[ SECRET POST #6888 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #6888 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


01.
[NYTimes Connections & Only Connect]




__________________________________________________



02.



__________________________________________________



03.



__________________________________________________



04.



__________________________________________________



05. [WARNING for discussion of child abuse]




__________________________________________________



06. [WARNING for discussion of abuse]

[Coco]























Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 00 secrets from Secret Submission Post #983.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Transcript by OP

[fscom]

I never heard the term "maladaptive dreaming" until I was an adult. It's something I've done for as long as I can remember. I wouldn't say I had an excessively abusive childhood, but I wasn't a happy child and I've always found solace in daydreaming and making up stories in my head: rich fantasies about fictional characters I loved, and fictional worlds. I couldn't wait to go to bed at night so I could fall asleep to these stories. Every spare minute I had, I'd immediately jump into my dream worlds and dream stories. If I felt stressed or sad, I had an escape.

Then a few months ago, I just couldn't do it anymore.

I want to! I try to... but I can't make the dream stories happen the way I used to. They've lost their magic, the details that used to comfort me are blurry and lack substance.

I feel like I've been locked out of a fantasy world that has always been my sanctuary.

I just want to go back. But I don't know how.

Re: Transcript by OP

[(Anonymous)]

Same. Seems when you get too old you can't go back to Narnia - or wherever - any more. In my case it's due to ill health.

But I'm not sure why it's called "maladaptive dreaming". Seems like a very good adaption to me. Is painting maladaptive? Same thing, but with paint. Likewise music, or any art form. Or exercise which I'm constantly told is a panacea for all ills. Daydreaming is a useful skill. Taken to excess, not so useful, but the same can be said of anything. (chocolate.)

If you ever find your way back into the world of daydreaming, anon, do let us know how!

Re: Transcript by OP

[(Anonymous)]

Not OP

I'm under the impression it's called maladaptive because people escape to this instead of living their life. (Well, assuming that being an author of some kind 24/7 isn't what they want to do with life, but even then, the person would do something productive with all that daydreaming.) It's one thing to express oneself through art, since you're getting whatever's on your mind out on the canvas; daydreaming all the time just creates a world in your head that you never want to leave.

Re: Transcript by OP

[(Anonymous)]

Thank-you! I hadn't realised that it could get so all-consuming. I remember many a day when it's saved my bacon. Being too ill to read or scroll or watch anything, or even listen to audio, but having that internal narrative to entertain me has stopped me from going completely bonkers. But this last year, what with the cancer, the tooth infection and the gut infection (TMI) the whole phantom panorama has shut down. I presume I've gone into survival mode. The creativity is creeping back slowly but it's a hard process. Brains use a lot of energy. Bleh.

Re: Transcript by OP

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think it is actually maladaptive unless it gets in the way of your real life. I don't see a problem with having a world in your head as long as you manage your real life and it doesn't get in the way.