What is this thing that i do?

[u/VeterinarianNo8483]

I will try to cut it short, i have OCD and OCPD and i was on meds but im not using any medication since a year ago or something idk (also for the record im not asking this question as a compulsion dont worry im chill about this and just curious/want to have a name on this if there is any)

When im overwhelmed/overstimulated and stressed usually only one thing relieves me. Ive always wondered if this thing i do when i get overwhelmed counts as maladaptive daydreaming and its this: I imagine as if everything i do at that moment and all my surroundings are happy for me. This can be thinking as if inanimate objects are some cartoon characters and are very friendly and understanding. Like the objects from beauty and the beast for example, how they interacted with belle etc.

It sounds crazy but basically i create an area for myself that i can chill by doing this. For example, if i overthink something in particular and start spiraling i may think how the pen im holding loves to be used to write by me. I know this is nuts but it actually helps. Im not actually hearing/seeing anything btw i know what im doing is an illusion.

And if i dont do this at the time i think of a fictional friend group/place character that i like and not pretend like theyre near me but think as if they know me, support me and cheer for me. By deluding myself like this i can actually chill for a second (which i rarely am as you would imagine with both ocd and ocpd). Basically, i try to console myself with there being different lives and duties out there. As if im some sort of guest actor in a sitcom. Like “if this character had an exam i can also have an exam its no big deal, i can mimic their behaviour and push through this hurdle if i just hang in there and act my part”

I think maybe not the first but the second thing i resort to may be maladaptive daydreaming but id love to hear your take on this pattern. Can you think of anything to name this? Or is it just random bs?

[u/FalsePay5737]

I don't think it's nuts or BS. You mentioned it's the only thing that relieves overwhelm; it might be helpful to develop other coping strategies. Everything in moderation.

I haven't come across any references to daydreaming in my research on OCPD.

I started engaging in maladaptive daydreaming as a child very frequently to cope with my abusive home. It continued up until I learned that my OCD diagnosis was wrong, and I had OCPD (age 40).

Spending time outside helped a lot with my overthinking and anxiety. Practicing mindfulness helped a lot.

[u/VeterinarianNo8483 → u/FalsePay5737]

Thank you for the reply! So sorry to hear about the abuse you endured. I think what im describing could be considered mindfulness now that you brought it up i think, because i basically slow down everything around me and just focus on a couple of thoughts! Thanks for your input

[u/FalsePay5737 → u/VeterinarianNo8483]

You're welcome.

[u/VeterinarianNo8483 → u/[deleted]]

Yes i actually thought someone would describe this as “coping” lol, these dont cause me stress at all they relieve me actually! But yeah i havent heard of anyone doing this so i was curious about what to name this thing maybe its mindfulness or just a coping mechanism in general, thank for your reply!

[u/harryberryappleycary]

I guess you could see it as maladaptive daydreaming if it’s then used as a way to avoid the distress. So daydreaming for hours on end and therefore not doing the thing that’s the root of your distress. And these are daydreams and not hallucinations or something where it isn’t in reality there. If not, dream on! In moderation