#reality testing

The average so-called-conservative voter has been indoctrinated, as a result of religious illogical, contradictory thinking, to believe the actual opposite of the current reality.

A lucid dream is a dream in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. This awareness can allow the dreamer to control the dream, or at least to observe it from a detached perspective. Lucid dreams have been reported for centuries, and there are now a number of techniques that people can use to induce them.

History of lucid dreaming

The earliest recorded mention of lucid dreaming is in the Hindu text the Upanishads, which was written around 2000 BC. The Upanishads describe a technique called "dream yoga" that was used to induce lucid dreams.

In the 19th century, the French philosopher René Descartes wrote about his own experiences with lucid dreaming. Descartes believed that lucid dreams could be used to prove the existence of the soul.

In the 20th century, the psychologist Stephen LaBerge began to study lucid dreaming scientifically. LaBerge developed a number of techniques for inducing lucid dreams, and he also developed a way to measure brain activity during lucid dreams.

Benefits of lucid dreaming

There are many potential benefits to lucid dreaming. For example, lucid dreams can be used to explore one's subconscious mind, to learn new skills, or to simply have more fun. Lucid dreams can also be used to treat nightmares and other sleep disorders.

Here are some of the benefits of lucid dreaming:

Personal growth: Lucid dreams can be used to explore your subconscious mind and learn more about yourself. You can use them to confront your fears, work through emotional issues, and develop your creativity.

Problem-solving: Lucid dreams can be used to solve problems in your waking life. You can use them to practice new skills, test out ideas, and come up with creative solutions to problems.

Entertainment: Lucid dreams can be a lot of fun. You can use them to fly, have adventures, and meet interesting people.

Risks of lucid dreaming

There are also some potential risks associated with lucid dreaming. For example, some people have reported feeling anxious or even terrified during lucid dreams. In rare cases, lucid dreams can even lead to sleep paralysis, a condition in which the person is unable to move or speak after waking up.

Here are some of the risks of lucid dreaming:

Anxiety: Some people experience anxiety or even fear during lucid dreams. This is usually due to the fact that they are not used to being aware that they are dreaming.

Sleep paralysis: Sleep paralysis is a condition in which the person is unable to move or speak after waking up. It can be a frightening experience, and it is sometimes associated with lucid dreaming.

Psychological problems: In rare cases, lucid dreaming can lead to psychological problems such as psychosis or dissociation. However, this is very rare and only occurs in people who are already at risk for these conditions.

Techniques for inducing lucid dreams

If you are interested in trying lucid dreaming, there are a number of techniques that you can use. Some of the most common techniques include:

Reality testing: This involves checking throughout the day to see if you are dreaming. You can do this by trying to push your finger through your palm, looking at a clock twice to see if the time changes, or trying to read something twice to see if the words change.

Wake back to bed (WBTB): This involves waking up after 5-6 hours of sleep, staying awake for 20-30 minutes, and then going back to sleep. This increases your chances of having a lucid dream.

Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD): This involves repeating a mantra to yourself before you go to sleep, such as "I will know I am dreaming."

If you are persistent, you should be able to induce lucid dreams with some practice. However, it is important to remember that lucid dreaming is not a guarantee, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one person may not work for another.

Conclusion

Hi anon. 

I found information about reality checks or reality testing:

Reality testing is a technique pioneered by Gwen Howe, a mental health nurse who wrote widely on schizophrenia in the 1980s. The technique is best employed by people who are just beginning to develop insight into their paranoid thinking and beginning to doubt the content of the false messages received from the delusions or hallucinations. Using this technique an agreement is struck between the sufferer and those people around them (carers or relatives etc) so that:

1. Every time the sufferer has a strange thought or idea they will immediately question it with the carer or relative to ascertain whether it is accurate.2. The carer or relative will take the time to respond to the concern in a matter of fact way and provide reassurance that the idea or thought is not true.

Howe stresses that the technique can only work really well if “the sufferer’s courage and honesty is met by a correspondingly responsible attitude in the carer”.

This may of course be difficult at times and will require great patience and understanding but has clear advantages over the other options of either colluding with the delusional thinking or ridiculing it.

I found this information here:

https://www.livingwithschizophreniauk.org/information-sheets/self-help-for-paranoia/

Writing Prompt: What's a moment that made you question reality?

How long was I in that room, in that hospital? Days? Weeks? Did we just arrive? More importantly, how long did I sit and hold up that wall? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? What prompted me to put my hand on the wall, anyway? What had me so convinced if I pulled away, it’d all fall down? Not just the…