This book explores how self emerges and can be strengthened to improve one's mental health, eliminate nightmares, and combat post traumatic stress. I have been a lifelong lucid dreamer starting with nightmares at age five. As a first year university student I learned to control nightmares through dream programming, and later discovered how to eliminate them. Uniquely, I transferred lucid dream control to other altered states with the use of self-hypnosis. Lucid dream research by J. Allan Hobson and Ursala Voss demonstrate the reality of dual brain states. This book goes one step further and demonstrates control of dual states across various types of other altered states.

Fundamental questions related to consciousness are presented as basic neuronal mechanisms are explored. Issues such as free will, how sensation is bound and supported during sleep, and possible dream functions are reviewed in terms of contemporary neuroscience.