Maladaptive Daydreaming

JuniperFromGallifrey said:

dyslexics are capable of creating 3D images in the imagination

I can do this, but I don't think I have dyslexia. It's quite fun, and useful for clothing design. Shame I hardly ever get past the idea stage...

Hmm, I had to google this. I think I do sometimes do this but not often to the extent I would call it a problem. Occasionally it can become so compelling I don't want to stop and can take an hour or more, but usually I just to it to help me fall asleep at night. Although sometimes that doesn't work if it becomes too conscious, if that makes sense?

I have done novel writing (nothing published, rarely finished, never edited...) which utilises what seems like the same mechanism, such that I would ask what is the difference except the novel writing has a purpose!

My first world was Mary Poppins or The Wizard of Oz. They were spectacular places to be! [Whoops, had to edit due to a typo!]

Absolutely! My first world was The Lion King :)

Same for me. I've done it since childhood. My own little world is a happier, calmer place where I'm treated nicely.

Yes - especially more so in times of high stress I retreat into my own little world 

I'm an artist and have made a career out if this. Which is obviously the good side of it

The bad side of it is, it's hard to turn off; so your mind tends to disassociate in all situations that feel uncomfortable, often taking you to horrible places, propelled by fear.

The only remedy I've found is to meditate daily, practice mindfulness to try and stay present, and to ensure I schedule time to work and time to exercise. Turning off the obsessive part of the brain is the important part for me

I've just discovered it's a thing from chatting with a lot of dyslexics. It's in our family (a cousin, my son) and I tend to spot them. It seems dyslexics are capable of creating 3D images in the imagination and with proper training make great technicians, inventors or architects (with wood, with metal, with sound like a composer). 

What are you interested in and daydreaming about? 

One of the practices of journalists, lyricists, novelists is to write every day - get all the words in your head out. Most of them will be nonsense or nothing to do with writing fiction or bios, but stuffed into all those words somewhere is the start of a next manuscript. 

I think this same practice applies to daydreaming. The imagination is a powerful place. And there's a reason for it!

Oh ok I didn’t know about the link between that and dyslexia. I don’t have dyslexia so I suppose it’s something I’ve never put together before. That’s really interesting 

I've heard it's a BIG dyslexic trait. But it does have potential...

My son calls it Walter Mitty-ing.