[nightdream]

I often day dream to get away from my reality. I don't know if this is good or not but it's kind of a refuge for me.

nightdream

[wisewoman]

I speant my childhood doing that. I wish I still had the capacity for it. I think however that it is a form of dissociation? Or so I have been told. Good daydreams are cool.

Well, it sounds like a coping mechanism. And like any of those, as long as they don't get in the way of living our lives...like whatever we need to do, school, work, taking care of kids, etc., then it's safe. Are you able to progress in life and improve your life? Even better. See what I mean? Sometimes day dreams are a nice way to relax and calm ourselves. It's almost meditative. But if I spent hours doing that a day, and was late for school or work, or never got dinner made or the laundry done,....that would be a problem. Then I'd stress out, and need to relax MORE! Viscious circle time.

Gosh...too much coffee for emmy again! Take care.

emmy

[h0kie]

Both em and WW are right. Day dreaming is definitely a coping mechanism AND it is dissociating. The comforting thing (I think) is that most if not all people dissociate from time to time.

I think Angela gave the example of driving somewhere and arriving at your destination and remembering NOTHING of the drive. That's dissociating.

Dissociation is a problem when it stops you from doing daily activities. So, as long as your day dreaming isn't keeping you from living your life the way you want. I say, day dream on!

[(JD)]

certainly! the mind needs a break from time to time, especially when you've been taxing it heavily.... hmmm all things in moderation???

[alliecat]

My daydreaming has always been so bad that it's made for some problems in my life. It would get so out of control that I would run up on curbs or not hear someone talking to me. Not sure how to fix the problem. It's been around my whole life.

[Rebound]

I used to be really bad for daydreaming at inappropriate times during my school-age years, i.e. during class. Now, it seems to be more of a problem of becoming distracted extremely easily and ending up with attention being focused on inappropriate things. Does this sound similar to you folks or am I wrong in thinking they are related?

[(JD)]

Could well be connected... once a "coping technique" is learned and ingrained... whether good or not... it stays until changed.

[Rebound]

The thing I don't understand about that statement is where coping comes into it. It is a source of stress, confusion, and irritation that I can be performing a task and something minor will attract my attention and before I know it, I have forgotten all about the main task.

[sqrlb8]

Some times my daydreaming is a tonic of rejeuvinating brain chemicals, other times it seems only an interference with some mundane execution. I'm consoled by the fact that Einstein often became hoplessly lost trying to walk the several blocks from the University where he taught and his home. He was daydreaming about physics, and would walk many miles before he realized what he'd done. It became routine for him to call the police to take him home after he'd walked off the edge of the Earth.

Genius and madness are so often in eachother's company.

[(JD)]

IMHO we learn how to daydream when we aren't interested, involved, or wanting to be in the situation we are forced to endure... so to "pretend" we are engaged we stay physically, but allow our mind to wander... we cope with the outside world's wishes ,

[elmarko]

'I think Angela gave the example of driving somewhere and arriving at your destination and remembering NOTHING of the drive. That's dissociating.'

welcome to my world, ive drove 200 miles safely and remembered nothing, not even the route i took! ite great lol.

i agree with everyone else, daydreaming is a harmless coping technique... unless of corse its causing bother to your every day life!

[(JD)]

Yeah well, dissociation while driving is one cause of accidents, so we all need to try and avoid that one! Stay mindful of the traffic and where you need to be in the lane... it will give you that split second edge on avoiding an accident.

Wow mark, that's a long way... but I know how it was when I was evacuated for the Hurricane Fran... I went some 400 miles in around ..well? less than 5 hours. I don't recall much of it.

glad we both ended up safe!

[elmarko]

i often travel long journeys and not know how. i seem to manage ok tho. not going anywhere this week my cars poorly!

[satansgetawaydriver]

what exactly is "reality" for you then?

[bptoo]

dream

My favorite daydream is winning the California State Lotto. And I'm not talking a few mil, I'm talking a couple hundred million dollars. We have so many real life issues to deal with, I think a daydream, a happy, healthy one, is food for the soul. As long as they don't become an obsession, I don't see how they can be bad. If it takes you away from your problems for a little while, I say more power to you!

(((((((((((((((((((((((dream)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Greg

[nightdream]

HI,

I can come back from day dreaming in a second. It's just an escape from my reality, a place where I can rest for a while.

My favorite is to be free to be who I am. To live alone far away from civilisation. Just to be simply free. (But I would bring my computer with me. You thought you would get rid of me hein?)

Love you all!
Hugs!
nightdream

[satansgetawaydriver]

Move to the woods. Ill come - we can be like the waltons.

[colors]

Are there any dreams you would like to be real? I mean are you day dreaming about doing something really cool like race car driving, or maybe traveling to the beach and laying on the sand?

I mean, are they dreams you can really start to plan for and do the things you always wanted to do?

That would be so cool.

Best Wishes,
Colors