[khalidmbajwa]

I sleep. Its going to sound really weird but over the years i have constructed this alternate reality. A whole universe over the years i have built up in my mind, and whenever i am angry, or depressed, i lie down on a bed, pretend i am in this alternate reality and it helps me relax and slip into a peaceful slumber :)

[algorithmsRcool]

I was a bit surprised to read this, I've been running a story for nearly 20 years now. I greatly attribute this lingering bit of my childhood to my consistent ability to reliably detach from life's problems and enjoy my sleep.

When i was very young i would act out the stories to distract myself from fear of the dark at night before i slept. It had utility in college and high school because i sometimes got tied up in knots of regret if i thought too much at late late hours. In industry, it made a great way to force my brain away from stress and thoughts of work. I just pick up roughly where i left off and play out the story until i am asleep.

[khalidmbajwa]

Wow. I always thought i was the only crazy one around . The reasons you mentioned are exactly the ones for which i have been running a story for so long (Not as long as you though, i started 5 years ago). I weave my personal frustrations, pain points and unfulfilled wishes into this universe and since i control that universe it helps me feel more in control of myself. Another very important aspect of this is that i am extremely hyper-active, and my brain is always, always thinking. Escaping into this world is the only way i know to shut out all the external thoughts and let me my brain loosen up a little.

[tekacs]

And one day you 'wake up' in that reality and struggle to remember if this reality was in fact the dream all along? :)

(in fairness I find it entirely possible to wake up and spend a few moments weeding out the real from a dream)

[PaulHoule]

I just had this dream where I was up in Syracuse and trying to catch this bus and things kept going wrong and when I finally got on the bus I argued with the driver and said I shouldn't have to pay and he kicked me off and then when I got on the next one it went to the wrong place.

In the middle of all this I was waking up and falling back asleep so I knew it was a dream and then I saw my kid running and thought I had to chase after him and some women said, "Just go do what you want" and instead of chasing after him I went and did what I wanted.

[khalidmbajwa]

Haha. I hope its that way, because the alternate reality is pretty cool :P