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How to stop imagining fake scenarios and live in reality?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I do not know why but I make a virtual world for myself. I always fake things about myself, tell untrue stories. When I remember people, like my ex-boyfriend, I imagine a conversation between me and him that had never happened and I feel happy. I keep imagining all that I wanted to do but have never done. I talk to people in my mind. I meet them, I see them, I laugh and cry in my mind. I am tired of imagining and failing in everything in real life. I even sometimes imagine the conversations with dead people.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

People use imagination as a defense or escape from reality. Some degree of imagination is alright because it makes us imagine a goal, feeling of happiness, if achieved, hence motivate a person for a target or goal but the use of excessive imagination can lead to wastage of time and serve as a distraction from your real life goals. You can reduce this by giving some aversive stimulation to yourself like a tire rubber band in the hand bullet as much as possible so that you feel pain when you will stop doing this. Set a goal in real life and be passionate about it. Try to achieve it at any cost. If you still find it hard to overcome, then I would advise you to consult a local psychiatrist.

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At March 4, 2019
Reviewed AtMay 6, 2024

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