Does anyone pace back and forth a lot while daydreaming or thinking?
Hey,
Does anyone do this, but like in an almost obsessive way? I've been pacing back and forth like this ever since I was real little and each time I do I sorta fantasize about stories and stuff in a really emersive way. I have characters in my head with their own little story lines but I also imagine characters from movies, games, and books too. I find myself doing it for long periods of time but it can range from 10 minutes to like 3-4 hours. I also do it with music more than half the time because it helps me focus and it makes it more fun. Its kinda embarassing too cause I often make faces or talk to myself without even thinking about it. I've been caught a handful of times in an awkward position! I don't why but I pace around like this every single day. I just feel so restless and irritable if I don't do it. I feel so compelled to do it and anything will set off one of my wild daydreams like a song or a particulary moving scene in a show. I don't have diagnosed adhd and I've never seen a mental health professional, but I strongly believe that I have adhd and I think the pacing thing that I do is somehow related to it. Does anyone else do this or something like this? Could this be a form of stimming?
Thank you for any insight you can give me!
@facingthesun
I know this thread is old but I figured I'd still reply. I do this kind of thing too (mostly rocking back and forth instead of pacing, but I did used to pace) and when I did a bit more research I found that it is most likely a condition called maladaptive daydreaming. It's not exactly a condition in itself, but more like a symptom of other conditions.
Of course, I'm not saying you have a specific condition (not a doctor here). But it's mostly associated with anxiety and depression from what I've read.
You could also just have a very active imagination :)
@mimameid
no maladaptive daydreaming is a recognized condition in itself https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/maladaptive-daydreaming people who have it might or might not also be diagnosed with other conditions anxiety and depression can develop from having this as it has a big impact on a persons social interactions and the results from that just like other conditions so in that way its associated with anxiety and depression ( i have this and and have had this for as long as i can remember but was diagnosed with ADD as a teenager because all anyone knew was that i was distracted a lot and kept everything else to myself) so people with this might be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD or OCD and some medications for those conditions apparently can help with it for different reasons
@jennysunrise8
Ah yes, you are correct it's a condition. However, it's still not a disorder that can be formally diagnosed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-V) yet. For a while I thought it was its own separate disorder rather than being linked with other disorders like anxiety, ADHD, etc.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319400.php
@mimameid
unfortunately thats true but i think theres a good chance it will be in the next edition of DSM-V because of so much research going on now with it (and activist efforts from so many people to get it in there)
Research shows that this phenomenon is measurable, that it is stable and unique and can be differentiated very clearly from normal daydreaming.[27] Research with the MDS-16 has also demonstrated that individuals who suffer from this condition report higher rates of attention-deficit and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.[28]
Maladaptive daydreaming is currently studied by a consortium of researchers from diverse countries including the USA, Poland, Switzerland and Israel.[29][30][31]
Following the publication of two single case studies on treatment for maladaptive daydreaming, research is now needed to develop evidence-based practice for the treatment of maladaptive daydreaming.[32]
@mimameid
right now the best case scenario for someone who has it might be to be diagnosed and treated as someone who has OCD (preferarably with the person whos diagnosing having some knowledge about MD and openminded to it at least) because apparenty theres an OCD medication that does help with it and it does involve compulsive behavior ADD/HD isnt the worst misdiagnosis/treatment one can get (psychosis im sure would be the worst misdiagnosis/treatment) other than the fact that medication to increase focus can result in an increased focus on the daydreams when they happen sometimes increased focus is the last thing you need ;)
@facingthesun
I find myself thinking about deeply painful past losses, and replaying it over and over. This has happened while play cards and I was told "Hey, if nobody is doing anything it's probably your turn!" I was given the nickname Oblivious to. I sometimes am around many people and find myself counting each persin in my head fast 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 for each petson as I count the holes in their head. I never told anybody before, but people close to me must know I fade away to the past because Im reminded not to keep thinking about it.
I hope we can figure a way out of this pain. Its destroying my life even further
Blessings
@feelNeglected77
i dont know if thats daydreaming or not but it definately sounds like your mind is immersed in your thoughts whether your daydreaming or remembering things - if your thinking about things exactly as they happened or adding to it - but either way i can relate to the distraction and also the embarassment over distraction very much! i cant tell you how many times ive experienced people talking to me (right in front of me and me looking at them oftentimes but not paying attention to the words theyre saying to me just one of the embarassing things about it) feeling the need to count people and imagining something about each person you count and its something you always repeat every time your around people that sounds like a characteristic of OCD and medication for that would prob help and also help with thoughts whether theyre memories your compulsively thinking about or daydreams your right distraction doesnt help at all when your trying to get things done in life very true
@jennysunrise8
Yes, its taken me over a year and a half to start identifying and I had to over power many fears to get to this point in my lufe. Its unbarable one hour, then I have very clear times like right now. Ive probably written several books if you just add what ive written on 7cups. You can remember many stages I go through, and as you know I wasnt very trusting. But thank you for always staying calm and reasonable with me! Its helped me not feel so insecure and has allowed me to keep at it. Getting ti tge point that i felt nothing mattered actually taught me if thats the case, i might as well not worry and be afraid of whats been happening in my head. Its a complicated mess of issues intertwined. As it becomes more unravelled and laying it out, its easier to see some of the problems, and helps me ask the better questiins. I get overloaded, and need breaks, and im aware of habits to work to avoide when possible. Its overwhelming but I have made sure not to make matters worse. And Im saving every penny which isnt easy. I have other ocd like things i do, but they might just be pwrsonal superstitions ??? Thanks again for your insights.🌷
@facingthesun @mimameid @feelNeglected77 @ConfuzzledAF
short but true (and funny) article just wanted to share https://thoughtcatalog.com/jessica-calder/2018/09/10-things-you-do-if-you-have-maladaptive-daydreaming/
Wow, thank you. Great srticle! I really do think of day-dreaming as a blessing and a curse. I realated to all 10 things! I've always thought if I could find a peaceful creative fit in life, I could be very happy. I love anything to do with graphics, photos, vocabulary, inventing things, teaching subjects I love, and I know my thought processes could make me successful, but I have many weaknesses like my abilitues to do the other leg-work of running a business. Im sitting on over 30 inventions, I ran a great business in the past too and totally enjoyed teaching my customers, and all the advertising promitional parts. But Ive been ripped off because I was to trusting. I feel like if I had 1 motivated and loyal helper, I know just what I'd do to become a millionaire with-in 5 years. But my issues prevent me from taking another chance, because Im disabled and unable to trust. So I sit and suffer while wishing and dreaming. But in reality my life is in nightmare status. Oh well, the delema continues.😔😔
@jennysunrise8
