. The most effective way to deal with problematic memories is to deal with the emotions attached to the experiences. The remaining ‘factual’ memeroies might be unpleasant but are not very harmful. Lucid dreaming can assist in this process by being able to review the experiences from a more detached perspective (and safe). Relive the situation while viewing from the outside perspective.

Originally Posted by Midwinter Mist

Here is a funny example. I absolutely hate the modern music industry, but it's very dominant and is forced, where possible, on anybody within its reach. Most people don't care if they hear something they don't like, but I'm in a position where I can't avoid it and I hate the fact my memory or higher 'whatever' memorises every little thing. I don't have much control over my brain, and things I dislike tend to pop up and rule over me. It's like how you can spontaneously dream of something irrelevant from decades and decades in the past. I sometimes feel like certain things are like 'clutter' in my memory, and if there is a way I can get rid of them completely, then I'd like to do that.

Normal dreaming is about reviewing recent experience, learning from that experience, and devising improved ways to deal with those situations in the future. Lucid dreaming allows you to be an active participant in the dream. Though you can change the dream, it does not erase the underlying experiences.

Obviously as you know the only real solution is to get out of having such experiences. Since you seem unable or unwilling to do this, I suggest the most effective thing you can do is learn detachment. This will avoid the emotional nightmares from getting in your memories in the first place.

[Midwinter Mist]

Originally Posted by wstein

It is a very good tool for facing your fears.

Absolutely, though it's not really about fears in my case, just things that are annoying.

Originally Posted by wstein

Since you seem unable or unwilling to do this, I suggest the most effective thing you can do is learn detachment. This will avoid the emotional nightmares from getting in your memories in the first place.

I'm not having any nightmares, and the last thing I need is to learn 'detachment'. Most of the problems I'm experiencing in my current life have been caused by me losing a connection to deeper emotions. I'm not sure what happened, but I think something in the early stages of this year was treated like a trauma in that soon after it my deeper emotions shut down. Most of the time, I'm completely numb, and that has ruined almost everything in my life because everything I did was based on self-expression and emotions. I love emotions and I don't really care about having nightmares. I don't get them, anyway, and those I did get were inspiring.

To be honest, my real aim here was to find out if I could get rid of the little things, such as a song I don't like popping up in my head during my day. The little things that are no big deal either way, but can be a little annoying and really don't seem to serve me anything. I don't feel the need to remember the garbage that played on the radio a few months ago, for example. It serves me nothing and was forced upon me.