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Daydreams, depression and dissociation

by Helen Rose

Jul 16, 2010

Hiya

 

I've been researching daydreams, fantasy and imaginary friends for the last month or so - I'm writing a comic in which a girl has an imaginary friend and daydreams a lot, and my clicking about imaginary friends and excessive fantasy led me, via Cynthia Schupak, to this website and the understanding that, while my daydreaming patterns aren't usual, they're not the sign of being some sort of nutcase either (what a relief!).

 

Anyway, while I was looking I found a lot of links between excessive daydreaming and depression, with mentions of dissociation; while I'm not dissociative when I daydream normally, I do suffer from bouts of moderate to severe depression around twice a year, and at these times I find myself feeling like life is happening to someone else, or in a movie or something. At these times, my daydreams become more complete and truly encompass me; ironically, they're the only things that feel like reality.

 

I would love to hear from other depressive daydreamers, if you feel comfortable answering - do you have any dissociative symptoms? Does your daydreaming change when you're depressed?

 

H x

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  • up

    stormy

    Sometimes I feel like I'm here but I'm not and I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.  I call it brain fog.  Sometimes it lasts for hours.  I feel like a walking diagnosis sometimes.  PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, these all from my psychiatrist and therapist.  Now I get to add a new one, yay. Depression is such a horrible feeling and some people don't understand that you can't just 'suck it up' and feel better.  Going home and isolating in my bed everyday after work and staying there til its time to go back, making excuses not to visit family, and crying for no particular reason.  These are symptoms I've had.  People with depression, rather than just situational depression, know how it really feels.  That heaviness inside that makes it hard to get out of bed or sometimes even put one foot in front of the other.  I agree that sometimes my daydreams are the only thing that feels real.

    Apr 11, 2011

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      Harry

      For me depression almost always is triggered by my daydreams. I dream up some situation where I am being victimized or some bad thing. This leads to further depressing thoughts and so on. I ultimately end up very depressed and even contemplate suicide in these times.  Depression due to real events again triggers further sad thoughts and cause depression to intensify.

      Jun 14, 2011

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        Bibby

        My daydreams are more intense and less controllable when I'm depressed.  I'm diagnosed with Major Depression Recurrent.

        Mar 15, 2013