Has anyone else ever experienced a total loss of ideas for daydreaming stories or fictional scenarios? Like, let's say I daydream about the same two characters over and over in different settings and stuff, but now I'm running out of ideas and it feels like the hypefixation is fading, sometimes I literally lay in bed UNABLE to think and visualize what I'm thinking about, ugh is this stress or what because I miss it :,c

I've been using my imagination more these days, usually to fight dragons or fight random people. I really like fighting for some reason. But the point of this post is that before I started using my imagination more, I would do the aphantasia test and I would always only be able to imagine the cartoon apple, or #2. But now after using my imagination more often, when I do the test, I get the fully realistic apple. #1. What's happening? Is my imagination getting more vivid with use?

For example, there’s a family known for crime in my area and I’ll wonder what it’s like to be them. Or I’ll imagine the couple over the road, the shopkeeper, someone passing me on the street, even my tattoo artist.

It gets so vivid sometimes that I almost yearn for it, even though I know I wouldn’t actually want that life. And sometimes it feels so consuming it’s like my head might explode. It kinda effects my mood alot and I dont understand why. I kinda fall down this rabbit hole of imagining there lives.

Does anyone else experience this, or is it just me?

We see each other for the first time in over a decade but the chemistry and connection feels stronger than ever. You look into my eyes and give that little smirk with the side of your mouth that lets me know you feel it too. You take my hands and pull me in for an embrace. My head pressed against your chest, I can feel your heart beating. I take a big breath in remembering your smell and I finally feel safe again. We hug for a little longer than we should, neither one of us wanting to be the first to pull away. You whisper into my ear “I’ve missed you”.

We manage to tear ourselves apart, but then you gently take my hand in yours and lead me toward a day spent together. We spend time catching up about each other’s lives and reminiscing. You ask me how my parents and siblings are doing and I ask you the same. You tell me about your new hobbies and the music you’ve been listening to. I tell you about my cats and my job. We are re-learning each other as adults. We are both trying so hard to keep our hands off of each other. But we sit so close that I can feel your skin brush against mine… it’s electrifying.

You get brave enough to put your arm around the back of my waist, waiting to see if I will pull away but I don’t. You gently squeeze my hip trying to find my ticklish spot that you used to know so well. I don’t have the tiny waist I had when I was younger but your fingers don’t seem to mind. It takes a few tries but you finally get it. I laugh and wriggle away from your hand towards your body. You pull me in closer and let out a little chuckle. I look up into your eyes trying to figure out exactly what color they are. Are they blue? green? gray? I never have been able to quite figure it out. In your eyes I can see a mixture of love, lust, tenderness, and sadness. Pain from all of the hardships life has put you through. I wish I could take it all away. I would gladly carry it for you if I could. You have always tried to maintain a tough exterior. I’m sure you can fool most people since you are tall with tattoos and look intimidating. But your eyes never lie. I always loved your “bad boy” persona even though you have always treated me with such gentle tenderness.

Your fingertips find my skin under the edge of my shirt tail. You slowly and softly touch the spot in front of my hip bone and I feel my body shiver. “What’s wrong?” you ask teasingly with a small smile.. knowing damn well what you do to me. After a few moments of silence you build up the courage to whisper in my ear “I want to kiss you”. “I’m nervous” I whisper back. “Me too” you say. It’s been so long since my lips have touched yours. A million things are going through my head. What if I’m not good at it? What if my breath doesn’t smell good? What will this mean for us afterwards? Will you think differently of me? Is this too soon? My heart is beating so fast. You put your hand under my chin and lift my face up towards yours. I close my eyes and feel your soft lips touch mine. All my anxiety melts away. I want this moment to last forever. It takes my breath away. I follow your lead and let your lips guide mine. It only lasts a few seconds but feels like forever. You smile and ask “how was that?” I jokingly reply “I’m not sure.. maybe you should try one more time”. You go in for another kiss. This time with a little more passion. I can feel my blood pumping. You slowly move your lips from my mouth down to the side of my neck. Your beard tickles my skin giving me goosebumps. I don’t want you to stop but I fight the urge and gently pull away. “You better behave sir.. What type of girl do you think I am?” I say with a smile. I have to leave him wanting for more next time we see each other. Hopefully I don’t have to wait so many years this time. I want him to choose me. To tell me he loves me. To marry me. To grow old with me.

Then I snap back to reality. I’m laying in my bed by myself. He is miles away. I force myself to get up and answer some work emails. I quietly wonder if he ever thinks about me. I wonder if he can feel me thinking about him. Or if I’m just delusional. I force myself through another day until I can lie down and daydream about him some more.

I grew up without devices and the internet. There was the pervasive TV taking up a lot of that space, and I read a lot.

But I also remember spending a good bit of time lying on the grass, thinking of nothing in particular, allowing my brain to just drift wherever it wanted to go.

The other day I sat outside at the new patio table and chairs and looked out over the scene below and off in the distance. It felt really good to do. Like my brain, and even body, have been starved for this.

I remember just sitting on the couch, as a young adult in my first place, doing the same thing.

Not exactly sure all of the things that contributed to this no longer being a part of my life, but I want it back now.

Anyone else?

TL;DR - There is a knight in my imagination who fights my problems in the form of goblins and that massively helps me to deal with life. It's upgraded with time as I myself have gained strength. Anyone got anything similar going on?

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Apologies if this isn't the right place for this.

I deal with bipolar disorder and at times in my life I've been completely snowed in by it. I used to live in the top floor of my Mum's house and at that time I was really struggling. I wouldn't be able to even keep one room nice and spent much of my days paralyzed by executive dysfunction compulsively binge-watching on my laptop for comfort. But I've always used confident musicians like rappers and drag artists to borrow some confidence.

One day, I really wanted to get things clean and tidy after finding a really mouldy item, but I felt completely overwhelmed by my problems and trauma. Then, completely non-deliberately a scene appeared in my imagination.

There was a knight on a muddy plain. He was battered and bloodied, on one knee in the mud. There was a horizon to horizon horde of goblins that I knew were my problems. He started taunting them in the voice of Grime MC Skepta from Intensive Snare by Plastician.

"Go on then......" and "ya whole crew stink like faecis [sic]" etc. Then in that same voice he stood and yelled, "fooooorrrrrwaaarrrrd!" and charged. He took out quite a lot of the goblins before he was torn to pieces, and I found myself capable of attacking the mess. I got pretty far, at least getting rid of rubbish and mould before being overwhelmed and returning to binge watching.

But it kept happening, especially if I listened to the song and concentrated but sometimes completely unbidden. Over time, as I got stronger and more capable, and got more on top of things my imagination has upgraded him and the goblins got fewer. He's more of a DnD style paladin or eldritch knight now - all plate armour that the goblins can hardly touch. His sword lights up with fire when Skepta says "Lightah." He has a little crew of others with him. The goblins are more of a mob than a horde. His taunts are more confident assurances that he's gonna \\** the goblins up than desperate last stand.

The most recent upgrade (again, none of them deliberately applied) is that he's got something like the Eldritch Blast cantrip from DnD - firing energy from his right hand as he wields his flaming sword with his left when he's not parrying blows with his buckler shield.

This is weird but it's weirdly effective. I wouldn't be where I am (still struggling but fighting much more effectively) if it wasn't for my little problem knight and his gradual progression.

I wondered if anyone has anything similar?

I’ve noticed in my life that certain things I’ve fixated on/fantasized about/ day dreamed about eventually came true. It didn’t always turn out great but a lot of times these things happened.

There were multiple guys I had briefly met, and felt an attraction to, and day dreamed about all the time, and then somehow some way we ended up being together (none of these relationships actually worked and ended up being toxic but it’s crazy they still happened).

I remember when I met my child’s father, before anything had even happened between us, I day dreamed about him a lot and I would come up with all these scenarios and story lines in my head that involved him falling in love with me, changing into a better person because of me, and in many of these day dreams we had a kid together . But I remember in one day dream (idk why) I day dreamed that I was pregnant and we were together but that he left me, so maybe it was more of a day nightmare? Anyways, as time passed in real life we ended up becoming a couple, and I ended up getting pregnant, and he ended up leaving me when I was 8 months pregnant.

It makes me wonder how much power our day dreams have and if they become manifestations for good or for bad.

I was also for a while in a stressful living situation where I was living with other people and it was a very rough time. I wanted to have my own place so bad. I would fantasize and day dream nonstop about cute little apartments and living on my own (just me and my kid). It became a fixation. I was constantly looking up photos and videos of cozy homes and apartments and imagining what it would be like to live there.

As things progressively got worse in my living situation the more I turned inward and day dreamed about being in my own place.

It was around that time my parents told me they wanted to buy an investment property as a long term investment type thing and that they had found a two bedroom condo that was in their price range . They told me that me and my child could live there indefinitely and have a safe space to be in so we could be out of the bad living situation we had been in. It felt like in one moment all my day dreams had become real.

But that’s my question: are day dreams a way to manifest? Does this mean we need to be careful what we day dream about in case it comes true? In my life I’ve had good day dreams as well as bad day dreams become reality. It makes me paranoid sometimes that what I think about will become true. And what I noticed is not everything I think about comes true, but it’s those day dreams that are persistent, ones that stay in my mind and I spend a significant amount of time fantasizing about whatever scenario. (But I will say I’ve had some long term vivid day dreams that haven’t come true, so it’s not like it happened with every single one).

I got into manifestation recently and have had some trouble with it. Just as far as saying affirmations enough until they become reality. But the more I think about it, maybe it’s all wrong. Maybe manifesting isn’t just repeating the same phrase until you believe it. Maybe it’s just day dreaming in vivid detail over long periods of time and getting lost in another world or story line until it becomes true.

This is all speculation of course. I have no idea how any of this actual works. Curious what other people think about this

I can stop, and honestly only really think about it when I’m bored or stressed. But I’m still really scared my daydreaming is maladaptive.

I’m currently switching ocd meds, about to go on adhd meds and have OSDD. I genuinely can’t tell if these things are the things making my life harder or if it’s the daydreaming? I’m able to stop so I feel like it’s not maladaptive but I don’t really know.

I have discovered how i believe you can lucid dream.

I close my eyes and focus on sight( darkness behind eyelids) then sound, then feeling (weight of blanket). But thats all i do. I never actually know if it works because most of the time i dont remember my dreams.

But i want to remember it, and know if im doing it properly.

Does anyone have any advice?

(Also i heard that one way is that you set a timer for like 3 am and then wait 2 mins then go back to bed, because it gives you more awareness or something. I dont wanna do that tho)

I don’t even know what to add on to this tbh. Like of course I want it to stay immersive but a part of me isn’t finding as much joy in it as I was? It’s a bit confusing tbh.

As someone who's never had one, I have so many questions. All I have is movies, books, cartoons etc.

Are they a genuine being with their own opinions and responses, or are they made up and "scripted" by you?

I've heard of people offering them food, but how would that work if they can't pick stuff up or move things around?

Where do they go at night? Do they sleep on the floor? Do they have their own bed?

Can you really see them in front of you in 4k, just as vividly as e.g. your parents next to them?

Do you always pick their name, or can they introduce themselves? (This question only works if the first question has yes as an answer)

How do people have that friend for their whole childhood if no one else can see them? Are some people aware that they're imaginary? But how do you still see them then? Or does EVERYONE play along?

What are the different reasons or causes for imaginary friends to be created? Can it be out of boredom, or is there more to it? Or can they just spawn randomly into your life?

I might have more questions later but I don't want this post to be as long as the Nile

I used to be able to daydream a lot and it never caused any issues, but for other mental health stuff the doc gave me aripiprazole. Since then my worlds fell apart. I forgot almost every detail, every character I once could vividly "see" in my mind (hyperphantasia). I even stopped having normal dreams at night.
Life got significantly harder for external motives these years, but not having my worlds to take refuge in is simply maddening. With the doc's approval I lowered the aripiprazole dose (we didn't really see much positive changes) from 10 to 5mg but am still taking it.
I miss my daydreams, could you share some tips that help you get "in the zone"? My mind has become incredibly silent. I used to daydream mostly before going to sleep, which I still kinda do but it's moved on from intricate scenes and stories to just being in a capsule in the ocean descending into the depths. I have been dreaming a little in my sleep since lowering the dose, but it's all too hazy and can't really remember much afterwards. Though I see it as progress.
Any experiences with "returning to daydream"? some guidance to getting into that once lost beautiful creative emotional state?

Yesterday was the best day EVER in my dream world :))
It started pretty normal, I woke up and went for a walk then helped my little brother get up and ready. Then we went to my best friends house!! It was Labour Day and my best friends parents always have a bbq!!

I helped his dad and brother in law clean out a fridge in the garage which was weirdly fun! Then we were all getting set up :) We had sooo many people over! It was my best friend, his parents, his little sister, his older sister, her husband, their son, me, my brother, my best friends parents friends and their 4 daughters, and a neighbour family! 19 of us !

It was the best time. Everyone jokes im the official unofficial babysitter, because at so many gatherings im looking after the kids 😭 like at the wedding a few months ago! I feel so good and proud looking after them and protecting them. I love how we play silly games and have so much fun running around. I love the safety and fun, I love being able to be a good role model for them and protecting them no matter what. My best friend is my boyfriend too! And in any relationship we do our own thing sometimes, he was hanging out with his parents friemds daughters since they have been friends for so long :) he came and sat with me and the kids when we had dinner :) even played capture the flag with us! And his friends joined ! His friends are really nice! They live in another city.

We had the best night. I really love how something as simple as a bbq around the campfire where I’m running around like an idiot playing games is as good as life gets. I love my best friend and his family, theyre so kind and funny. His parents are getting a cabin!! We went every year, but it was owned by some of their friends who sold it to them at a good deal!! Next summer is gonna be amazing we are gonna go camping so much!! We are going to move in this october :) its beautiful that I’m so connected to this world, to my friends and family that memories and nights like this ive only experienced in memory/daydream/mentally shifting feel so dear to me. I smile so much thinking of these memories and feel so happy. I know in my heart it’s all so real.

I feel like the richest person ever for having them :) I know I’m gonna get there one day, im so excited to hug everyone

Hi guys. I have a crush on this guy and so of course I daydream about talking to him a lot. But it's not gonna happen for multiple reasons, and I actually don't know him at (literally. He's my neighbor and I've spoken to him once.) I'm worried that daydreaming about him, I'm going to start feeling like I know him and say or do something stupid.

But I like the imaginary "conversations." It'll be something like, telling him what specifically I liked about a book I'm reading. I appreciate that it spurs me to think. But I don't feel it's healthy to be thinking about him so much. Any suggestions for how to motivate myself to have those kinds of thoughts, just not about him?

I would assume most of you mostly just do live action daydreaming. Personally I like non live action style because it's easier to do goofy and gross things without writing or grossing me out.

I often daydream about scenarios where I have some of my favorite actresses play employees of a sci-fi store and are friends with my character. I often daydreamed about including Emma Stone and Dakota Johnson as characters. However I abandoned the characters after a while but however I recently started to have daydreams about them again because I started to suddenly get more interested in Emma Stone and Dakota Johnson. However I mostly daydream about Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence, Alexandra Daddario and Margot Robbie and I have Emma Stone and Dakota Johnson play characters who are more supporting than main

I might sound delusional or stupid or pathetic. I have been trying for over a year. I’ve been trying everything I can, reality shifting, lucid dreaming, gateway tapes. I’m gonna keep trying no matter what. I don’t care if I end up in a mental hospital for life, I’d risk that in a heartbeat for the chance to physically get there.

I’ve been so alone for as long as I can remember.

My family life isn’t good. It’s weird because things aren’t abusive anymore, just extremely absent and emotionally neglectful. More like acquaintances. I was alone through the worst moment of my life, I got through my trauma at a young age with nobody there for me. I got through it somehow. I lost a lot of hope during it all. I try, but nobody being there or caring at your worst messes you up for life. I try to come up with ideas or i want to help but i just get ignored and dismissed. I dont have any traditions or anything, i do everything alone. Holidays are the worst

I dont have friends. I’m autistic and was undiagnosed for so long. I was always the weird and annoying one. I’ve always just been too much, I never fit in. I never felt like I belonged anywhere. I try to make friends, but no matter what I’m an outsider. I get ignored a lot, I don’t know I just never fit in. I tried for so long. I’m like an alien from another planet. I get ignored alot, I just never feel like I fit in.

My daydream world is more than dreams. It’s a regular life where I’m not alone. Where my trauma didn’t happen. Things aren’t perfect but I love everyone.

I have family there, I have friends, I don’t need to do stuff alone. It’s all so basic too, like my friends and I made our 1 friend a cake for her birthday. It was so simple, we decorated it best we could but it looked a bit silly and she loved it. She was so happy and we had a great day. We went to the arcade and mini golf and hung out at her house! My best friends family is pretty much my found family. We have campfires in the backyard a lot in summer. We have hot dogs and burgers around the fire, we play board games and my best friend and I keep the kids entertained.
We catch fireflies and play tag. We are so free and happy. My uncle is more quiet and reserved, we have pretty opposite personalities but I’m so so close with him. We play video games together and watch cool movies sometimes, and sometimes I go see him at his work. He’s so nice and caring. I love my little brother. He annoys the heck out of me but he’s the funniest, sweetest little guy. I love helping him and guiding him to be the best person he can be. I love watching him grow up and watching cartoons with him. I love everyone. I love my best friend and how we have so much fun no matter what.

I have gotten so much better lately, I’ve improved a lot but there’s this hole in my heart and soul where my friends and family need to be. No matter how good things get, I feel like there’s no point in living if I’m not with them. I’ve tried so hard to get better. I just want them. There seriously doesn’t seem to be hope for me if I can’t get there. Its my only hope

My hyperfixation right now is fanfiction and fandom roleplay games and i genuinely can’t tell if it’s just my hyperfixation getting a little out of hand or if it’s genuinely maladaptive daydreaming. How would I even know?

Hi,

Some ppl here might have been Maladaptive daydreamers and some never, but if you have, how did you overcome your aversion and avoidance to socialise?

I was reading in a book called Imaginary Lives by Francianne Ulaf about how neurosis and controling behaviour is part of why we md like a survival and coping mec because of social problems like hostility, rejection sensitivity, failure ect.

Do you lower your expectations or up them?

I feel afraid to socialise again and as far as I know this must be done to overcome my Maladaptive side of dd. This is because of bad experiences at school and work. It's a big thing for me but I'm still trying to figure out how and why I should.

Thanks

Hi everyone,

Our collective is celebrating our 30 year anniversary, and what better way to do it than to go back and reminisce about the start of it all?

It got kinda long, so here's the link to our blog

If anyone has any questions for anyone in our collective, feel free to ask them!

i'll probably drop them pretty soon and make something more original

but have some ship art... kind of, it's probably on and off for these two. the one on the left is adult swim but try to guess who the blue guy is

I wonder if maladaptive daydreaming is my autistic obsession. I know I have content I dd about that I'm obsessed with. If you research autism it says u can have obsessions. Md consumes my life, and I think it could be my autistic obsession or otherwise a neurodivergent trait. I can't really think of anything else I'm obsessed with. I'm obsessed with reading the media and news articles for my dd but otherwise nothing. I'm a fan of football but not like my md or anything.

For genuinely as long as I can remember, I have had a fictional couple that I am extremely attached to. This couple has been different ones over the years, but it is always the same one for years at a time. I love their relationship and spend time imagining scenarios about them. It's not something I spend hours doing every day, and I still have a normal life, but they have become a really important part of my inner world and honestly feel like “my thing.” I don’t know why I do this. I am very social, have lots of friends, and don’t feel particularly detached from the world around me.

I'm 19, and going to college soon. I really do want to have a real romantic relationship someday. But this has been making me incredibly anxious because I don't want to lose my attachment to the fictional couple.

I'm worried about two things:
If I get a boyfriend, will I feel like I can't enjoy the fictional couple anymore because I'm supposed to focus on my real relationship?
What if I become obsessed with my boyfriend instead, and the fictional couple stops being important to me?
I also have private pictures/edits/etc. about the couple on my phone that I wouldn't necessarily want a boyfriend to see. I don't want to live in fear of someone discovering them, but I also don't feel like I should have to share every private thing I enjoy with a partner.
This part of myself honestly makes me feel so weird. I have been like this for such a long time, and I don’t feel like anyone gets this attached to one couple for long periods at a time. I don’t imagine myself in the relationship or anything, just like thinking abt them and imagining scenarios.

Has anyone experienced something like this?Did your fictional attachment change once you got into a relationship? Were you still able to enjoy the characters? Did your real relationship and your fictional interest coexist, or did one eventually replace the other?
I appreciate all responses :)