To live most of my life in my own head

[LionRichie]

Today, in between playing with the toddler and doing all the boring house shit that comes with being a SAHP, I've spent maybe 80% of my time fantasising about a life in which I'm kidnapped by a hot 19th century highwayman. Turns out I'm an amazing sword fighter even in a corset and flowing dress.

Does anyone else make up these complex imaginary scenarios or am I going insane?! AIBU to spend most of my time in my own daydreams and not care?

I must be the exception then as I am in my 50s and still doing it!

That's reassuring! Hopefully I will be the same - but I feel as though I would have to somehow make myself do it if it stopped coming naturally.

I used to do it all of the time but it suddenly stopped and I couldn't loose myself in my dream world. I don't know why but it did come back.
I'm an introverted, artistic, Pisces reader

Reading through the whole thread has reminded me of a few daydreams I still have, although I can't visualise things very well when I'm awake anymore, so don't think of them as such.

I was much better at it when I was younger; my recurring daydream, and one I still have, is where I win the lottery rollover of £78million and help out family/friends and oversee my regular, anonymous donations to charities/good causes. I go into a lot of detail including keeping £10million for myself, my husband and our dc and keeping £50 million for charity use and sharing the rest out amongst family and friends.

Part of my charity invests in 50-70 homes which we renovate and then rent out at nominal rents to families/people in need. This gives them a start in life so they can save for their own place and move on after 5-7 years, thereby making room for the next one that needs help.

I used to be able to think about what I'd like to dream about short before going to sleep and then I'd dream about it so I could change the ending of my dreams, etc. Haven't been able to do that for a while though.

My dreams are in technicolour, and are so real, that it often takes a while for me to realise it was "just a dream" once I've woken up.

For the poster who said she wasted her life day dreaming, you're never too old to go to college or to do a Year 0 course at Uni. The latter depending on household income, you would get supported for too via SF.
I'm glad I'm not the only one singing away and 'bopping' in my car. I feel quite normal.
They say those with autism live in their own worlds, I've always wondered if I was on the spectrum, but it's not an issue so wouldn't gain much from a diagnosis. I know I'm an introvert who prefers being at home. Not that great talking face to face, usually because my mind wanders.
I get told off as when I'm with people I like and trust my mind runs at 100MPH. I'll have finished a conversation in my head and switch subject to something else. I also get lots of 'great' ideas. The latest one I feel determined that I will act on it & hopefully get finished.
I know it sounds strange, but to the poster who said about solitary confinement, I think I would be totally fine.
At school maybe I was different, but at breaks I'd be in the library reading. At home I collected Enid Blighton books, a big wish is to read as many classics as I can. It reminds me when I was at the hospital shop I bought a load of books that haven't been collected. It could be a good treat to go and see what else they have lurking, as all books are the same price.
Do any of you get vivid dreams too and wake up thinking, what the hell was that?

I spend most of my day in music videos or with a camera crew following me while I document my life,much more fun!

I do this too. I don't think I'm an introvert - I come across as pretty loud and social - but I need my downtime and my imagination takes over then.

I have to behave decently and professionally in my full-on job and pretty much do. I have to play out alternative scenarios in my head rather than in real life.

My father said I live in my own world (and I do!). I score highly on introversion on all the fancy personality tests I have taken for work.

I regularly wake up thinking 'what the hell'?
I regularly dream of places I know but they are 'different': streets, shops etc all different but I know that its the place. And I wake up wondering how the hell I managed to make 'that' scenario up in my head as its nothing to do with my life!

I hate when I wake up remembering my dream then 10 mins later its gone and 'on the tip of my tongue' but I cant quite get it except for a fleeting image of something that makes no sense whatsoever.

Seems like I am just as barmy in my subconscious as when awake

I am sure people passing me in the car think I have lost the plot! Songs are a really strong trigger to set of a fantasy scenario, I am a lost cause!

I have a rich and varied fantasy world.

I have had long term relationships with Adam Ant and Eddie Izzard and been best mates with George Michael.
I am sometimes a master criminal that nobody can trace but I'm famous for my diamond heists (I never hurt anyone)
I have 6 children the first of whom I had at 15 to my families dismay but I went on to build an amazing life for us.
I am also the worlds greatest guitarist and song writer, a cross between Adele and Hendrix with a dash of John Lennon.
It's a lovely escape from the strains of everyday life, I just enjoy it.

I am currently a member of the avengers, my boring life is just a cover story

I have several different worlds in my head and it depends on my mood which I visit.
It's interesting as I think DS is developing this as well. He's very imaginative and spends loads of time running around making battle noises. He'll then ramble on at me for ages as to what the various characters are doing. I hope he keeps doing it as long as it makes him happy.

Ah, my people! I'm in my 50s and still doing it. Like others have said, several different scenarios, some historical, some actual, some involving me, some involving me in some kind of disguise, some with totally different characters, some fan fiction.

Don't see it as maladaptive or sad in any way: I have a very interesting job and happy family life; as far as I'm concerned it's just a joy in story-telling. And a stress reliever at times.

Never felt any need to put it out there, as fan-fiction or other fiction; having it to myself is good enough.

What I do wonder very much is what do the non-dreamers think about? All the times when you are not actively talking to other people: in the shower, on the bus, in a boring meeting, dropping off to sleep- surely there is only so much time you can spend thinking about tomorrow's shopping or your plans for the weekend? What goes on in their heads?

If I find myself alone I am often a spy, reporting back to HQ with a description of my surroundings, where my target is and what my next move will be. They are tracking me with GPS and can tell me where I should divert to if danger is coming. Obviously throughout all this I have to stay in character. I'm a natural.

cory: What I do wonder very much is what do the non-dreamers think about?

I wonder too! What is it like to not have a rich inner life? That seems utterly alien to me.

I am rubbish at meditation and emptying my mind of thoughts. My mind positively swirls with thoughts all the time.

Not sure why there is a hyperlink to 'meditation'. I did not put any linky. Pls do not click on it - it goes nowhere anyway, like my thoughts I guess.

Can I join in?
I have been doing this for years and thought I was the only one. I once told a friend and she looked at me like I was completely barmy.
When I was younger I was always imagining I was a famous diva and holding my fantasy concert at Wembley. I imagined the dress i was wearing (black sparkly ball gown- Adele stole my idea) and I was singing all my hits which have all also been stolen now by other people. You thought David Bowie wrote Life on Mars? well you're wrong, it was me!
The crowd love me and I have a band made up of famous musicians.
Madonna is always trying to make friends with me but I snub her (cos obviously I wouldn't be gushing and star struck if I met her in real life!)
A lot of my inspiration comes from TV shows, films and books. I am an avid reader.
I imagine I am an extra sexy character in a show I like. I was in True Detective and had a torrid affair with Matthew McConaghey and gave birth to his child. I have been a spy working with James Bond, saved his life more times than you have had hot dinners.
I have been a sexy but noble political prisoner under house arrest falling in love with Sean Bean who is my jailer but clearly he too is rather noble and hates having to keep me locked up so we decide to escape together and he protects me.
My current favourite stars me and Dominic West. Yum yum!
I don't think I am an introvert but I'm not a total extrovert either. I am not an only child but a youngest after a long gap so maybe that's kind of the same.
I love outlander and made up another version where I am an archaeologist who has been asked to study some human remains found in the cellar of an ancient coaching in. I end up going back in time and realise the gorgeous hunk I meet there is the body in the cellar (you can tell by his unusual sword hilt ) and then I have to try and change the past so he doesn't die there in the cellar.
Real life is so bloody boring I would go mad without this fantasy world.
Oh I also have a fallback one of winning the lottery, I take a tour around my beautiful house and imagine a day in my life.
I agree, solitary confinement would be a doddle to me. I would just go inside my head.

*coaching inn

Yes, I've always done this. I'm very shy and introverted (but not in the lives in my head), and a voracious reader as well. It does get in the way of actually accomplishing stuff, but I'm never bored, and always quite surprised when DH or the DCs complain about boredom: how??

What I do wonder very much is what do the non-dreamers think about?

I asked my DH: he said work. And sometimes what he's going to do with the garden. How dull! I never think about work even when I'm actually at work. I'm a famous artist today instead, it's much more enjoyable.

I'm the same. It does mean i rarely get bored

Oh god I'm so glad it's not just me. It's like a Terry Gilliam film inside my head sometimes. I particularly enjoy my time travel adventures, changing things in the past and imagining what the world would be like now. (Making a few edits to an early draft of the Bible...assassinating Henry VIII...nothing too weird.) These adventures usually stop abruptly when I remember that a big change in the past would likely result in the non-existence of me. There'd be a huge paradox and the fabric of space and time would disintegrate.

So then I just get in a hot tub with Aiden Turner.

I like to think I have "inner resources." I remember studying Jane Austen at school and the teacher saying the character "lacked inner resources "

Do any of you get vivid dreams too and wake up thinking, what the hell was that?
Pretty much every night... Some are quite nice, others downright scary, and some are just plain WTAF?! Wouldn't swap it though!!

Can I be nosey and ask you all what your jobs are? I've been a sahm for years but I'm now thinking I need/want to go back to work part time. I'm totally stuck and don't know what kind of job would suit me. I was a secretary before having children and a nursery nurse before that. Both bored me to tears

It would be interesting to know what my lovely fellow dreamy introverts do!

I'm an introvert who loves reading who has a very interesting and fulfilling imaginary life! As long as I can remember I've done it and can still remember a number of my childhood scenarios. I think I became aware that not everyone did this in my early teens and became quite ashamed of it. I now bloody love an empty day when I can whisk myself off to my daydreams (which, currently feature Eddie Redmayne).