Joshua Miles

The ability to reality test in everyday situations can be learnt, and it is entirely possible to gain a new way of understanding our thought processes.

See a situation from as many angles as possible

Take time to make a judgement about a situation, avoid rushing in with immediate thoughts

Remember that other people have their own thoughts and feelings regarding situations, and it is entirely possible you have misread the situation

Consider how you emotionally react to a situation

Are you reacting too greatly or not enough?

Think about how much emotion or feeling each situation truly requires.

Notice themes and patterns in your life, and work toward adjusting how you react

If a situation occurs, and you are unsure which feeling to attribute to it - ask a friend for their perspective

Take a moment to consider the possible outcomes or meanings before coming to a conclusion

Remember, that you do not need to react right away, and that sometimes silence or time to reflect can be beneficial

If we do not give ourselves time to fact check our thoughts we allow the negative and damaging thoughts to seep in, and do not give ourselves the chance to check whether or not they are true, have validity or more importantly, whether they actually matter. Here are some common difficulties which can arise through not reality testing: