littleoc
MyPTSD Pro
I'm a little afraid to read the comments (sorry) so I'm sorry if this has been said already.
Daydreaming can certainly be a coping mechanism and a form of "clocking out" of reality. I did it for so many years. For example, as a young child, chilling in a cage, I daydreamed to deal with boredom. As an older child, I sat through my father's yelling by daydreamIng. When I got kidnapped (long story, sorry), I daydreamed through the whole thing. I still daydream often.
It's a very common form of coping, I've been told. It's normal in all children, but can become the best way of coping in some people.
I also dissociate, in the most classic definition. My service dog usually steps in right on time to help me out. The feeling is uncomfortable, confusing, and even more involuntary. You might find yourself aggressively trying to block it out, or replace it with other thoughts. It will bother you, and you may even avoid people or places that triggered it.
My point is that because the field of psychology is rather new in its modern form, the definition of dissociation isn't fully understood by professionals yet. However, without a true definition, you might feel you know what a dissociative episode is to you. That's all it takes. You need to know you. If it doesn't feel like a dissociation, then don't worry about it. If it's not messing with your daily life, then don't worry.
If you daydream so much that your work isn't getting done, then worry about it.
And by the way, being absorbed in a book and being annoyed at being interrupted is normal :) Zoning out can also be normal. Know your normals.
Daydreaming can certainly be a coping mechanism and a form of "clocking out" of reality. I did it for so many years. For example, as a young child, chilling in a cage, I daydreamed to deal with boredom. As an older child, I sat through my father's yelling by daydreamIng. When I got kidnapped (long story, sorry), I daydreamed through the whole thing. I still daydream often.
It's a very common form of coping, I've been told. It's normal in all children, but can become the best way of coping in some people.
I also dissociate, in the most classic definition. My service dog usually steps in right on time to help me out. The feeling is uncomfortable, confusing, and even more involuntary. You might find yourself aggressively trying to block it out, or replace it with other thoughts. It will bother you, and you may even avoid people or places that triggered it.
My point is that because the field of psychology is rather new in its modern form, the definition of dissociation isn't fully understood by professionals yet. However, without a true definition, you might feel you know what a dissociative episode is to you. That's all it takes. You need to know you. If it doesn't feel like a dissociation, then don't worry about it. If it's not messing with your daily life, then don't worry.
If you daydream so much that your work isn't getting done, then worry about it.
And by the way, being absorbed in a book and being annoyed at being interrupted is normal :) Zoning out can also be normal. Know your normals.