Excessive daydreaming interfering with level of functioning

Post Reply New Topic

I feel that I'm addicted to daydreaming. I've always loved to daydream ever since I was a little kid, but lately I've relied on it too much as a form of escapism and it has gotten out of hand. It's to the point where I'm always thinking about things, even things that are unpleasant (which wasn't the case when I was a kid). It's like my mind is on overdrive and I can't turn it off. The daydreaming is so excessive that it's even getting to the point of interfering with my ability to function. Meditating does lesson the problem but it doesn't totally get rid of it for me. Also, I've tried creative writing, but the problem is that I daydream so much that I can't get myself off the couch to do it. My daydreaming is so excessive that I often get glued to the couch for hours. If I don't have anything scheduled throughout the day, or if I listen to too much music, I can't control it. My psychologists have recommended that I try psychiatric medications. As much as I'm against them, I'm thinking of giving in. It's totally ridiculous! Even though I don't smoke pot, drink, nor take any drugs, I feel totally out of it most of the time. I think it might have even gotten to the point where it's interfering with my work performance. I don't know what's wrong with me. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

daydreaming was part of having comorbid ADHD [inattentive type] for me. taking strattera lessened my involuntary daydreams greatly. concerta did also but that drug had undesirable side effects. same for norpramin. but the pharmacological route sounds like something you might investigate.
but now, as a hermit, the daydreams are free entertainment for me.

I don't think "controlled" daydreaming is necessarily a bad thing, but when it's in overdrive, as you describe, it stops you from doing what YOU want to do. The psychiatric drug route, though undesireable, may be necessary. Everybody needs to stop thinking about these drugs as an aboslutely horrible thing -- nobody thinks that way about people taking insulin for diabetes, or blood pressure medication for a less-than-stellar heart condition -- sometimes drugs are necessary for some people, and allow you to live the life that you desire.

I'm a sever day dreamer too, as a child up until high school, i would draw and build and create every thing you could imagine, and i am almost 50 now and I have to set alarms to do things in my work environment so I'm not to "adhd" i should set them for other things like eating and drinking, but for crying out loud your body should have enough built in alarms. so I get so wrapped up in my Visions "day dreaming" that I will miss a day with out eating or very little for days, may not drink almost all day long except for coffee in the morning. I can pace around in another dimension all day long stimming. I visualize in 3-dimensional space so I can zoom in as close as molecules or I can zoom out as far as space and I can pan tilt fly through dissemble and reconstruct down to the screw and nail in my head. yeah you can easily ketch me in public staring into space on something, I learned in my young adult hood to always look up when dreaming or down, or fixate on something otherwise people will think you are starring at them. a magizine is perfect for this, not really reading busy with a vision, its more fun than the magazine anyway.

oh yeah the point, carry a note pad, use breaks and lunches to sketch or note as much as possible, blog if your near a computer. But consciously mark a time set a side for visioning. that way your energy isn't fighting yourself in guilt you have given your self a place to dream at will, set a timer to get back to work.
Remember you can always come back to the picture or movie in your head it will be waiting if you have sketches or notes you will pickup where you left off even more quickly.
but if your addicted to visioning as much then take a nap 1-2 times a day for 5-10 minutes.

its like rebooting a computer, some times you can shake a persistent "bad vision" or some call it a meltdown, I call it a storm; with a quick bite to eat, and a nap.

Then its back to work, for many years i took naps on lunch.

now... well I am a hermit too...
so Yee Ha
I don't need TV or Cable
And no news

I do find playing intense strategy games to help break up my cycle of dreaming.
but I am just substituting another mental task for another and I still have to set timers. or i will screw something up. but i get lazy and screw up I do. I will literal have 4-6 hours disapear when I lock in on something.
And my mind never stops except for sleep...
Nature helps distract momentarily, find a zoo or a nature walk, I live in the middle of the hills so I see fox and birds, ducks, hawks, owls etc.
I notice when I am looking at nature my mind goes blank for a while. A conscious nap.

hang in there, through the years I have had work that afforded more visioning than others, find work that lets you get paid for dreaming. thats what i do now I am a Designer

I think all AS people should be on a think tank group somewhere just to provide balance to this messed up world.

Well i sometimes go into a point where i am only in my daydreams. But ive been trying to stay on task with things right now and can only "disapper" in to my day dreams for only about 3 seconds befor im caught offgaurd and I'm doing something stupid infront of everyone.
Never haveing a concrete plan every day sucks because that means it is bed time as soon as I'm done with work on some days.

nothing is cookie cutter in our world I dont think any of us are alike but we share bits and pieces of everyone else, if it works it might work for me but maybe not. There is only one word to remember

ADAPTATION
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptation

sift through all of everyone elses bull and glean out what little gems you can find to help tailor your world to be more comfortable. everything works for some one, but nothing works for everyone...

I love auntblabby's picture it makes me chuckle every time

Oh good, it's nice to know I'm not the only one with this problem.

I'm afraid there's nothing I can say that could be of any support. I use to take adderall which helped with this problem.

I had that problem when I was at college/university, so I took a part-time job as a cleaner. That's one job you can do well and daydream at the same time.

Now, if I've got nothing scheduled, I set myself targets of 'I'm going to write one chapter today', so something comes out of the daydreaming. I stop myself daydreaming at work by reminding myself that I'll get fired if I do it too much. I've been fired when I was younger (except for the the cleaning jobs) that actually scared 'on-the-job' daydreaming out of me. Plus, I have a massive fear of having no money.

If you don't have a job/can't find one (lots of people are in that situation), then you could volunteer to help someone. I used to help someone who had mobility issues get their housework done. I felt motivation to do that more than I did for doing my own housework! Doing something helpful can actually make life seem more 'real'.

Controlled Maladaptive, could be fun!...

The thing about getting older things really aren't that important anymore, and when you bother someone it doesn't seem to matter either. You have a freedom to be maladaptive at will and I guess I have earned that luxury, but like some have mentioned money and FIRED do have huge implications, last year at this time I was forced to live out of my suburban for 5 months my belongings in storage getting water at parks, no friends that would take me in because of my awkwardness. and many Knew I was on the street. I have lived in attics and storage sheds where the temperatures were -20 for weeks, some friends rescuing me - one time they loaned me their camper.

If the mind is truly like mine, unstoppable, then it will do just that. dont even frustrate your self to stop it. you would sooner grab an elephant by his tale and stop him.

Instead I adapted by showing an interest in the job, Manuals, Instructional Videos, pamphlets, I would let the dream machine work on all this data pertinent to the tasks at hand, in senescence controlled dreaming, I could go off on a gad-zillion different dreams, but they would indirectly be related,
Why did they write that in there? ...dreammm
what other tools are their? ...dreammm
wouldn't it be easier do do it this way? ...dreammmm
ok, that took one day...

Warning Dangerous Side Effects:
You will easily be an expert in 2 weeks, and the Boss will notice in about 2 months and he will get horribly fearful that you are trying to take his job, and he will spend the next however long to get rid of you.

But hey they didn't fire you for the dreaming just the by product.

Rinse
Repeat

you will have more skills than carters got pills.

GEM

wow CC, you have a lot of determination and good old-fashioned grit. i have about as much grit as a bunch of marbles on a glass-topped table would have organization.

You guys are great...

I love your anecdotal wit. and the unusual perspectives and comparisons.
Because I feel at home.

God Created AWE-tisim to balance this screwed up world.
And the more unbalanced it becomes the more of us its gonna need.

WE NEED ALL OF YOU!! ! please pass that to all.

song in head gets louder.(its called Jumper)

I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend....
and you can cut ties with all the lies you been living in...

But if you won't I understaaaaaaaand.
(adlib) I'll miss you in the ennnnnddd



I truly understand the pain, loss, sorrow, abandonment, and have stood on the ledge or (edge of a blade).

I know there are a few that still would miss me, even in my confused, awkward self.
I may not miss many of them.

BUT I WOULD MISS YOU ALL!!
Your my understanding, family I never really had.
I have a family, but they dont understand.

Especcially a life where it seems we have to do everything 10 times harder than the so called normal person. And they call it a handicap.

WELL! In my understanding you only give a handicap to the better player? ie Bowling, Golf

So what does that make us!
PEOPLE we are the ADVANTAGED
We need to have a handicap just to dwell with the rest of the poor folk.

Thanks guys! There are good suggestions on this thread.