State Tests?

**Telemachus** · 01-04-2011 09:46 PM

The topic of state (reality) tests seems to be a sketchy one, from what I've seen around the forums. People constantly give advice to "really question" reality before performing a Reality Check, but fail to give a procedure or even a coherent rationale for their own advice. Can someone please explain how they perform a state test, without the vague explanations? Many thanks,
Telemachus

**AlmightyShizzle** · 01-04-2011 10:42 PM

Just pick a reality check and do it. I usually try to poke a finger through my other hand or pinch my nose and try to breath through it. You could also just look at your hand to make sure you have 5 fingers.

**Alucinor XIII** · 01-05-2011 01:04 AM

By "really do a reality check", most people are saying don't get in the habit of doing RC passively. Whenever you do a RC, double check. First off, ask yourself " Could I be dreaming? " And then state why you could or could not in your mind. Then, as a final say, do one of the checks Almighty mentioned. (The nose-pinching one is great. Also, try reading anything (a text message, the clock, the cover of a label, anything. In dreams text is pretty unstable. )

**Amity** · 01-05-2011 01:21 AM

I begin my reality checks by telling myself, in my head, "This IS a dream" - with a completely open mind, no telling myself it may not be.
I follow this with 2 checks - first inspecting my hands for anything out of the ordinary, and then blocking my nose and breathing in.
By doing this, I don't give my dream-self the opportunity to talk myself out of lucidity. It IS a dream, and I just accept that straight away. "Ohh, okay - this is a dream!"
Rather than, "Could it be?" and possibly missing my dream signs.
Hope I helped!

**Alucinor XIII** · 01-05-2011 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by Amity

...By doing this, I don't give my dream-self the opportunity to talk myself out of lucidity. It IS a dream, and I just accept that straight away. "Ohh, okay - this is a dream!"
Rather than, "Could it be?" and possibly missing my dream signs.
Hope I helped!

That's actually a pretty good idrea. I'm going to start implementing that. Thanks. :O

**mcwillis** · 01-05-2011 01:59 AM

Firstly I realise that I'm dreaming. I have yet to do a reality check out of habit to alert me to the fact that I'm dreaming. When I become lucid I deepen and stabilise the lucid. The dream then becomes so exceptionally real I sometimes begin to question if I really am in a dream as the dream seems to be too real to be a dream. That's when I do a reality check to make sure that I am dreaming.

**Telemachus** · 01-05-2011 03:09 AM

Thanks to everyone for the replies

What I'd really like to know; however, is the method you use to "question reality," so to speak. What are the thoughts (not physical actions such as reality checks, these are a given), which go through your mind when you perform a state test?

**Burke** · 01-05-2011 03:16 AM

The thoughts i think when i preform a RC (or state tests, as you called it) is, "Is this is a dream? Can i breath through my nose while it's plugged? I can!? It is a dream!"

**Zephyrus** · 01-05-2011 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Thanks to everyone for the replies

What I'd really like to know; however, is the method you use to "question reality," so to speak. What are the thoughts (not physical actions such as reality checks, these are a given), which go through your mind when you perform a state test?

i just go through the: how did i get here? is everyone who is here supposed to be here? is the sun constant with the time of day? is that car traveling at a proper speed? what is this conversation about? is it making any sense? that's the thought that generally go through my mind, while i'm thinking this i check my watch and hands