Incest Survivors Support Group

Incest refers to any sexual activity between closely related persons that is illegal or socially taboo. Consensual adult incest is very rare. Incest between adults and prepubescent or adolescent children is a form of child sexual abuse that has been shown to be one of the most extreme forms of childhood trauma. If you or a loved one is a survivor of incest, join the group...

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Imaginary World

CecilBGreen
CecilBGreen
Does anyone else spend time in their own imaginary life? I have been doing that a lot lately. The quiet, boredom and hurt in my real life suck so much I escape to a different place.

I have done it for years. I started as a child and it is my back up plan for when my life sucks.
My therapist has said I should bring myself back to the present and not stay in there. My imaginary life isn't all rainbows and sunshine. I can get some pretty good dramas out of it.

Maybe I never grew up.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I struggle not to go there so many times a day I count them. But I feel that staying there has prevented me from doing the hard painful work of healing. My imaginary world was crucial to my suvival, but has in adulthood seriously and critically impeeded what should have a good life. The result is that I am 50 and only now willing to face both my past and embrace my future.
CecilBGreen
CecilBGreen
I have to redirect myself every 10 minutes...and that is the longest amount of time I can manage (unless I am working). I hope it gets easier. Thank you Jerimiahsmama....it's good to know I am not the only one....though sorry you are struggling too.
Dragonfly2810
Dragonfly2810
I did the same thing. I don't think it means we have not grown up but I do agree that the imaginary world puts off hard work. sometimes we need the buffer ... I find that I become compulsive about it to get comfort. I have to discipline myself out of the imaginary world.

It's a gift. We are imaginative and it allowed us to cope as children. Now as adults we don't need the same coping mechanisms but we find comfort in relying upon outdated behaviors ... so I think the trick is to keep the gift but avoid allowing the gift to swallow our ability to focus on the present. Be joyful in the present moment is written on my mirror ... I need to see that to remember that joy is available to me now if I focus on present facts.

enjoy some escape time and be good to yourself ...