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    What Is Reality Testing and Why Is It Important

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    Geo Had
    Reality testing is the ability to distinguish internal thoughts and feelings from external reality. It was initially conceived by Sigmund Freud and is used by therapists to help clients accurately perceive situations rather than being influenced by hopes or fears. Reality testing is important in everyday life to make appropriate judgments and improve reactions. Some signs that reality testing is needed include overreacting to minor events or assuming the worst without evidence. Learning objectivity, thinking before reacting, and seeking outside perspectives can aid reality testing. Benefits include increased self-awareness, dwelling less on problems, and focusing attention where it is needed.

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    What Is Reality Testing and Why Is It Important

    Uploaded by

    Geo Had
    86 views5 pages
    Reality testing is the ability to distinguish internal thoughts and feelings from external reality. It was initially conceived by Sigmund Freud and is used by therapists to help clients accurately perceive situations rather than being influenced by hopes or fears. Reality testing is important in everyday life to make appropriate judgments and improve reactions. Some signs that reality testing is needed include overreacting to minor events or assuming the worst without evidence. Learning objectivity, thinking before reacting, and seeking outside perspectives can aid reality testing. Benefits include increased self-awareness, dwelling less on problems, and focusing attention where it is needed.

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    What is reality testing and why is it important?

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    What is reality testing and why is it important

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    Reality testing is the ability to distinguish internal thoughts and feelings from external reality. It was initially conceived by Sigmund Freud and is used by therapists to help clients accurately perceive situations rather than being influenced by hopes or fears. Reality testing is important in everyday life to make appropriate judgments and improve reactions. Some signs that reality testing is needed include overreacting to minor events or assuming the worst without evidence. Learning objectivity, thinking before reacting, and seeking outside perspectives can aid reality testing. Benefits include increased self-awareness, dwelling less on problems, and focusing attention where it is needed.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    86 views5 pages

    What Is Reality Testing and Why Is It Important

    Uploaded by

    Geo Had
    Reality testing is the ability to distinguish internal thoughts and feelings from external reality. It was initially conceived by Sigmund Freud and is used by therapists to help clients accurately perceive situations rather than being influenced by hopes or fears. Reality testing is important in everyday life to make appropriate judgments and improve reactions. Some signs that reality testing is needed include overreacting to minor events or assuming the worst without evidence. Learning objectivity, thinking before reacting, and seeking outside perspectives can aid reality testing. Benefits include increased self-awareness, dwelling less on problems, and focusing attention where it is needed.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 5

    What is reality testing and why is it important?

    By Joshua Miles BACP Accredited Psychotherapist


    Published on 26th October, 2015

    What is reality testing?


    Reality testing is a concept initially devised by Sigmund Freud which is used by some
    therapists to assist clients in distinguishing their internal thoughts, feelings and ideas from
    the events, which are based within reality.

    In other words, it is the ability to see a situation for what it really is, rather than what one
    hopes or fears it might be. However the need for reality testing extends beyond a
    therapeutic setting and the need to appropriately distinguish our inner world from reality is
    something, which occurs in everyday life. Below are some examples of this.

    Example - “I just said good morning to Jane in the hall this morning, but she didn’t
    answer. She must be mad at me for something I have done.”

    Reality - there may be many other explanations for this. She didn’t see you, she was deep
    in thought or she is grumpy today and has a lot on her mind.

    Example - “I just failed my first exam of the year. This must mean that I am now bound to
    fail the rest of my exams as well.”

    Reality - failing at something initially, does not equate to a pattern of failure, and does not
    mean that things cannot improve or change in the future.

    Why is reality testing important?

    We all have thoughts and ideas, which can at points feel dominating, controlling or
    overwhelming and it can be easy for us to imagine the worst-case scenario. During times
    when we experience feelings and worries at a heightened level, we can begin to think
    negatively. Below I have listed some of the reasons that reality testing is important in our
    everyday lives.

    It allows us to distinguish between what is real and what isn’t.


    It allows us to judge situations appropriately.
    Allows us to notice our own feelings and what they mean.
    Gives us a basis of comparison.
    Allows us to improve how we react to situations.
    How do I reality test?

    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. Below are some ways in which we
    can reality test.

    Be objective

    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.

    Think and then react

    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.

    Seek external perspectives

    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.
    What happens if I don’t reality test?

    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. Some
    difficulties which can arise in not reality testing are below.

    Increased belief in negative thought about ourselves.


    Become overwhelmed by thoughts.
    Convince ourselves we may be to blame for another person's actions.
    Getting caught up in the dynamics of another person's thoughts.
    We may decide to act differently due to how we perceive other people's reactions to us.

    What are the benefits of paying attention to how we react?

    It is true to say that the more we think of a situation or experience the bigger and more
    dominant it can become. Therefore, being mindful of our thoughts, ideas and reactions to
    situations can be useful in assisting us in determining the validity of a situation or how
    much time or energy we should be giving to it. Listed below are some of the benefits of
    paying attention to how we react.

    We gain a deeper awareness of our own mind and our true thoughts and experiences.
    We dwell on immediate problems less and can apply this to future situations.
    We are able to negotiate more appropriately the situations which we know cause us
    irritation or distress.
    We are empowered to see wider possibilities and remove ourselves from situations
    which can be drawn out and unhelpful.
    We can notice what we are focusing on and refocus our attention elsewhere if
    necessary.

    If you find that any of the above resonates with you personally, and you can at times be
    overwhelmed by difficult thoughts or feelings that you are unsure how to change or avoid,
    then you could benefit from speaking with a qualified therapist or counsellor. The
    therapeutic space will allow you to explore your reactions to situations, your thought
    processes and give you the tools you need to better understand how to react appropriately to
    situations.

    We will inevitably experience difficulties in our lives, and find ourselves in situations we do
    not fully understand, or find overwhelming. However, by taking a moment to consider our
    reactions, and placing our thoughts and feelings firmly in reality, we are able to distinguish
    our internal thoughts from the real world.

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