Thoughts of A Human Mind

Stream-of-consciousness and MADD

[thebookquotes]

In other words, let's face it: Life is basically unfair. But even in a situation that's unfair, I think it's possible to seek out a kind of fairness. Of course, that might take time and effort. And maybe it won't seem to be worth all that. It's up to each individual to decide whether or not it is.

— Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

It's all shit, but find your favourite flavour sweetheart cause we could be here for a while.

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

No, I don't think I'm ugly. Is that so wrong?

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

Has anyone successfully written a book or even a story, based off of their paracosms? I am just considering the logistics behind it as I think it would be difficult to write my characters and create an engaging and meaningful storyline, when both the characters and storyline are constantly changing in my head. Because they mean so much to me as well, it feels almost taboo to put it on paper. So, if you have MADD and have even tried to write about your paracosms, could you tell me how it was.

[memesforthemad-d]

yknow what? Reblog this if it’s okay for you when people come to your inbox to ramble about their paracosms 💌

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

Feel free

[healingpawsteps]

Daydreaming: Maladaptive VS Immersive

Note: I am not a health/psychology professional by any means; this is simply a list I've put together from my own understanding and experiences on the topic, based upon various readings/research I found online. I hope it may be helpful/informative to read regardless, feel free to add on or correct this!

Maladaptive Daydreaming:

Excessive daydreaming; becoming absorbed in and fixated on daydream events, scenes, characters, or worlds.

Used as a form of escapism, often to avoid dealing with real-life situations (traumatic, unpleasant, or otherwise).

More interested and/or focused on the daydream/inner world than the real world, or on daydream relationships rather than real-life ones.

Difficulty or inability to stop daydreaming, even when real-life tasks need to be done.

An excessive/large amount of time is spent daydreaming, instead of being fully present in real-life events.

A desire to be like the idealized, daydream version of themself or their characters (/feeling inadequate with self in reality).

May feel a loss of control over daydreams, or when/where daydreaming occurs.

Some describe maladaptive daydreaming as an "addiction to daydreaming".

Many feel embarrassed or ashamed of (the extent of) their daydreaming.

Some individuals experience maladaptive daydreaming as a form of dissociation.

Often occurs in individuals with ADHD, depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and those who have experienced significant stress, abuse, and/or trauma.

Though the daydreams themselves may be enjoyable/pleasant/comforting, the lack of control and difficulty focusing on reality causes distress to the daydreamer.

If this daydreaming causes significant impairment in daily life and regular distress to the individual, they may have Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder (MaDD).

Immersive Daydreaming:

Simillar to maladaptive daydreaming, but instead, is a more positive way of coping.

The individual is present in real-life relationships, and in their own plans for the future.

Able to stop daydreaming when real-life tasks need to be attended to. Has a solid sense of control over their daydreaming.

Uses daydreaming as a healthy coping mechanism for dealing with stress/trauma/illness/conflict etc, rather than using it to avoid these situations.

BOTH Maladaptive and Immersive Daydreamers (May) Experience:

Very vivid, often extensively detailed daydreams. (Can be visual, auditory, or a mixture of sensory events.)

Feeling the emotions or sensations that are happening in the daydream through the body, as if they were really happening.

Strong attachments or connections to daydream characters (often called "paras").

Presence of an inner world(s)/universe(s), where daydream events take place ("paracosm", "dreamverse").

A sense of "autonomy" regarding character interaction, and/or being "influenced" by their characters.

Repetitive physical activity while daydreaming (pacing, tapping, rocking, etc.)

Speaking daydream dialogue aloud, and/or physically emoting facial expressions while daydreaming.

Real life events triggering daydreams (music, and other media are common daydream triggers.)

"You're so creative!", "You've got an overactive imagination."

* Someone can experience both Maladaptive and Immersive Daydreaming within their lifetime/during different times in their lives!

Immersive daydreaming may become maladaptive if it starts getting out of hand (perhaps after a stressful/traumatic event, or the onset of another disorder). Maladaptive daydreaming can be turned into immersive daydreaming (to cope, or to de-stress), with the help of therapy.

(Thank you for reading! 💌)

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

Thought this was helpful

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

So today I can't do anything but rant. Maladaptive daydreaming is different from having a vivid or active imagination. It usually stems from childhood and seriously affects people lives. I'm grateful that tumblr provides a safe space where we can discuss MADD, but it certainly isn't cute or trendy and I wish people wouldn't just throw the term around so lightly. Please research the topic thoroughly and think really carefully before self-diagnosing. This is something that people actually struggle with and it should be treated as such.

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

Because in my daydreams, I am loved. And I think that's really all it is.

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

I'm just tired.

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

I don't hurt so much today. But there is still the gnawing emptiness somewhere deep within my chest. Or perhaps, I feel it in the gaps between my fingers, the place where everything I wanted slipped through. I wanted you, whoever you were. To save me from myself.

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

And today, I'm lazy and lost and there is nothing beautiful about that. There is nothing beautiful about doing nothing, dozing. Hard-working is beautiful I guess, and creating is beautiful I guess. Someone tell me how to be beautiful.

[spilltheoil-letitflow]

So, this is what it feels like to be alive. You spend your whole life looking for something bigger, for something better, not realizing that this is it. This is reality. I feel small. I feel insignificant. I can't even find the words to describe my own feelings and it makes me feel useless. I can't achieve anything. I just want to sit and think and lose myself inside my own head because it seems ten times more interesting than real life. I, I, I... I should use correct punctuation? Who created grammar! Who set autocorrect. They say its so your reader can understand what you're saying. No one understands what I'm saying anyway. And now I'm writing about nothing and everything at the same time because sometimes everything seems like nothing, but it's not. And the only thing that keeps me sane is the belief that Jesus Christ exists. Because without him I am nothing, life is nothing. And he doesn't need correct grammar to understand me. So thank you God for loving me. For loving me enough to create an earth that is both beautiful and mysterious. For loving me enough to take control of my life and give me a place in your family. For loving me enough to show me the biggest and realest thing that exists - yourself. Thank you for that. Thank you for loving me unconditionally but protecting me from the evil that would draw me away. Thank you for planning my future even though now it seems like I don't even want you in it. I want you here God, I want Jesus with me. I'm tired of writing poetry about human beings because they are small and I have begun to understand them. You are incomprehensible and that makes you big and beautiful, and inexplorable and I just want to spend my whole life learning about you and learning to love you. There is no bigger purpose, nothing else that will fill the missing piece inside of me. Help me to let go of myself and see just exactly what I can be with your help. God is able. God is willing. Make me willing.