Hello everyone,

I've been reading many of the posts and I'm extremely happy to have found this place. OK. So now one very embarrassing question to ask.

Do any other inattentive ADDers have intense daydreams? Let me explain. When I was a kid and would play with my GI Joe's or Transformers, I wouldn't play like a normal kid (at least, as I know it). For example, I would take one toy, hold it an inch from my face, close my eyes, squeeze it tightly, and like visualize/fantasize/daydream a movie about that toy.

The thing that gets me is the intesity of these. I know that some theories of ADD have to do with arousal in the brain and I'm just wondering if setting such a high level of arousal as a kid made me develop a brain that needs high arousal (not sexually speaking, just interest in other things).

Anyways, does anyone out there know what I'm talking about? Does this have a name?

Thanks!

I don't know about the whole training of the brian thing, but I too, can get very intense daydreams--usually someone around me will ask what I'm thinking or what's the matter because my face expresses everything. Also, I can sometimes start crying during a bad daydream--even though I know rationally that nothing sad has happened....don't know if this was the type of answer you were looking for.

When I'm driving, I imagine scenario where I'm talking to others people and I move my hand doing it (nothing too dangerous). I'm not aware of that and it's my ex-girlfriend who remarked it.

When I was a kid all my stuffed animals had names and personalities. Every time I'd play with them their personalities would be the same, and I'd have long-running stories that I'd act out with them. I'd do similar things as I got older, too. I had a long-running daydream of being in a rock band, and I even made up a logo for the band and everything.

I have a lot of conversations with people in my head, too. Usually while I'm driving, like Jackinbox mentioned. I think it's partly a daydreaming thing, but partly about having control over conversations. In the daydream version of a conversation I never interrupt anyone or say something stupid or forget what I was about to say, which is nice.

I know exactly what you guys (pardon any gender bias) mean! I have alway had incredibly intense daydreams. My mom does it too (she still won't really admit that she has ADD). We always called it, i think my dad actually coined the term, "spazzing". It's an extremely intense daydream. I actually (especially when younger) make sound effects etc. Its something i can really only do in relative privacy. I actually can physically shake, and i nearly always pace. I've noticed mom actually holds her hand very close to her face while 'spazzing'. Actually, now that i think about it, I hold nearly anything that's my hands and hold it close to my face, my truck keys etc. This is probably my biggest 'problem'; at least as far as time management goes. I can literally spend hours doing this without batting an eye. Its sort of like a creative/ self reflective frenzy. Its essentially a compulsion for me. Is there anything that can help reduce this? I.e. journaling, excercise, or ... idk. I am almost always talking to freinds, studio audiences, etc. when i do this. Medication helps, but it also seems to sort of intensify it (all i want to do is sit, and, without the physical symptoms, think.) I can definitely sympathize with all of you. Does anybody have comments or suggestions?

What you are describing sounds very similar to what I'm talking about. But you and your mom do this in front of other people? Mine is purely for daydreaming in private, like I'm the pitcher in the ninth inning of a game, etc. Usually there is some sort of action/adventure involved.

I'm just trying to figure out if this has a name and is a symptom of something.

I was just wondering-- surely, non-ADDers daydream too!! I mean, if they don't daydream like this, that would explain why we never have time to do anything-- we waste it all in daydreams!!! Funny thing is, I think I'd go insane if I didn't daydream.

SColbear,
I think our case, although a little intense, is what they mean by 'Inattentive' (sp?), or it's certainly a big part of it. I almost never do it in front of other people. I can't help, but be a little embarassed by it. Occassionally someone will come up on me while im doing it etc. That's why my family knows about it. Although they didn't realize the extent of it until i explained it to them (Mom apparently doesn't do it as much as me). We're definitely not the only ones that experience this. In many way's i think its similar to hyperfocus also, but.... IDK.