Physical disaster while reality checing

**nobodycares** · 08-23-2010 02:48 AM

I was doing the "hold your nose and breathe" reality check (like I do multiple times every day) and when I did it I felt something sort of 'pop' and then I got really dizzy. This dizziness has lasted for over 6 hours now and I'm laying in bed hoping it will go away.

Has anyone else had this happen? It's not just being 'dizzy', it feels like everything is constantly going in circles and is the worst feeling I have ever experienced.

I'm looking up online possible causes of this. One seems to be lack of oxygen to the brain. Perhaps when I held my nose and tried to break the oxygen (or blood) got cut off and destroyed a few nerves.

Don't tell me I should see a doctor, I can't afford the insurance costs of going go the hospita.

**tashows** · 08-28-2010 06:16 PM

If i got it right you did that in real life, not a dream, right? If so you might put too much pressure and messed up your ear a bit (which controls balance so i guess this is why you are dizzy). After a bad sneezing i have some ringing noises once a week or so that last for 3-5 seconds, but never got dizzy. 6 hours is pretty much time... Umm... I actually guess you are all right by now (just checked the date, lol). So did you find out what it was?

**Marvo** · 08-28-2010 09:19 PM

I'd say that this has something to do with your ear and your balance. Usually your balance gets messed up, when you get off-temperature liquids in your ear, like cold water. The dizziness will probably wear off and it's probably not anything dangerous. Try swallowing a lot, blowing your nose or do another nose pinch reality check.

For future reality checks, stop breathing that hard when you do it. Sounds like you're breathing with all of your force, which is a bad idea I'd say.

**nobodycares** · 08-30-2010 12:07 AM

Well I'm back. I was out of commission for several days. I will NOT be doing the nose hold reality check again. What I'm doing now is marking a big 'X' on my palm and training myself to habitually look at it every 15 minutes. When I enter a dream and look at my hand out of habit, I will not see the X and will know I am in a dream. Hopefully this will work.

**tashows** · 08-30-2010 10:15 AM

I read in the forums that turning RCs into habit doesn't help at all. :p

**JDKendall** · 09-07-2010 10:32 PM

Sounds like Vertigo. Might want to get that checked out by a doctor.

**Puffin** · 09-08-2010 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by tashows

I read in the forums that turning RCs into habit doesn't help at all. :p

^ This. Also, you shouldn't need a cue to RC because there's a high chance the "x" won't be on your hand in the dream. It's easier to just suddenly become aware of your surroundings. About the dizziness, maybe it has to do with your blood pressure or an inner ear problem.