Wild Minds network

Maladaptive Daydreaming: where wild minds come to rest

daydreaming while doing simple tasks

Hi im ana , and im 19 .I have been day dreaming since I can remember, it used to be a way for me to get to sleep. Later it became a way to deal with chores I didn't like, like taking out the trash, cleaning dishes, vacuuming laundry etc. Later I started becoming addicted and used to take long walks so I could make up more scenarios in my head. I've always had my head in a cloud, and people have always accepted it , they think of me as quirky, but lately its gotten worse. Recently I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and sometimes I just need to escape my reality. Not to mention that I like to reflect on my manic phase in which all my daydreams became my reality because I truly believed in them ( the mind is a very powerful thing). I then make up even more scenarios stemming from each idea that sprouted during my episode.

Im okay now but I think maybe the medication affects my concentration, but it's gotten to the point where I'm with my mom or my best friend and ill completely zone out . I have to apologize and admit I wasn't listening, or pick up on key words and go from there. Sometimes when I'm taking out the dishes from the washing machine ill put them in the wrong order. Or ill forget that I already took out the trash or something. Sometimes I even look for trivial tasks so I can have time to daydream. I always think of plots and characters for movies, or I think about how I'm going to win back the love of my life ( this boy I like). One good thing about my extreme daydreaming is that I forget things like -feeling cold-or physical pain.I do Bikram yoga, otherwise known as hot yoga , and when we get to the floor part I loose all my concentration, because there is no balancing involved and I do all the poses to my maximum potential while I am elaborating a story in my head. I don't even feel tired or anything, it's like I'm not even there. I am studying business, but I'd like to write screenplays or novels. Also I'd like to write about bipolar disorder, because the manic phase was a complete mind f**k, and the depression preceding was the worst experience of my life. I was suicidal and I had to return to the same hospital where I had previously stayed during my manic phase. My POV's were completely different. At one point I thought I was Jesus coming to cure the patients, and then later, I saw myself as a failure accompanied by others who had failed to be normal as well. Life is not the plastic bubble I thought it would be, but then again, who would want to live forever in only one frame of mind.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Robert Swereda on March 30, 2011 at 5:52pm

Usually, I work jobs that are tedious, routine and don`t require must brain power. This allows me to wander off in my own imagination and think about things I have interest in like writing, music, art, travel, philosophy, life, ect.

the problem is: when I am faced with new tasks at my work I can become frustrated because I am so used to doing such repetitive tasks and not having to focus clearly.