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The 'Shifting' Trend on TikTok: Does It Affect Sleep?
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Time to read 3 min
What do we mean by 'shifting'?
Shifiting, or reality shifting, refers to the concept of temporarily moving from one reality to another. Most of the time, these universes tend to be fictional.
Shifting on TikTok
The term became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic on social media, especially on TikTok. Various accounts encouraged their followers to try the trend out for themselves, and suggested realities to visit, often worlds their favourite books, TV shows, or films. "Shifters", as they're known, sometimes practice the act while awake, but often they try this method while asleep.
Popular reported shifting locations and genres include:
- medieval fantasy
- celebrity experiences
- magic
- visiting IP (namely their favourite books, shows, or movies)
- romance
There are currently 2.7 million posts in the shifting hashtag on TikTok, all reporting various experiences across the countless universes. Many users report the joy of escapism when they shift, as well as a control over the alternate reality they're experiencing.
Is shifting the same as lucid dreaming?
Lucid dreaming is a much older term. Although the science of dreams and how our minds work is still a mystery waiting to be discovered, there's more established ideas of what lucid dreaming entails.
- Lucid dreaming is being consciously aware (at least, to an extent) that you are dreaming while sleeping.
- It most commonly occurs during the REM stage of the sleep cycle, the final stage, where the most vivid dreams occur.
- During lucid dreams, the person sleeping can exercise some level of control over what they experience in their dream, and can make it an enjoyable experience.
- Many people have reported that they have trained themselves to lucid dream on command, although some experts believe this can lead to a poorer quality sleep when frequently practiced.
The core element of control exists in both shifting and lucid dreaming. The key difference, however, is that many shifters claim they are moving to very real timelines or alternate universes, rather than playing make believe during sleep. It has an element of lucid dreaming, as well as one of its own, and astral projecting, which is when the soul is said to leave the body temporarily and travel to another plane.
What do experts have to say about shifting?
As shifting is still a new term and the recollections of those who have experienced vary, there's no solid scientific consensus on what shifting exactly is, or how it works.
Some experts say that a little escapism every now and then can be healthy.
Mallory Grimste, an adolescent therapist and licensed clinical social worker, told Business Insider, "The idea of imagining or visualizing yourself in a different reality can be a very healthy coping strategy for many."
"Many therapists will often help their clients create their own 'calm, safe space' to visualize when they need to re-regulate difficult emotional responses and experiences."
The term "now and then" is key here. Reflecting on reports from TikTok users that reality shifting made their mental health worse, clinical psychologist Joshua Klapow, added "The practice of reality shifting is not inherently unhealthy. However, if a person is using it increasingly more and more to escape their present life, concern arises."
Shifting is the concept of temporarily visiting aan alternate reality, typically during sleep.
Shifting invokes elements of lucid dreaming and astral projection.
There is no scientific consensus on how shifting works or what it is, but occasional endeavours are thought to be perfectly healthy.
FAQs
If shifting the same as lucid dreaming?
Not quite. In a way, all shifts are lucid dreams, but not all lucid dreaming is shifting. Shifters claim that they visit real universes, rather than simply dreaming what comes into their mind.
If you're hurt in shifting, are you hurt in this universe?
Some TikTokers report that they were hurt while shifting and carried it abck with them, but there's been no studies on this experience relating to shfiting yet.
The Myza Editorial Team
The Myza Editorial Team works together to create and curate The Sleep Journal, a series of blog posts designed to help our customers with frequently asked questions and curiosities regarding everything in the world of sleep, from sleeping positions to skin and hair care. We also provide regular shopping guides, interviews, and reviews to provide insight into our hand-picked brand collaborations and the benefits they have to offer.
