Some of my techniques :)

[Amanda Lynne]

So, I've been going to the doctor, gettin' tested for ADD and all that, and I'm still waiting for the results. Have to admit, I'd be really excited to get some "focus medicine" but I know at the end of the day, that stuff wears off and I have to have some kinda inner will power.

 

Sooo, here's some of the stuff I do to keep from daydreaming:

 

1)I get P.O'd

Sounds weird, but I do and it helps. Not at myself, at whatever's making me daydream. I kinda kick it out like an unwanted guest. Sometimes I have to repeat in my mind "No, I'm not a slave to you anymore." Sounds odd, and I don't know who 'you' is, I just say it to make myself think my daydreams are like my enemy. I don't feel like I have ownership of my imagination anymore, I feel like it has ownership of me, and I don't like that. I try to keep this state of mind when thinking about daydreaming.

 

2)Learning to think "In the moment"

I suck at it, and it feels forced, fake and boring. Forced, because I'm not used to thinking "simple" things like, "hey the weather's nice". Fake because I have no sense of self and thinking to myself is like living with a stranger. Boring because I've lived through my imagination, and now my thoughts have to come second to my actions. I do this weird thing where I look around at things in the room and think to myself "That's a desk. This is a pencil. That's my shoes". Sounds pretty goofy, but it helps me to keep my mind from drifiting when I run out of things to think to myself. It does kinda help and I think it's made me better at living in the moment.

 

3)Not spending too much time alone.

Too much alone time for me is dangerous. It can give me time to reflect then get majorly depressed, or daydream and then get even more depressed. Sooo, I don't have a lot of friends yet, but even when I have nowhere to go, I'll try to go to an Aunt or cousin's house just to be somewhere with people (cause my immediate family's all pretty anti-social...) Helping people is helpful. And not just to them, to you too. You can let the things you DO instead of think define you. Help you to not be so introverted if you try and take sincere concern in someone else's life. LISTEN to people no matter how painfully boring what they're saying may be.

 

4) Giving youself a little THINKING time.

Totally contradicts the last suggestion, but at the end of the day you can't avoid your problems or life. It's best not to think too too much about it but you do need a little reflecting time. During this time try to stay positive and be proud of the things that you have done. Don't try to get into anything too deep, like who you are, waht life's all about, the origin of the universe or things like that that us daydreamers tend to think about a little too much. Think of all of the interactions of the day and all you've accomplished. Give yourself a little pat on the back. Silence is scary when you're someone who doesn't love the way you live your life, but you have to learn to be secure even when it's quiet.

 

5) Daydream when you go to sleep.

You'll probably be too tired to get too far into any daydream. Maybe it's okay to daydream a little when you're bathing or showering. Set a timer though. You have to let your mind go where it wants sometimes and best to do it when you have nothing else important to do.

 

6)Use your gift for good instead of evil.

Haha, "evil" is a little bit of an exaggeration, but you know ;) At the end of the day, rant in a journal or on a blog. Write some stories, or some songs. Use MD to imagine yourself in other people's shoes which will make you really compassionate. Remember that once you've passed the obstacles, MD isn't such a bad thing afterall.

 

thanks to anyone who read that, this is just stuff that works for me, probably not for everyone. Feel free to critique or suggest anything else :)

[Silla Bakht]

it'[s really informative.Thanks for your suggestion and good luck ......

[Amanda Lynne]

Thanks for y'all's input, good luck to everyone!

[greyartist]

these are really good suggestions.

 

[Wish Upon A Wish]

My therapist said about the first point - give it a name, it's not you, or something you do, it's something that comes to visit. She also does that for people with anxiety and depression and stuff and apparently it helps. I totally agree with the little angel-demon thing- it's dead-on exact. I try to stop, and within two hours I decide I like it too much, it's too fun. Usually actually within a few minutes, to be honest.

I agree with the not spending too much time alone, but, although I do have friends, and they're not too far away anymore, I don't think I'm quite social enough to do that.

I think I'll try the thinking in the moment thing, but it probably won't last very long haha.

I hope it all helps for you, and for anyone that reads this.

Best wishes and good luck on quitting! =)