Fake scenarios

[Silvan]

I've been spending a lot of time on creating fake scenarios in my head for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I just make up stories with fictional characters, sometimes they involve me and other real people. It's soothing and fun to do it and escape the real world for some time, but when I 'come back', the reality crushes me. Basically it's spending a lot of time imagining things that will never be real. What do you think about it? Do you believe I shouldn't do it at all? What 'amount' is healthy and what is not? I don't know if it's good because it helps me escape reality (instead of alcohol/drugs I may add), or bad because I waste time and energy on something that will have no impact on reality. Plus, it might be bad for my brain is then aware of how worse reality is than the world of imagination.
I'm curious about your thoughts on that topic.

[Celyn]

I used to do this a lot and sometimes still do. Regarding how much is too much, well, generally, if it starts interfering with your life such as you spend time creating fake scenarios rather than doing work or chores, or even socialising, then it's worth making an effort to cut back.

That said, I do understand how it can be soothing as an escape and yet disappointing when you come back to reality. I don't know if it's the same for you, but for me, I analysed these daydreams as I felt they told me something about how I felt currently...whether I was missing something e.g. I would imagine close relationships with others but then I analysed that and realised it was something I felt I was lacking in reality. Doing this allowed me to then make plans to try to meet my needs e.g. spend more time with others, be more open and honest which would allow others to comfort me resulting in a closer relationship rather than keeping things to myself. This can help making your reality better so that you feel less inclined to daydream or less disappointed when you do.

If not, you could try writing them down and turning them into stories, if you want to use them in a way that is more productive!

[Astro04]

Just imagining stories in your head doesn't mean having a problem, quite the contrary. it is a sign that your mind is working very well, also if you think that your story is not true there's not a problem. flying with the imagination is legitimate and no one can take it away from you.

[Kate*]

Maladaptive Daydreaming is the name for it. And I would guess most, if not all people do this to some extent; myself included. If it doesn't bother you or interfere with your life, you can tell the difference between your imagination and reality, and you're able to pull yourself out of it, then I think it's fine. I's just another coping mechanism. Anything can be good or bad depending on how it's used.

[Rivière]

Yes! I'm so bad sometimes that I'm so involved with the scenarios in my head that my physical actions start to take hold from what I'm thinking. I've had a few people point out to me I'm 'muttering' to myself or doing weird facial expressions. But that's because I'm locked in my own thoughts of something going on in my head.

A lot of my scenarios are ones that I'm part of the cast in a TV programme because it's 'real'. Or I think of scenarios I wish would come to pass, but don't. Other times I get really bad ones from my past where I've been triggered by something, and I get locked into a past event that didn't even happen, because I was triggered by a real one.

I've done it for as long as I can remember. I find it helps pass the time sometimes, and I find it quite enjoyable. I try to be more conscious of when and where I do it though, especially if I know others are around me because I don't want to come across as weird.