[Anonymous]

I've watched a film tonight that's put my thoughts/personality/day dreaming into perspective. For anyone who is interested the film is "a beautiful mind", the fact the main guy is a genius is irrelevant - but more that he thinks he's someone who he is not, occupies his time doing things which he thinks will reach a goal that doesn't exist, he's insane.

Anyway, for as long as I can remember, when I'm alone, or bored, or just switched off I imagine I'm me, but don't live my life. Let me expain, I've ran Microsoft UK, giving them an entire new strategy, I've rebuilt the entire country in my head, I've been a member of cabinet...yeh sounds like i'm insane.

It's not that i'm unhappy with my life, it's the best I could wish for, but I've no idea why I do this, and i've only just realised that it might not be normal.

I'm socaliable, run a company and go to university, when I'm with people this doesn't happen, but when i'm alone/late at night there's always something my mind thinks I'm doing. I mean, I know i'm not, but my imagination just takes over and my passive thoughts are gone. I'm suddenly someone else...but me.

It's really strange, I know i'm myself, and it's never violent actions. This all sounds very bad now I'm actually reflection on what I've been doing for the past 8 or so years. For as long as I can remember, I've always done this.

Does anyone else "daydream" like this? Or do I need to get some "help"?

[Anonymous]

I do have an over-active imagination, I've found this: http://www.experienceproject.com/sto...e-Else/1011252

Ton's of people do exactly the same thing, but could this be part of a mental condition.

Like some of the people on there, I have conversations in my head I ENJOY, I'm actually stopping myself from doing this right now.

[VeniViciVidi]

Maybe you should just play The Sims once in a while.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by VeniViciVidi)
Maybe you should just play The Sims once in a while.

I have.

It's only when I'm alone, NEVER when i'm with people, I feel no need to do it around others.

I have no idea how it has taken me so long to realise I need to stop if it's not normal, or if it's unhealthy.

[I love shopping]

I do something similar when I'm bored and have nothing better to do. I build up imaginary situations in my head, relating to my personal life, and think about how I would react and what I would do as if they were real. I sometimes even imagine having conversations with people I know in these imaginary situations! I don't think you are any more insane than I am

[Anonymous]

(Original post by I love shopping)
I do something similar when I'm bored and have nothing better to do. I build up imaginary situations in my head, relating to my personal life, and think about how I would react and what I would do as if they were real. I sometimes even imagine having conversations with people I know in these imaginary situations! I don't think you are any more insane than I am

Thank God! But I still think it's the reason why I can't sleep and am always stressed.
I feel as though, on reflection, I live my life and then deal with all of these fake ones too.

AH, I need to escape my escapism!

[Iqbal007]

Your not alone.........many people have these imaginations, especially at times when they got nothing else to think about.
For me it's always "what if" and then the imagining begins loooool normally happens when I can't get to sleep or i'm bored on a train, bus or something.
I tend to take my imaginations from interests like if in this world people were capable of doing things from Naruto or possibility of terrestrial life or sudden technological advancements into space

[Anonymous]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
Your not alone.........many people have these imaginations, especially at times when they got nothing else to think about.
For me it's always "what if" and then the imagining begins loooool normally happens when I can't get to sleep or i'm bored on a train, bus or something.
I tend to take my imaginations from interests like if in this world people were capable of doing things from Naruto or possibility of terrestrial life or sudden technological advancements into space

I'm really glad. I was going to speak to my boyfriend about it tomorrow - or my boss, someone really. But I'm not sure if they'll understand.

It's just nice to know that two of the three people who have responded do it too. I just can't see how it's normal.

I mean:
No one EVER has a conversation with someone else talking about what they've made up in their head, EVER.

[internetguru]

Imaging something because you are bored is not insane it is normal.

[danny111]

So?

In my imagination I'm a world class spy. The charm of Bond and the ferocity of Bourne.

Pretty sure quite a few people do this.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by danny111)
So?

In my imagination I'm a world class spy. The charm of Bond and the ferocity of Bourne.

Pretty sure quite a few people do this.

I used to do that, back when I used to watch Spooks.

*Sigh, I guess I'll just carry on being "normal"

Cheers x

[Jack93o]

yeah its called having imaginations

[danny111]

(Original post by Anonymous)
I used to do that, back when I used to watch Spooks.

*Sigh, I guess I'll just carry on being "normal"

Cheers x

You should watch Chuck xD

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by Anonymous)
I'm really glad. I was going to speak to my boyfriend about it tomorrow - or my boss, someone really. But I'm not sure if they'll understand.

It's just nice to know that two of the three people who have responded do it too. I just can't see how it's normal.

I mean:
No one EVER has a conversation with someone else talking about what they've made up in their head, EVER.

I think it's pretty normal, when your bored and just sitting or standing with nothing to do....

I think it would be a good conversation starter, weird and personal, but would make a good conversation however weird it is

[IndiaCaitlinn]

I make things up in my head all the time.
If I'm walking home with my headphones in I imagine I'm in a music video with a band following me around. It's just imagination!

[nexttime]

You have a grip on reality - you know who you really are. You are normal.

Compulsions are the more strange thing. Ever had the compulsion to push someone in front of a train whilst on a platform? Sounds scary right? Its actually very common to have such thoughts - 20% of men. Others include the urge to rob a bank (?) and to pull things from shelves, and a wide variety of others. I actually get compulsion to take armed policemen's guns myself. Such thoughts are normal, as we ignore them.

In fact, people that have such thoughts and try to repress them seem to the the ones that end up seeing doctors with anxiety and OCD - its beneficial to just let the crazy run free! As long as it stays within your head, of course

[zara55]

I doubt that you are insane, OP. The issue is one of what conciousness is and consists of - it is a very deep, strange subject and many even great thinkers and psychologists struggle with it. The question of who "I am" is a difficult one. Lots of people have these kinds of feelings, particularly the feeling that they are an "observer" who is "looking at themselves". The "philosophy of Self" is one of the oldest problems in human thought and everyone from Buddha to Descartes has scratched their heads over it. So don't worry too much, just have fun thinking about it! There's a good introduction on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_(philosophy)

[thecoverup]

I do this It's really really very gratifying to know that other people do it as well. I don't think it comes under the bracket of insanity but I believe that escaping into imaginary worlds/daydreams is probably a mental condition and I think that a lot of people suffer from it, if you can call it suffering. I also think that it's a fairly recent development in modern society as we have much more stress and pressure in our lives these days than in previous decades so the need for an escape from everyday life has increased.

[kayleighn05]

I do this too, only I do it when I want to (usually on a night) if that makes sense, it doesnt control me.

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my E15i

[cleverslacker]

OP, I'm exactly the same. And I don't feel the need to get help.