Bad daydreams?

Ever since I was around 13 (I'm 21 now) I've had pretty vivid daydreams. I just slip into them several times a day, but if I need to be focusing on something I can stop them and am very much in control that way. I've read online that daydreams, in moderation, are healthy and encourage creativity and motivate people to achieve whatever it is they are daydreaming about.

The problem is, while most people daydream about happy things they would like to happen, my daydreams are always sad and sometimes violent. I'm always the victim or friend of the victim, and I personally never do anything violent. Terrible things happen though, people I'm close to die and get hurt, etc.

However, when I come out of the daydreams, for whatever reason I feel better than before I started. Is this really weird? I just started seeing a psychiatrist for relatively severe anxiety issues. I don't know if that's related at all but I figured I'd throw it out there.

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Based on 330 votes (233 yes)
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Comments ( 23 )
  • Kat444

    I do the same thing. I have these daydreams where I'm the tormented heroine, and really bad things happen to me and I just try not to break under the pressure. I think it makes me feel brave. But at the same time kind of vulnerable and sexy, like a strong man could come and save me!

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  • Daydreams and dreams alike give you an outlet for your negative emotions. It's like crying.

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  • qwertycrazy

    Dreams can be a significant way of showing your innermost feelings. It's good that you remember and recognize these dreams because it shows you have no problem facing it.

    Maybe try to think more positively and listen to happier music and see what effect that brings about.

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  • cjwright79

    Your subconscious knows what it's doing. And if you feel better after these daydreams, well so much the better. The idea that dreams are always supposed to be pleasant is wrong. They're useful.

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  • sheenycurse

    i need help on this one

    i sit there and zone out for a few seconds next thing im there stabbing shooting or just doing horrible things to the ones closest 2 me i snap out of it i know how horrible it was yet i sit there and laugh do i require help

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  • NotSoLaky

    i got a similar problem. I get crazy daydreams where i kill people (only in bad situations that make me look like the hero). Also i have daydreams where I get raped abused, put down and they are really depressing. I guess they are just an exaggeration of my emotion i am pretty sensitive sometimes. I have done some research and yes it is somewhat normal. Like theirs nothing wrong with you. Do become a writer, psychologist, musician or something. I am planning to do something like that in the future. Dream on my brother

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    • thrtonscups

      did you have a bad child hood im asking cause i do the same thing but i kinda think some of it comes from my childhood so i was woundering how yours was

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  • kamilion

    i think the reason that you feel better is becuase you have released stress homrones, and there is an inverse relationship in hormones so then a lot of elating hormones are released and you experience a mellow natural high. i think that you just doubt your abilities and control over your life in scary/unknown situations and are very anxious and that is the cause of these daymeres. in reality no one knows what they would do in an emergency and people who brag about how tough/strong they are always full of shit. if this stuff isn't real, why put yourself through it?

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  • littlecupsofgrace

    These are your anxieties and the problem with them is that people get scared of them and push them away. Try finishing your daydreams right to the end; "what would reasonably happen if I..."

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  • Rssngrl

    its normal i have these so much a cant sleep sometimes, just find a hobby like writing you would be good at that

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  • jjj5543

    maybe you have these day dreams to make yourself feel better about the life you have. You feel better afterwards because your life is not like that and you are just picturing what it could be like.

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  • sparrowfeed

    its most certainly linked to the anxiety.
    i usually experience bad dreams when i have anxiety..

    Lol i know what you're going through and YES, take someone's advice--become a writer.

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  • lynamph

    I'm completely sane, though I have daydreams about What If's.. like
    "What if I threw something at her face to make her bleed." and I will completely love the person. It's weird, but I think your daydreaming is normal. :]

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  • landbeyondnoother

    I know this is gonna sound way stupid but you could try to think of a good ending to the daydream, it helps me...

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  • Brenda626

    i do that too... exept different... i have perfectly normal happy daydreams then all the sudden i lose control of my day dream and i do something embarising.... is it normal?

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    • lando45

      I have the exact same problem where i lose control of my daydream and do something embarrassing, I then have to touch back in with reality by saying to someone "what time is it?" or something similar. Have you found out anything else about our problem since you posted last

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  • spyderr

    I have bad daydreams too. I run from people who are trying to commit me to hospital, you know like in those white padded rooms they're all white and the doctors keep you locked up in there because they think you want to kill yourself.

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  • WoahCURRY

    Same problem.
    When I daydream its so horrible
    & depressing,saddening.
    But when I try to think of good,positive
    things it always ends up in the opposite
    direction.

    I have nothing to tell you.
    :

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  • Ledria

    it is so normal.I do it sometimes ,too.

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  • GreyScale

    Become a writer.

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  • MapleSyrup

    agreed

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  • blueberry.icecream.09

    i think u wud b gud as a writer, as im aware tht many gud writers daydream. but, tis normal i think

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  • wachu

    i think you feel good because of what you created in your brains. you should give writing a try

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