Creating stories in your head is not a disorder in itself. In fact, it is a common and natural activity for many people. However, the invention of stories can become a mental health disorder if there are problems in the way of establishing social ties and carrying out activities of daily living.
Although fantasies are produced by a large number of people, the crucial thing is to understand the influence they have on the actions they wish to carry out. To dispel the doubts that may arise, it is necessary to have a solid basis and determine the conditions and experiences of each person in order to develop strategies to improve their quality of life. In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about whether creating stories in your head is a disorder.
Is creating stories in your head a disorder?
Create stories It is not necessarily a mental health disorder, since many people have this tendency. However, it is important to differentiate their intensity and interference in order to establish an adequate diagnosis.
In clinical terms, the presence of some indicators may represent a problem of excessive daydreaming or compulsive fantasy. This condition consists of excessive mental activity that is commanded by fantasies, which interferes with contact with other people and life activities.
Diagnostic criteria for excessive daydreaming
Taking the DSM-V as a reference, it is possible to include this pathology within the group of non-substance related disorders. To detect it, a series of diagnostic criteria must be found:
- Persistent and recurrent behavior.
- Recurring thoughts.
- Lack of control.
- Deterioration of social, work and family relationships.
- The alterations cannot be explained by the presence of other mental disorders or the ingestion of toxic substances or medications.
Why do I create so many stories in my head?
The repeated invention of mental scenes may be due to several factors. Below we will explain why you create so many stories in your head:
- Stress: Many people often turn to fantasy as a defense mechanism against reality. In turn, the presence of negatively influences emotions and thoughts. In this sense, the stories represent a significant relief.
- Traumatic experiences: Unpleasant experiences can also have a significant impact on the life of a suffering person. Among the most common situations are sexual abuse, physical attacks, verbal abuse, severe accidents or death of loved ones, among others. Faced with the anguish that occurs, fantasy is an escape.
- Neurological factors: the role of the organism should not be underestimated. The creation of stories is usually linked to intense activity of the central nervous system, which implies an alteration of neuronal circuits. Indeed, the brain releases hormones that can give rise to pleasant or unpleasant sensations.
- Problem resolution: The mind often generates stories as a way of processing and solving problems. It can be a mechanism to consider different solutions or to prepare for future situations.
- Escape and entertainment: Creating stories can be a way to escape from stress or the daily routine. It is like a mental adventure that can provide entertainment and distraction.
- Practice for writing or narration: If you have an interest in writing or storytelling, your mind may be constantly generating stories as a way of practicing and developing your skills.
What happens if you make up stories in your head?
Having an idea about the impact that this type of behavior can have can lead to greater knowledge of the person themselves. For this reason, it is necessary to take into consideration the risks that arise from excessive daydreaming. In this section, we will point out what happens if you make up stories in your head:
- Suffering from other mental disorders: Excessive daydreaming may be an indication that the person suffers from other conditions that deteriorate their life. This can affect the behaviors, thoughts and emotions you have about reality, which negatively alters your vision of the present and the future. In this article you will find the.
- Social isolation: living within fantasies can produce a withdrawal from the social environment. In these cases, the person may choose to cut social ties and avoid situations that involve contact with reality.
- Decline in work and/or academic performance: Given the excess of fictitious stories that persist in the imagination, it can represent poor performance at work and study.
How can I stop creating stories in my mind?
Beyond the complications that come with excessive daydreaming, there are some strategies to mitigate the consequences of this condition. In the next items, we will address how I can stop creating stories in my mind:
- Psychological therapy: Going to a mental health professional provides significant relief, since it allows you to have contact with reality in a pleasant way. In this sense, therapy invites reflection and allows the construction of a future different from the one the patient had created. On the other hand, it is possible to develop tools to cope with anxiety and/or stress situations that arise from stories.
- Carry out recreational activities: Visiting places that are fun and enjoyable can help avoid creating so many stories in your mind. For this reason, it is interesting for the person to question themselves about their interests.
- Psychiatric medication: In serious cases, the provision of psychiatric medications appears as another viable option. They act on the neuronal connections of the central nervous system and generate a relaxation of brain activity. However, it is essential that intake be supervised by a mental health professional.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
Bibliography
- Vázquez-Rivera, S., De la Vega Rodríguez, I., García-Villamor, M., Díaz-Marsá, M., Carrasco-Perera, JL (2020). Excessive daydreaming disorder: Clinical and neuropsychological characteristics of the first case described in Spain. Journal of Clinical Cases in Mental Health, 1 (1), 21-36.