Anyone else do weird stuff they wouldn't admit to in real life?

[Lorddenning1]

Go easy on me, I know MN can be a hostile time at the minute,,,,
I am currently obsessed with The Handmaids Tale, cant stop watching the series on Prime, and I was lying in the bath having a soak and I started to mimic the lead characters facial movements, and then I though since I have been watching it, I pretend I'm in it, pretending that I am also an oppressed woman and answer to men only etc, is this weird?

I do this with other things like books or other series, it doesn't affect my life, in a crazy way but more like a day dream sort of way and when the kids ask for a snack, i snap out of it. Am I the only weirdo around here, or do have weird things you do that you would never admit to in real life or do I need some professional help :)

And I used to like trying to find my way "blind" too. I was about 13 doing it in the back garden one day (trying to get from the back door, to put some rubbish in the bin at the bottom of the garden with my eyes closed), when I felt like I was being watched, only to find our neighbour staring at me in bewilderment over the fence, he even asked me was I alright. I was embarrassed I never did it again (and my houses have all been too small to be a challenge). I like mazes as well.

*so embarrassed

I have a complete obsession with bubble wrap. I can't resist it and have to pop all the bubbles asap. I get so disappointed when packages arrive without bubble wrap included. I'd wear bubble wrap clothes if I could so I could pop all day long.
DH bought me a 25 metre roll for Christmas one year.

I love science experiments from children's books, especially Usborne books. I like to do them with children, for my fun as much as theirs:

"Volcanoes" from mixing vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
Chromatography: black felt tips on blotting paper, put them in water.
Learning about your nerve endings by having someone poke you with one or two pencils (can you tell if it is one or two, with your eyes closed?).
Directional hearing: can somebody who is blindfolded point at you while you're clapping?
Red cabbage water to test for acids and alkalis.

I when I'm at home by myself I pretend I'm in a room of people and have imaginary conversations. Bloody weird, and I've never told anyone even DH! Been doing it since I was a teen. Guess it's a form of escapism.

At home I make up songs for everything I do. I have a shower song, a getting up song, a washing teeth song, a cooking song.. the list goes on. My kids even know the songs because I sing them so much. The songs evolve over time and I make up new ones. I’m a loon!

I make escape plans in my head. I used to do it when I worked in school; I’d work out where to take my class if someone came into school to try to harm them.

Yep. Every place I go in a make a mental plan of best place to hide or escape in event of attack/fire.

I think more people should be open about these quirks, I need to find more like minded people to be friends with

There's another secrecy game my DH and I like to play: we love to wind each other up by playing "I know something you don't".

Sometimes, my DH paints my nails for me. (Yes, really: I taught him this skill!) He will paint my toenails in a colour of his choice; meanwhile, my eyes are covered until my nails are dry, and hidden inside slippers or shoes. I like having a small mystery about my own body! I'll tease him by threatening to look at them, he'll tell me that a fairy will die if I do.

@SnackRussell

I sometimes gallop up the stairs on all fours, like a pony.

😂😂😂 That's excellent! 😂😂😂

I always thought I was an utter weirdo/possible psychopath as I’d often have thoughts of “I wonder what would happen if I crashed my car into that tree” or “Should I jump off that bridge?”.

Then a few years ago I discovered it’s an actual “thing” with a term and everything: “L’Appel du vide”, or “the call of the void”.

It’s described as “thoughts of self destruction”, though not the same as genuine suicidal thoughts. Research suggests as many as 50% of people experience this feeling.

www.wbur.org/endlessthread/2018/06/29/the-call-of-the-void

If I put shoes on my bare feet, I say goodbye to my toes. I loved wearing shoes without socks at a young age because I liked the way it felt; and I remember noticing how you stop "feeling" it after a few minutes.

Embrace the weirdness!
Most of these aren't really weird, just not socially approved behaviour 😂 But really, as for the facial expressions: what do you think actors do? You might not be getting paid to do it, but it stems from the same place. Same for imagining scenarios, daydreaming or having an internal life - this is exactly what writers do. It seems to be socially acceptable if you're brave enough to do it to an audience or get paid for it. The escape planning is primal, the songs are how we teach and cajole kids every day and intrusive thoughts are scary, but natural.

I was a drama kid and used to write (never published though aside from winning some competitions are a child), so maybe I'm normalising my own weird behaviour 😂
I've also had intrusive thought about jumping on the train tracks - not so much fun!

Yes to the escape plans. I google stuff like how to escape from zip ties when tied to a chair, best way to get out of a car that's underwater, or if you get put in the boot of a car etc.

How to escape if you fall into a frozen lake is another one

Not forgetting zombie survival plan

I imagine driving off bridges and driving into roadworks traffic cones.
When I’m cooking, my ex boyfriends wife is watching me- she’s a hygiene inspector, so I’m always showing her (she’s not there or even aware of me) how I wash my hands after touching raw meat, not double dipping and wiping as I go
I also count the amount of chops I do when I’m cutting veg/salad- in my head though, it would be weird to say it out loud
Oh and I’m the wife of a famous rock star when I’m driving and the staff at my DS’s school are always asking me when he’s going to pick DS up- he never can as he’s always busy making music around the world, but I promise I’ll ask him if he can perform in the school 🙄😂

Oh and accents, I do various regional accents when cooking or cleaning, explaining what I’m doing

I like to wear ear muffs or a beanie hat at home. I just like the way it feels. I have to remember to whip it off if answering the door or on a meeting. 😁 When I'm totally overwhelmed may a few times a year I'll hide in a sleeping bag or put up a small tent and curl in sleeping bag with ear plugs and eye mask. I totally assume this is all me trying to shut the world out sensory wise as I can't handle it all anymore 😁

Sometimes when I ride my bike I pretend I am a witch flying on a broomstick.

I am 46.

Haha @WorryBadger

@MsMeNz that's a good idea, what does your family say when u do this?

@SlipperySlope99 you sound just like me, except I'm married to James Arthur, don't ask

@Lorddenning1 the hat thing doesn't make them blink and I don't do it all the time not much in summer etc too hot for it 😁 but the sleepbag thing I do in my bed room on floor so husband knows if the sleep bag comes then I really am on verge of burnout and they leave me alone with door shut and if the tent comes out same thing really they know it means mummy needs time to self to decompress as I'm upset. Usually a few hours of near total cocooning I call it I feel much better and centered. I'm outdoorsy anyway so sometimes I imagine being in nature while doing it.

If I can’t sleep, I play thunderstorm sounds on my iPad and I lie in bed pretending I’m an abandoned horse who was out in the rain and cold but I’ve just been rescued and bedded down in a warm stable while the storm continues to rage outside.

I think I’ve don3 this ever since I read “For Love of a Horse” by Patricia Leitch when I was 8 years old, which features this exact scenario.