Imaginary World

[steve1234]

Not sure if this is the correct place to put this..anyway..

It sounds silly, but over the past 2 years or so, I have had an imaginary world, which I 'visit' just before I go to sleep, or whenever I am bored (which is quite often). I have developed storylines, and various characters (some of which are also in my real life, but also made up ones).

I have also been depressed for about 2-3 years. Its not as bad as some people's depression, but I do feel low most of the time. I'm just wondering if my depression is connected to this.

Does anyone else have an imaginary world. I know everyone has an imagination, but I'm talking about an imaginary world which you seem to indulge in too much, like me. I like my imaginary world, but I really think its starting to be a problem now. Anyone else in a similar boat?

[Magus]

It's not a problem, I think. I believe it is called escapism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escapism). Making up an imaginary world is totally natural and normal. I believe it reduces stress and other unhealthy things. Sometimes, when I walk around home, I don't feel home - I sometimes imagine it as a forest and or some back alley with danger lurking every corner... I think I am crazy. HELPZ!

[Fiction]

I used to do this a hell of a lot when I was younger. I don't do it as much anymore, i think my imagination died :/
But my point is I don't think it's a problem. It's where my VT name comes from xD

[Mike321]

I have been doing this for the past 3 or 4 years now, (but I think it started alot earlier when I was like 9 or something, but not quite as often as I do it now)
I think I just make up a life thats alot better than my own, it does interfear with 'reality' sometimes though.
But yeahh, it doesnt sound like your alone with doing this, but I dont think its a problem.

[UnknownError]

I do. I also have imaginary friends. xP

Mr Blobby. He is half vampire half zombie and is currently pregnant. The mother is Bella from Twilight.

[FullyAlive]

I used to do this when I was younger too but now I'm older I just don't have the energy :/ I wouldn't think it was a problem so long as you are always aware that it is imaginary.

Btw Connor I would love to meet your imaginary friend he sounds cool!

[Syvelocin]

I have a bit of a whole theory on the entire thing.

Imagination in general, sometimes some people don't grow out of it for various reasons. For instance, I think I didn't grow up fully because I was forced to grow up very early in my childhood so I could take care of myself. Then I sort of reverted back to that part of me when I finally could be that child. So while I'm still quite mature, I have that imagination still. And that way, some of us don't lose touch with that side of us.

I also believe it can be a huge coping mechanism to escape or deal with what you're going through. If you have this life or world you can control at will, but still get that same childhood thrill out of it that most people have grown out of, then you're more drawn to it to help you through a life you can't control. And in this world, you can do whatever you want effortlessly. You can be a doctor without a degree. Or things even like witches and vampires and animals.

I still use this part of me for my stories. It's real enough that it sounds great on paper, but it's still this lovely, original world you can bend and twist at will.

For me, it can be something as minor as watching a movie or playing a video game and being so submersed into it. Or RPing with others or just in my head by myself. With movies and games, I'll like to pretend I'm a character going through the story. It's the best thrill you can get still being safe in your home.

One of my favourite musical artists did the same with this Victorian world she came up with. When she was hospitalized, she would escape into this world to cope with what she was going through. She later wrote a book about it that I absolutely adore.

[Jstr]

I do this everyday but its not just in my head its also somtimes act out write down anything but sit there and think of it. Thats is why i want to become a movie director when i grow up to make those thing reality

[closed]

Lol it's not silly and common :)
everyone has their imaginary utopia... :)

[Myrnodin]

Funny i thought everyone did this all the time... I mean, since i have memory, ive always lived in "two world" the "real" one, and one only for me. I just assumed everybody else did the same. XD It got me into writing tales at a very young age, at the beginning I thought they were silly, and kept them only for me, but eventually i realized they could make other people "feel" things, and thats how i got into being a writer, maybe you should consider it. The worlds we weave in our mind can be very entertaining for people who have forgotten how to dream.

I dont think its something "normal"; I think it is a gift; not everyone can imagine wonders merely by closing his eyes for a second. You should try writing the things you see in your world; a lot can come from it. :)

[steve1234]

Thanks everyone for the comments. :)

I have always kind of lived in two worlds, but recently I seem to be in my imaginary world too often, most of the time to escape my real world, but maybe I was worrying too much about having an imaginary world.

[UnknownError]

Btw Connor I would love to meet your imaginary friend he sounds cool!

Ahaha. :L
All my friends take the mickey out of him ever since I told them he watches them in the showers. :P

[The Dudeh]

I do this too :) the world changes a lot and so do the people - but it's lovely ;) Always has the weather I want, too. Weird.

[Magus]

Ahaha. :L
All my friends take the mickey out of him ever since I told them he watches them in the showers. :P
One thing I never had are imaginary friends. The concept was too silly, for me.

[Syvelocin]

I never had imaginary friends per say. But I did the imaginary world thing for as long as I can remember as a kid. Includes imaginary people, but not exactly "imaginary friends" you know. I was very aware they weren't real as a kid (well, you know. How the kids treat them like they're real people)

[Charleigh]

I started living in an imaginary world when I was like, 7. That was my coping technique. My mum was never around for me, and I never really got to be a child. I was always brought up to be older than I really am, when I was 7, I had to look after my brother all the time who has down syndrome and at the time was 6, so I learned that living in an imaginary world make everything seem ok, and I wasnt lonley anymore.

When I was 8-9 I started taking it to the extreame. As a child, I had the most vivid imagination. I remember, my mum started mentally torturing me and making everything miserable, comparing me to a child with diasbilities, putting me in my room most of my life, but then I started to realise what she was actually doing. So, I would pretend people were infront of me, and I would talk. I would let everything flow, like I was speaking to a real person. My mum would come up and tell me to "Shut the fuck up your mental" but that was my way of releasing all the pain. It was when I was 9 I starting screaming in my room, hatefull things and blaring music while screaming. Then my imaginary world started to crush.

I still do it on the odd occasion, if im around my mum. But, generally im fine. I will only space out and go into my little world when my mum visits me, its too much to handle.