Since I was about 10 years old, I've always set some time aside daily to listen to music. I would plug in to my walkman or ipod, and just zone. I'd daydream - mostly invent stories in my head, or imagine myself as being popular, or older, or whatever. This was usually accompanied by pacing back and forth in my room - I think better that way.
Recently, my knuckles have been bruising because I brace my hand against my doorframe when I pace. My mother pointed this out to me, and said that she thought that listening to music, daydreaming and pacing were not normal behaviors, and reminded her of OCD.
Worried, I looked online, and found numerous sites where people experience the same zoned-out compulsive pacing, usually accompanied by daydreams and music, that I do - and they all insisted that this was a horrible thing!
However, it's not negatively affecting my life. I can usually go a few days without doing it, if I have to, and I find myself more relaxed afterwards. I'm not depressed or unhappy in any way...
So I guess I'm just asking if anyone else has heard of this weird condition before, or if they've experienced it themselves, or if anyone thinks this might be something more serious than just an overactive imagination?
Thanks,
Tori
Update:Oh, and if this is relevant:
My pacing is usually when my mind is otherwise really active. Sometimes when I'm reading, I have to get up and listen to music for a while, and just process. Other times, it's after watching a really interesting movie, or just when I've had a really full day.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I go through the same stuff, I pace when I listen to music. I don't believe this is OCD. I think its just a way to think in a peaceful way.
Ocd Pacing
I also have this problem; I've suffered with it for many years, right down to the pacing as I daydream. This problem is called Maladaptive Daydreaming. It's a little understood condition that causes obsessive daydreaming. Take a look at this article:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/9089146/Excessive-daydre...
If the person in that article sounds like you, that may be your problem. There is a clinical study for this problem currently ongoing. If you want to be a part of it, email one of the writers of that article at [email protected]. I've participated in that study, and it's easy and confidential.
I don't understand how listening to music and daydreaming are abnormal. Everyone has things they do to decompress. That's like saying someone who likes to take a hot bubble bath to relax has OCD. If it's not interfering with your life, and you are happy as you say, I wouldn't worry about it.
I work with a girl whose mom is Korean and dad is White and she has light brown hair that is wavy and light brown eyes. Her hair and eye color is natural, she was born that way. I always thought that Asian "Super Genes" were so strong that even half asian baby would look Asian but she proved that not to be true. She says even her mom was shocked by the way she looks. She has one younger brother who looks like her and the youngest brother looks 100% Asian. Your baby could very well come out looking like you.
i think that as long as this doesnt affect your life like where you have to do it now or you have to do it so often, but i dont see any harm in it.(: