Introducing myself.

[Michael Gibson]

I'm Michael Gibson (some of my friends call me "Sparky), I live in Albany Oregon and am 53 yrs old. I've had strong sensory independant imagitive abilities sense childhood, but did not find my daydreams becoming addictive until the late '80's. I've always known that I could not be the only one, but did not find this site until today and I just have to say ... Thank god!

Thank all of you for just being you .. and thanks especially to Cordellia for starting this group. (Chalk one up for Oregon!)

I've not had much time to look into all of the links regarding MD, though I've read an abstract of Dr. Schupak's work. First thing I noticed is her sensitive and respectful approach to the problem we have; and the second thing I noticed is this, she avoids the label "disorder." I thank her for that as I believe that label is loaded with negative and stimatizing connotations which accomplishes little for people who have conditions that do fit within the DSM. Since this condition is new to most psychiatrists/psychologists, I propose that those of us who have this condition fight to avoid this label now, in case our syndrome gains attention within the psychiatric community. In future posts you may hear me repeat that theme. Words have power, and we need to impower ourselves.

One of you mentioned the importance of inspiration in our lives. (Sorry, I can't remember who just now.) I would like to say that inspiration is the gateway for me. Where I don't find it in actual life, I'll invent it in my daydreams. And of course frustration, stress, loneliness are also major triggers. (BTW .. If you are a non-smoker, don't start. I've found that the two addictions synergize with each other, each will trigger the other .. "like putting out fire with gasoline.")

In all, I think that those of us who have MD are likely very creative and intelligent people or we wouldn't find ourselves in this situation in the first place. And, if we could find a way to really harness this power we have, we would be able to make a real difference in the lives of others, and of course ourselves.

OK, about this last part, go ahead and call me a dreamer .. LOL .. let's just say I have a hope! And that this site is very hopeful. It is so hard to face an addiction, and to do it alone. You have done everyone a great service by starting this site Cordellia, thanks again.

The day after tomorrow, (9/14) I'll be taking off for a (real, not imaginary!) camping trip, so I might not be back on site until the next week. Until then .. take care folks!

MG

[The1andonlyAbber]

What do you daydream about? My daydreams are sci-fi themed. In my daydreams, I'm myself except I'm a humanoid alien instead of human (I also used to be a vampire, but that's a REALLY long story). I'm the queen of an intergalactic empire. My species was genetically engineered to be part of an experiment. They rebelled against the scientists who set it up, but it turns out the scientists knew that would happen and it was part of their plan. Now the scientists (who are also aliens, by the way) are making all sorts of crazy things happen, like insane humans attacking my character's empire. That's just one side of my daydreams. There's also stuff about my character exploring planets. And then there's slightly more normal problems that arise such as my character being forced to babysit her difficult younger siblings.

[Nomad]

Me, too. When I'm under stress or in fear, my fantasy worlds beckon. I'd rather flee than fight, so I'm just the opposite of my characters. Maybe I'll get better with practice. I know it really helped to do a blog post when I went back to work and I felt the fantasies pulling at me. It also helps to check this site everyday if I can. When I look at the fantasies through you guys' eyes, they don't seem as appealing as they are when I'm alone with them.

[phoenix62]

I'm stunned that there's such a-what?-diverse group with this daydreaming thing, whatever you want to call it.
I asked to participate in the study, and the people you mentioned did take the information. I really hope it helps!

This is something I've noticed, do with it what you will. I seem to have problems with this more, much more when I am under stress. it seems to be an escape mechanism for me, and it really seems to be linked to a depressive episode.....
-and I feel like I am repeating myself....
However, I am on antidepressants again, and the depression seems to be lifting...but are the incessant daydreams? NOOOOOO!!!!
(and this is not good, not for me...)
However, I am hoping SOMETIME in the next century to see a therapist. Yeah. I have requested to be re-evaluated (I have had clinical depression since I was 19-I'm 48) and I've been waiting for...hum...3 months now? pfft. I gave up, pretty much. So has the GP. He gave me-I think-4 refills of the Wellbutrin?

I do hope that in future it's recognized as a-what?-disorder? and they find how and why it happens.
I really recall it happening to me when I was about 4. Mind, I REALLY do think my problems are linked to the stresses of a-what?-odd childhood....but, I have yet to find another person I KNEW as a foster child who had this problem....of course they aren't going to offer this info to me, nor would I to them, so....

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

Whenever you tell people you're different in any way, it's natural for them to assume you're defective. It's normal to reject things we think aren't "normal" at first. We need to be prepared to show people the good and the bad of this and that we're just different, not inferior. I'd like to get it into the DSM, just so doctors will be familiar with it when people go to them for help. I'm sure many people can live with this & keep it under control. For them it's nothing but a benefit. However for some, like myself, it can become a real addiction, and those people need to be able to ask for help. Doctors need to know how to help them. In the process, it'll probably get labeled as a disorder or something. A stigma will probably attach if we're not careful to present the good qualities as well. I've been put down for being spacey and different all my life, and I've had it. Don't worry. As long as I have a voice, no one will call us inferior. I think we should all remember to focus on what gifts it brings us & how to show that as well.

[Brooklyn Thorpe]

I think whether or not it IS a disorder depends on the individual person experiencing it. "A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern associated with distress or disability that occurs in an individual and is not a part of normal development or culture."
Thus, if it causes you distress and it's not part of "normal" development or culture, which, in the case of MD would depend on excessiveness, it's a disorder, whether or not it ever gets into the DSM. If you're concerned with the vocabulary, that's what it can accurately be called.
Whether or not it's stigmatized, I think, will depend on the repetitive impression people get of the functionality of those who "have" it. ADD is called a disorder but most people with it can function quite normally in society - they're just hyper. If people who even hear of this see that we function well, then we won't get that perception of someone who is broken.

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

Cynthia is wonderful. She's very respectful & caring. She's just a big, crazy heart with a PHD. I try to avoid using the word disorder as well, because I'm really tired of us feeling judged and defective. I get irritated when anyone who's different gets seen as defective. However, it may happen, especially if we can get it in the DSM one day. It doesn't matter what words people use, the connotation could be the same. We have to make sure people understand that we're not inferior no matter what you call us. I'm open about this to people I meet. I tell them the good & the bad. They get kind of amazed when I tell them I can produce physical sensations just by daydreaming. Because this is so new, we're in an even better position to make sure it's seen in an accurate light.

[Brooklyn Thorpe]

I agree with the smoking thing. I recently quit smoking myself, but I would often go outside to smoke so that I could daydream, or if I was already going to smoke as part of a routine, I would daydream to pass the time.