Shaking and daydreaming

by Gwen
(Vermont)

I am 55 years old, and I have been shaking my head and body around while daydreaming for as long as I can remember. My mother said I was even doing it in my high chair. No one ever knew why I do it. It feels good to do but sometimes I have felt that it controlled me instead of me controlling it.

Once I asked my daughters Neurologist about it and she said it sounded like obsessive compulsive disorder to her. Someone else that used to be a psychiatrist said she thought I had a mild form of autism. I want to stop it but cant. I only do it when Im alone but if I dont make time to do it each day, I begin to get really stressed out and get upset easily. I wish someone had helped me to try to stop doing it when I was a child, but people just yelled at me to stop shaking if they caught me doing it. I really wish I could stop it. I hope you can help your children somehow so they wont have to spend their whole lives doing it. Gwen

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May 11, 2022
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Is this normal?
by: Anonymous

I do something quite similar. I spin around in my room, listening to music and daydreaming. I often imagine being in different fictional worlds and imagine different characters. My parents have no problem with it and call it somewhat of a quirk. I love doing it and I do it nearly every day. Does anyone else do it too, or something like it. I just want to know that I'm not alone.

Apr 26, 2022
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James 27 UK
by: James 27 UK

Well, this was unexpected. Out of curiosity I've googled this before and found nothing at all - I've been doing this since I was a kid, probably about 7 or 8 but I just took as just another aspect of human peculiarity.

I started swinging around action men in my hands whilst lay in my back - everything I was seeing was almost real, but not - it was deeper than a daydream, a bit like the haziness of night time dreaming, but the sounds in these daydreams were as loud as my inner monologue.

I kept getting caught doing it and people kept commenting on it so I found ways to adapt it to make it less obvious - I'm 27 now, I can only do it when I'm alone. It's progressed from shaking to actively putting pressure on my right cheek with the back of my left hand and my right fist pressing it in. Without the noise of the toy, people never knew I was doing it when I was alone. It becomes particularly intense with music, although I do fall into very intense daydreams with music anyway, I always have - it can drastically affect my mood depending on the song.

For me it's always been an outlet for aggression or violence, I grew up around drug addicts/alcoholics so home was pretty interesting from day to day, I'd presumed I'd developed it as a coping mechanism for this reason. Really, I quite like it, it been really useful for writing and drawing. There have been times where it's been a little all consuming, but all in all it is what it is - it's like anything when used to excess - still it's intriguing to know that there are other people.

Out of interest, is there any link between this behaviour and stress management/childhood trauma? It doesn't change anything, I'll probably never stop, I'm wondering if I may have been correct in my assumption.

Apr 09, 2022
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sharing my SPD history
by: Anonymous

Wow! I am in my 50s and always wondered if there was a name to this. I was one of 9 children, and I loved to go in my own space in the corner, twirling an object in my hand, and daydream. My siblings would sometimes laugh, but also ask me what I was imagining; I made up all kinds of stories in my head. To this day I need an object in my hands when I read or watch tv, and now I am starting to channel my ideas into fiction writing. When autism became more noted, I asked my mom if she thought I was autistic, but she said no, the difference she said was that I could always be re-directed, I socialized well and had lots of friends. I am thrilled to have found this site.

Nov 09, 2021
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Mind blown
by: Anonymous

As a kid I used to daydream while running in circles around my house. But around 9 I switched too fidgeting my hands and scratching the base of my thumb with my fingers. Actually got so bad that I slowly wore away at the skin and drew blood. I would imagine scenarios and stories when ever I spaced off or was alone often embarrassing myself in public.

Now as a 21 year old man I often do it subconsciously when I’m alone and I often find myself speaking out loud when imagining scenarios sometimes when I’m around other people to my dismay.

Oct 29, 2021
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I do this too!!
by: Anonymous

Hi everyone! 17 year old female here. I’ve been doing this too ever since I was little, when I’m alone I sort of run something like my headphone cords or a drawstring from some pants through my hands. When I was littler it was always these strings of beads.

I have super detailed imaginary scenarios and people, and it’s usually not a problem when I’m on my own, but I’m told that sometimes in public and I start thinking about stuff/going back through what just happened in my head and I start shaking which is kind of embarrassing for me (but it shouldn’t be!!) I actually have calluses on the insides of my middle fingers from pressing them together.
It means so much that other people do this!!
Much love <3

Sep 23, 2021
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Not alone
by: Anonymous

I've been living with this condition as long as I can remember it started with my action figures and then using my hands pretending they were characters and shaking to me shaking and sometimes making sounds while I daydream entire scenarios. There's not a day that goes by where I don't do it. But it was hard opening to my mother about it because she's very religious and thinks I could be possessed by a demon. She still supports me and wants to help me cope by supporting my decision to seek therapy.

I know at the end of the day she's just coping herself with having a child with this condition. As an artist however 90% of my ideas characters and stories have come from it. And it's only been recently in my 20 years of age that I've tried to use it as a force for good to create stories and art to share with the world. I only seek to learn how to cope with it better in my personal life.

Aug 31, 2021
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Good to have a label for it now!
by: James

25 year old male here with this "condition" so to speak. Years ago I tried researching what this phenomena was, but I couldn't get a definitive answer or label until just now.

Like most people here, I've had it for as long as I can remember. As a child I'd always "shake" my action figure's legs while playing out some cartoon show/action movie scene/or in most cases, scenes from a video game.

The "scenes" that would play in my head were often completely original from the source material I would draw upon however, and would play out completely on the spot; story and all. Over time, I'd imagine my own fantasy worlds and play out the scenes there.

As an adult I've done this less and less, though as a musician when composing I'll often put the instrument down and do the "shaking" with a drumstick or something similar to help get the daydream flow moving. Through this process, pretty much everything I've ever written had come to me through the help of this "condition" and I couldn't imagine a world where I didn't have it.

Like everything else in life it seems to me that this condition is a double edged sword. If you can make sure it doesn't control your life and you can steer it to your advantage through self-expression, it can be an absolute blessing.

Jun 24, 2021
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This is interesting!
by: Anonymous

Its so wonderful to know there are other people like me! I've always seen my "running around in circles" as a special part of me that allowed me to see a world of my own and fed my creative works. In some ways I still feel that way but I do have concerns. I find myself preferring to daydream rather than work on my art and writing. Same with other important aspects of my life such as relationships and my future goals.

Its an interesting world in my mind but the more time spent there the scarier and harder to deal with is the real world. I'm 21 and some days I love it and never want it to change but other days I feel like its eating my life away. I don't want to get rid of it entirely but find a healthier way to live with it.

Mar 10, 2021
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Join our group
by: Anonymous

Please join our Facebook Group. Adults and Teens With Complex Motor Stereotopies. Here’s a link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/196532617151150/?ref=share

Mar 10, 2021
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Incredible
by: Anonymous

I have been doing this ever since I was a baby. I'm 37 now. I never understood what it was (still don't, really), and even now I've just Googled it because I smashed my finger off the side of a chair while doing it and finally decided to look it up. I had no idea anyone else did it and I can't begin to tell you how much that means. Wow.

Mar 04, 2021
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You're not alone
by: Anonymous

I'm 16 years old, and I've been doing this ever since i was a baby. I always tried to hide it and i still get embarrassed when any of my family catches me doing it. I'm doing it every single day, it's a habit, but i can't control. Only when i try to focus on not doing, but then the experience of the daydreaming isn't the same.

Honestly, finding out that I'm not the only one with this problem brings me so much happiness and it feels nice.

Jan 19, 2021
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Wow.
by: Anonymous

I am 18 years old and wow... i can't believe this..my parents and i have always called it "shaking" because that is exactly what i do. take something wiggly in my hands and run and jump around. now that i am older, i prefer to do it in a fixed way that involves music, and privacy, etc.

this is crazy.. i can't believe other people do this.... i thought it might be a form of maladaptive daydreaming because i get so caught up doing it, it interferes with my actual life, and i use it to escape anxiety, pain and loneliness often... i've done it since before i could talk around 2-3 yrs old, my mom was concerned with me possibly having autism because of this.. it's crazy to see that there are entries as late as a few days ago!! i feel like i'm finally being heard!! this is exciting. <3 i will definitely be back to read some more...

Jan 16, 2021
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You’re not alone! There are many of us.
by: Anonymous

The movements are called Complex Motor Stereotopies and if you also have the daydreaming part of this condition, you also have Intense Imagery Movements. There are a couple of Facebook groups of people with this condition and also for parents of children with CMS/IIM. You owe it to yourself to check them out. You can email me if you want sheila3861@gmail.com.

Jan 14, 2021
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Same here!!
by: Anonymous

I’m 16 and I day dream all the time ! Its kinda like when you see a kid waving their hands in the air pretending to do something. I’ve always done it since I was a kid but now that I’m older it happpens without me even wanting to. (Mostly when I’m alone) but my mom has caught me day dreaming too. I also jump around sometimes , and at times I feel like I’m living in my head.

Oct 26, 2020
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IM NOT ALONEEE
by: Anonymous

I might be the youngest one here. I'm a 14 year old female and im glad to know im not alone I have been dealing with repeated day dreaming since 8 years old but it has started to get worse into me running and jumping around at 13 and my dad has noticed it because he hears me in my room. It's sad because I feel like it's controlling me and I wish I could stop. I never told anyone about it and no one knows I do this because its really embarrassing but im good at controlling it in public though i do shake a bit but no one seems to notice.

Jun 06, 2020
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Not maladaptive daydreaming
by: Anonymous

It’s actually CMS/IIM Complex Motor Stereotopies with Intense Imagery Movements
Please join our group on Facebook. Here is a link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/196532617151150/?ref=share

You’re not alone.

Jun 02, 2020
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Maladaptive Daydreaming
by: Anonymous

This condition is called Maladaptive Daydreaming. Google it and see what comes up.

May 03, 2020
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I'm not alone?!
by: Anonymous

I've been doing this since i can remember. It usually happens when I'm listening to music I like or watching videos that put me in a good mood, I never notice I started doing it until I stop. I'll clasp my hands together and they'll uncontrollably squeezing really tight, my face will scrunch up, and if it's a particularly long 'episode' I'll even start shaking. It's not painful (except for my hands that sometimes ache afterwards and leave red indents of my fingers, or my head aches from being 'focused' for too long), and it sorta feels like I'm daydreaming, I'm not aware of my surroundings. I only ever do this when I'm alone, and if i hear someone coming I immediately snap out of it.

Is there a name or condition this is related to?

Apr 29, 2020
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I jump while I say dream and shake my hands
by: Anonymous

Thought I was alone. I jump while I say dream to the point of my legs hurting and I’m drenched in sweat. I could do it all day if I could, and it’s completely taken over my ability to focus. I can’t stop.

Apr 09, 2020
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I feel relieved
by: Anonymous Dude from Germany

I just discovered this entry.

There are no words to describe the level of relieve I felt once I found this. I’m a 22 y/o male from Germany and me and my younger brother both have this condition. Our parents and some psychiatrist though It could be autism, but I felt that something was odd when I read the description of autism and then found this entry.

I’ve learnt to do this in private after several years and our parents are accepting & loving us the way we are. I personally use to listen to a lot of music with makes me start to feel very happy. To those of you who are around my age and feel like there’s something odd with you and you are different then your friends: You’re not alone! We exist all around the world.

Mar 10, 2020
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Welp! Who knew this was a thing
by: Kemper

I cried from joy and sadness when I found this site, but I am really glad I did. My siblings have teased me about "playing with my hands" since I was a little kid (20 now). I still do it today just not as often. I wonder if this means I have other health issues I didn't know about. I also have many lucid dreams and I wonder if there is a connection between the CMS/IIM and my vivid dreams.

Mar 07, 2020
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I am amused
by: Anonymous

I had this problem since even I don't remember.
I use to do it a lot in my childhood and now I have learned to control it to some point. I only shake my head sometimes at night now a days and most of the time I am just thinking moving around a room. Although I can stop it but still I would be suffering from inside.

Still great to know I am not the only one who is suffering from this.

Feb 28, 2020
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To Contact me and Same Here!
by: Anonymous

It’s called Complex Motor Stereotypes. Sometimes with IIM (Intense Imagery Movements).

There are a couple of Facebook groups. You should send friend requests.

Feb 25, 2020
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Same Here!
by: Anonymous

omg i’m 19 years old and this has been happening to me since I was 1! My parents always thought i was autistic. I’m so embarrassed to do it in front of other so I usually do it when i’m alone. i always used to refer to it as "playing" bc it sends a good sensation throughout my body. my hands shake violently and i make a weird face but it’s uncontrollable. i stop whenever i hear someone walking towards the room i’m in. i’m glad to know it’s now just me. does anyone know what this is called and why it’s happening???

Feb 18, 2020
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Contact me
by: Anonymous

If you see this, I would love to talk to someone about it.

Contact me on Instagram - @the_real_rubix

2/18/2020

Feb 18, 2020
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I am not alone?
by: Anonymous

I have been doing this sence I was about 1. I thought I was the only person in the world. I never told anyone and I was scared of people seeing me. When I was younger I would go outside to daydream because I loved daydreaming, and I would zhake my hands, arms, fingers, toes, head and pase around. I would make sounds with my mouth and several times people called my parents because they saw me and thought I was having a seizure. I am elated to find that I am not alone. I still do this to this day. I can't help it and it feels good. I still think there's something wrong with me... But thank God I'm not alone.

Feb 03, 2020
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Hi
by: Anonymous

Wow Im a teen and this was a problem since I was 1 years old. My parents would take me to a doctors and none of them would know what happened to me, now that I know what it is I can try and stop doing it.

Jan 28, 2020
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yes
by: Lia

Yes I relate to everything the comments are saying! I’ve learned to control it a bit because when i was little my mom would force my to stop. However, when i’m alone i do it a lot. It has to do with genetics because my dad and brother have this as well. Music definitely helps with if.

Dec 18, 2019
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Skipping, Jumping, Running
by: Anonymous

I thought I was the only one. I used to get lost in daydreams as a teen which would make me skip, jump and run through the house. I used to get hurt all the time because of it. I tried really hard to stop because I was embarrassed and terrified for others to see me doing that. Because not only did it make me run, jump and skip it also would make me cry, laugh, be angry or scared. Even to this day it randomly happens not as much as when I was a teen though.

I always wondered about it so I looked it up and found this site. Im glad im not the only one.

Oct 14, 2019
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I'm amazed
by: Anónimo

Wow this is crazy! I have been doing it for most of life and just now thought of googling it. I just started jumping while visualizing some action scenes (I was watching a movie in Netflix and it stopped loading because of bad connection so I started daydreaming about it). Then something clicked and stopped and thought "why the hell have I never googled this?!"

Anyways, I hope sharing a bit of my story helps someone else. This has never impaired the regular course of my life. I can even say that despite facing traumatic psychological abuse in my teenage years I turned out pretty well! My relationships and professional success are something that honestly surprise me. Nevertheless, bullying was part of the abuse I faced and it was partly caused by me being "odd" at school. I was "odd" mostly because of the untreated depression that followed trouble at home (my parents had a terrible divorce process).

Anyways, I have always been a bit "different": strongly introverted, imaginative, etc. and my early life taught me to be a loner so I mostly sucked at socializing. All I can say with parents of children with such "issues" is that they shouldn't make them feel like they are sick or strange. All the opposite! My "oddity" has helped me excel in jobs and I did well in college without even trying that hard, honestly. Reading fantasy novels was a big thing for me so, if I could give some advice to my parents when I was a teenager I would say:

"Buy that kid all the books he wants and sign him up for writing lessons!" I geeked out on action so martial arts was a thing I discovered in college, I wish my parents had signed me up for those way earlier (if your kid loves action I'd recommend muaythai, kickboxing or BJJ).

I guess the point I'm trying to make is make your kid feel special, make yourself feel special because you are! Those quirky things are what make us who we are. Enjoy and use them to improve your skills, you may have the potential to be an awesome musician, a poet, an actor, who knows?!

Oct 09, 2019
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Shaking and daydreaming
by: Anonymous

First of all, I just found out I have autism at 45 and I'm now 48.

But as a child, I would imagine a make believe world and my hands would rub together with a blade of grass or a shoe string and my head would shake as I imagined the pretend world.

It always felt like it was a way to relieve stress so no big deal.

Now that I'm almost 50 and still do it, I am worried that I might give myself a stroke or heart attack. But it is hard to break a 45 year habit.

Oct 06, 2019
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24 year old
by: Anonymous

I am so glad I’m not the only one this happens to. I am 24 years old and this started happening to me when I was around 22. I want to know what causes this and if there’s a cure? Maybe it’s trauma or PTSD related? I have hurt myself many times doing it, my neck and head often ache because of the shaking of head and I always bang my hand into things whilst shaking my hand. I just pray no one sees me doing it one day. Pls help if you have any more info on this and if I can get any therapy or treatment to make it better.

Sep 27, 2019
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Thank God I'm not the only one
by: Anonymous

I'm a 16 year old female, and I also do exactly what you said. I've always assumed that I have some sort of mental disorder/illness, so I was like "ok, whatever," but I didn't realize how much it was affecting me physically and emotionally until now. Idk what it is or why I do it.

I've been doing it for as long as I can remember, the while hand flapping and making noises. Listening to music makes it more enjoyable, but when I finish doing it, I feel extremely guilty and insecure about myself. I was thinking that it might possibly be genetic but my mom or dad haven't said anything about it so idk. I also kinda went through like a lot of trauma when I was younger so that might be an explanation lmao.

Anyways it's nice to know that I'm not alone, thank you for posting this:)

Sep 18, 2019
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Me too
by: Anonymous

I’m 20 years of age, I’ve always wondered what this is, I’ve always done it... as far back as I can remember I’ve always done it. Daydreams feel very, very real. I sometimes bite the inside of my cheek & squeeze my hands together. I stopped for a few years because a lot of people would often laugh at me. I’ve recently began doing it again, interested to find out more. I’ve also been told I pull funny faces whenever I do it, I completely lose control though, until the point of when somebody is actually looking at me I’ll stop.

Sep 10, 2019
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FINALLY!
by: Anonymous

OMG!
I'm a 56 year old woman, and thought it must be some slight variation of autism. What a relief to find this posting!

I would use a toy in front of my face, sit in a chair, always hiding my face from others and make brrr sounds, with my cheeks full, and holding my breath. My mind would go off to a scenario where I could be anything. A superhero, a cowboy...it didn't matter what. Or reply something that happened real life, and how I would handle it. Some good - and some angry.

It definitely was Complex Motor Sterotypies(CMS) with Intense Imagery Movements (IMM).

My son definitely has it...when he was little, he was hand flapping, looking down, and spinning in a circle when he was excited and telling me something, he would make the brrrr sound while doing this. I never made a big deal. There's nothing wrong with his brain or his social skills or education level.

So parents...do NOT let teachers, doctors, try to label your child in a negative way, or put them on drugs. It has no ill affect.

It DOES NOT GO AWAY...as adults we learn to hide it, because of the embarrassment. It may occur less often than when you were a child. Probably because we snap ourselves out of it in public places.

https://cmotorstereotypy.wordpress.com/

https://complexmotorstereotypy.weebly.com/

Aug 23, 2019
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I have the same thing!
by: Anonymous

I’m a 17 (almost 18) y.o. female with the same type of thing. I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I create scenarios in my head and flap my hands with excitement and/or clench my teeth really hard. Other times I do these same movements simply when something excites me. My mom tells me that she remembers seeing me "flapping" my hands on the soccer field when I was young and in other places. It’s so strange. It relieves a lot of stress and when I don’t do it for awhile, it’s like the stress builds up. I remember seeing my dad doing the same type of thing before he passed away.

Jul 19, 2019
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Join FB Group for interactive discussion
by: Anonymous

You should join the Facebook group Adults And Teenagers With Complex Motor Stereotopies. There are some others but this is a good place to start.

Jul 18, 2019
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I am not the only one!
by: Anonymous

I feel so stupid every time I daydream and vigorously shake my fingers. I can vaguely remember the first day I started doing this thing.

I was probably around six years old, and I running on a narrow platform which might be two to three feet in height, and I tripped and fell on my head. It wasn't a serious injury, but I think after that accident, I started doing this thing.

In the first few days of this disorder, I remember reading some kids book about different animals like bears, cats, pigs, etc living like humans, and while reading the book, I started imagining myself living with them. However, while imagining, I lost control of my body, and I crossed the index and middle finger of both my hands and I started moving my fingers inwards and outwards.

This thing kept getting worse and worse as time progressed. I would imagine myself in cartoon shows, movies, and sports. I would imagine myself as a superhero or a super athlete, and I started doing this thing anywhere I could find isolation.

I also started doing this thing around my parents whenever I felt they aren't looking at me, or they have their back against me. I got caught by my parents and my elder brother doing this thing many times, but they would just make remarks like, "what are you doing?" and just laugh at me. I wasted a lot of time doing this thing, and it even affected me academically because I was wasting most of the time doing the thing instead of studying.

I am almost 25 years old now, and I still get the urge to do the thing whenever I watch a movie or a sport like MMA or boxing. However, I don't move my fingers anymore. I squeeze my left-hand fingers with the right hand, and I put my arms over my head as if I am yawning. I don't know how to stop doing this thing. However, I now feel hopeful that I found this form, and I feel a strong urge to do the thing because I am imaging that somehow this form could contribute to finding a cure.

Jun 28, 2019
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Me too
by: Anonymous

I decided to Google my strange habit today and was amazed to find this website. I am a 56 year old woman and this sounds very like what I have been doing for as long as I can remember. As a child my family just laughed about it and called it my "flapping" when I would either flap my hands and walk or jump around when I was excited about something. I often picked something up to "flap" with, like a pencil, stick or even a coat hanger. Even now, it is something I still do in secret, while I go into imagining a situation or scenario.

Not sure if this is the "condition" I actually have or something similar, but it is amazing to discover I am not the only person in the world who does this type of thing!

Jun 25, 2019
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Statistics?
by: Anonymous

Was relieved to know I wasn’t the only one. I’ve spent at least 54 yrs wondering what this was, what caused it, was I the only one, what’s wriong with me? I would like be to know if there are any statistics at all as to how many people have this condition. Wish there were studies done to explain this. Someone please present this to a research hospital. John Hopkins? Maybe the Mayo Clinic? Vanderbilt?

Jun 25, 2019
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Hi
by: Anonymous

Hi, I’m a almost 15 year old male. I do stuff like said in the other comments and I also thought I was the only one in the world who did it. I have been doing it every since I could remember and today I decided to search it to see if anyone else did similar things. So pretty much, I feel that I HAVE to be alone when I do it and I just kinda shake my hands and kind of do a slight jump or just go on my tippy toes and back down (which over all the years has caused my calves super muscular.) anyways I kind of go into a vivid imaginary world where I imagine things that I wish I could do like play in the NFL or something like that, or fight in wars in made up battles in my head.

I feel like I have to do it, I really only do it when I’m bored and if I really feel like I have to. I would call it an addiction I guess. When I haven’t done it in a little bit then I feel like cravings that I want to do it and when I do it, the cravings go away. My parents and siblings tell me to stop "jumping" in my house we call it "jumping up and down". And it’s just a normal thing I do in the house. But they always yell at me and tell me to stop and then reference my age saying I’m too old to be doing it.

But they don’t know what it is and until today neither did I. I always kind of figured I had some kind of mental disorder but didn’t know exactly what. I don’t know what my parents think it is but I would be too embarrassed to talk to them or anybody else about it. Honestly I want to stop, but I find myself bored a lot and want to do it more. I believe the most I’ve gone is 6 or so days of not doing it and it was really hard but I can’t just stop. Nobody else but my family knows about it. I really only do it in places that are private and that I’m comfortable with, like my room or my bathroom.

I used to do it on the toilet by I would pretty much break the toilet so I stopped doing it on the toilet and just do it next to the toilet. Sometimes I do it while sitting in a chair in my room which I noticed creates less noise. Also how rare is this? Is there some kind of estimate of how many people do this in the world? I would be interested to know how many people do it. Anyways

I guess it’s nice to know what kind of mental issue I have and that other people do it.

May 13, 2019
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jumping and shaking daydreamers
by: Mike Luck

Further to the post of 17 March: I have researched maladaptive daydreaming and complex motor stereopy with intense imagery movement, and there is no doubt that I have the latter!
There is a community on facebook of others with the disorder.
The Facebook page is :Adults and Teenagers with Motor Stereotypies

Their website setting out the condition can be found here https://complexmotorstereotypy.weebly.com/

Read the descriptions of CMS and IIM.

I hope this is a step on the road to answers.

The condition is most commonly described in children, and only very recently has the penny dropped that this follows many of us for life.
It is in the nature of this condition that we are embarrassed by it and thus secretive about it.
Do yourselves a favor and check it out.
Feel free to contact me on FB as well. ( if you put Cape Town in the search next to my name that`s me)

Apr 30, 2019
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Additional Comments
by: Anonymous

I originally made a comment to this post on March 17th. I did some research on both maladaptive daydreaming as well as autism motor stereotypies with intense imagery movement as mentioned by another contributor below. After reading about both of them I believe that I have maladaptive daydreaming. I believe it more closely describes what I experienced. I shook my hands way into adulthood in fact I only completely stopped about 6 years ago. Like I said I can still slip into very Vivid Daydream scenarios but I limit them and do not shake my hands. I usually will sit and rub my hands on my legs or rub my hands together like I'm trying to warm them.

To the person who commented most recently, I understand how alone and dysfunctional you probably felt as a child. While my parents never physically beat me because of this I still was made to feel like something was really wrong with me. It's a shame that we all have spent most of our Lives feeling like we are the only ones and that something is seriously wrong with us mentally. I kept thinking that how can I be the only person out of the billions of people in the world and it turns out I'm not alone and that such a relief.

Thanks again to the person who originally started this post you have no idea how at peace you have made me feel and I'm sure others who are reading this. I consider you a blessing.

Apr 26, 2019
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I thought I was alone.
by: Anonymous

I’m 58 yrs old woman and can’t remember a time in my life that I didn’t do this. I thought I was the only person on earth that did this. My mouth will open wide and I clench my fists. I completely zone out in a imaginary world. I will walk in circles and I can’t completely control this.

I have to be alone. I hide from the world like everyone else that I’ve read about here. My mother would slap my face or beat me when she would find me doing this when I was a child. She treated me as if I were evil and I’ve always wondered if maybe I was? I don’t like being different and wasting so much time. I wish I could stop but I can’t. It does seem to relieve some of the anxiety I have (which is a lot) but leaves me really tired. I don’t know if it’s hereditary or not but thankfully my 2 sons ages 39 and 34 have never displayed any problem nor have my grandchildren.

I’m so thankful for this. No siblings. I can’t believe I actually found this site. Thank you God! I’m not alone.

Apr 24, 2019
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That's so funny
by: denki

I literally just shook my hands moments ago, caught myself doing it, laughed a little and decided to google this thing for the first time ever. I never even thought about this stuff before, I thought I was just weird or something lmao. I used to take my hands or fingers and smash them against each other when I was little, imagining some sort of intense battle between made-up characters. I'd shake my hands a whole lot while daydreaming about knights and dragons and other things little kids fantasize about. My older brother always made fun of me, but it was never anything abusive.

I had some form of tourette's at around 10 or 11, but it went away. I always tied these strange daydreaming movements to my tourette's. Though I don't feel the need to say stuff out loud anymore, I do sometimes feel the urge to make unnecessary movements with my hands and arms. I don't ever do that stuff when people are standing around because they'll literally think I'm retarded rofl, but sometimes I'll lose myself in a momentary daydream and start to move my fingers and hands for no reason.

This has been happening since I was very young. I am 21 at the time of writing this. I thought it was funny that all these people had the same nonsense happen to them lol.

Mar 20, 2019
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Complex Stereotypies
by: Anonymous

My daughter does what you are all talking about and it is called complex non-autism motor stereotypies with intense imagery movement (IIM). John Hopkins is doing research on it. You can check out their link as well as some really helpful FB pages where people are gathering to talk and support each other.

A neurologist can diagnose it. But after you read about it you will probably self diagnose too. You are not alone and nothing is wrong with you. You are in fact gifted!

Mar 17, 2019
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I'm Not Alone-Thank You!
by: Anonymous

First of all, I want to say thank you so much to the person who instigated this page and all of you who have made comments. I am 53 years old, and have been maladaptive daydreaming since early childhood. Of course, I never knew the term for this until I Googled the right set of terms two days ago. I don't know where to even begin.

Up until a few years ago, I would shake both my hands and pace while daydreaming in the same fashion as others have described. When I was young, I had very low self esteem due to bullying and teasing because of my glasses and short hair. I always imaged I was someone else in my daydreams. I'm not sure when exactly I began doing this, 4 or 5 years old I think, but my immediate family knew and one of my friends. When a babysitter noticed it around the age of 6 or 7, she reported to my parents. I suspect I looked like an out of control orchestra conductor. I think that is what prompted my parents to have me go for blood test to see what was wrong with me. I am sure they were baffled as to why I did this but seemed "normal" otherwise. The blood test obviously didn't reveal anything.

I always felt guilty and ashamed. With each milestone birthday I would vow to quit but never could for very long. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that I forced myself to completely stop shaking my hands. I had already reduced it quite a bit, and only when I was home alone. The fear of being caught or spied on unknowingly terrified me. I still slip into this type of daydream for a just a few minutes a few times a week, but I either clench my fist or I will just rub my hands together like I am trying to warm them.

I feel as if I have wasted so much time over the course of my life daydreaming, when I should have been focusing on more productive things. I have always wondering how I could possibly be the only person out of billions who does this, but up until now, I could never find out anything about it. I definitely notice that watching certain upsetting movies or shows is a trigger for me. I have tried to reduce my maladaptive daydreams because I realized my dream scenarios were confrontational in nature, whether about a movie, or real life. I noticed my heart rate would increase and my face would get really red, and I would be sweating. I am sure my blood pressure was increased. When I begin to slip into this type of daydream I force myself to stop by leaving the room and being around my family. I now try to reserve my daydreaming to more pleasant visualizations of places I would like to be or situations I would like to be in, like sitting on a beach somewhere. More of a brief mediation of where I would like to go.

Like all of you, I felt very alone in this.Like I had some type of unknown mental illness. I have even thought about getting hypnotized to see if there was some event that traumatized me that I don't remember. If you search for maladaptive daydreaming on the web, it looks like there has been some research done but still many unanswered questions.

So nice to know I am not alone.

Feb 08, 2019
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My fellow shaking daydreamers!
by: Mike Luck

Hi everybody. I think for most of us shaking and jumping daydreamers this is the first time and place that we have found other people like us!

There really should be a forum so that we can connect and share info and resources, but there isn`t.

I think that is a great pity. The bulk of this site seems to be aimed at parents of children with SPD rather than us adults.

If any of you fellow shaking daydreamers have any ideas about how we can communicate online then please lets hear them.

Feb 04, 2019
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I'm not the only one....
by: Nick B.

Hello. I am glad I randomly found this online. I am 25, and I've been doing this as long as I've know. It used to be whenever I was in school I would shake almost violently back then. As I grew up my mother hated this about me. She thought there was something mentally wrong with me. Even to the point where she would hard core bully me about it. It was never nice, and It made me hate myself.

It would always feel good to me though. I would shake because I guess I was either bored, or I did not like school. Growing up it turned into I would only shake when listening to music. Now being 25 I still do it. Thankfully my Fiance does not think anything of it. She knows its something I do, and it does not seem to bother her.

When I find a song that I like, I sit down, usually cross my legs and close my eyes. I then daydream about stories in my head, and shake to the music. Its usually just my lower torso and legs that shake. I also shake a lot when I'm upset. I shake my whole body then. Sometimes I do it too much and it makes me dizzy or feel sick. Sometimes, like now sitting here typing this out, I and just shaking my head and listening to music.

Its always some part of my body that needs to shake. I don't have anything wrong with me. I just shake. It makes me feel better when I can just listen to music, close my eyes, shake and think about my stories and other worlds. Its fun and makes me feel better.

I have an 8 month old son now. If he grows up doing the same thing I wonder if its genetics. I have never talked to an official because I'm scared of doctors and such. If he ends up shaking like me however, I will fully accept it and let him do it. I understand why.

I also have very bad anxiety. That may tie into all this.

I'm glad I found this. Thank you....

Jan 21, 2019
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Im not the only one, thanks god
by: peter mans

i can relate to every single one of you.
i always thought about it and until when it can last and if its gonna affect my childrens life.
i do that too since i was 5 and now im 22 and still doing so.

i realised that music increase it, and even makes it better

i always used to go find somewhere private so i can imagine myself into heroic acts and scenes, and winning arguments and situation.

i was always mocked for it until i understood that i should hide it.

my parents even knew it and took me to a neurologist which was useless and couldn't understand this and now finding myself in this page is a blessing to be honest im really happy that i found you guys.

i am a med student and im gonna go more deep into this and try to help you all figure everything about this phenomenon <3

Jan 10, 2019
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Jumping and daydreaming
by: Anonymous

This is the first time I've found somethings I could relate too. I've been daydreaming and jumping since one As 7 or 8, I'm now 31.. I've hid this from family and friends. It helps release stress. I often do it to relive and correct past event. I've bumped into furniture and hurt myself while doing it. I've tried stopping several times but i always go back.. I just can't resist the urge to do it, especially when I'm upset or excited. Is there any diagnosis for this?

Dec 27, 2018
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I found this
by: Anonymous

Hi, I have been doing the same thing my entire life. My family always noticed and thought it was cute at the way I would make faces because I was so excited. I get so excited or into a day dream that I don't notice I'm doing it or what is going on around me. It used to be my whole body would shake and my hands would twitch.

But since I still am in school I often day dream and it would be very embarrassing if someone saw that, so I found a way for my leg to bounce while my hands shake and not my entire body. The top of my nails of my middle finger and ring finger of both hands tap together and my leg
Bounces when I'm getting too excited. But I also realized I hold my breath and my heart starts to race fast. Or it will happen when I am sitting there trying to think, which makes tests incredibly difficult to finish in time. Because I'll get distracted by the shaking that I'll lose track of time.

I have never really been embarrassed of it until I realize my whole body is shaking and I'm making a face while someone is looking at me, in those moments I pretend nothing happened or explain it to them.

I've noticed behaviors like this in my one year old cousin, he will be watching his movie and begin to shake uncontrollably. I was looking it up to see if I could find what it is or link it so something and I found this place. I always thought maybe the day dreaming and the excessive movements were symptoms of ADHD.

Nov 26, 2018
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So glad I found this page!
by: Anonymous

Hey there, guys and girls! I’ve stumbled upon this page yesterday and it intrigued me so much that I’ve read almost every comment on here. From what I’ve read, it looks like I’m dealing with something similar.

Since my childhood between ages 8-10 maybe 11, I’ve noticed it happening. I don’t remember how often I had the "urge" to phase out into my daydreams but I do remember getting caught by my Grandma one time. We passed it as "working out". After that, I’ve been doing it here and there in the privacy of my home and didn’t pay much attention to it.

Now, I am a 28 year old male, working on building my future and possibly starting my own family. Which is why it kinda made me question this behavior. I’ve never spoken to anyone about this before for obvious reasons. But what really made me share my story here, is that I don’t want these experiences I’m having to jeopardize my future or even ruin my life.

Now that we got the introduction out of the way, here my experience.. So with me it started with video games and cartoons when I a child mixed with reality. That was back then. Now, it’s more reality mixed in with a series of movies I’ve watched before and the whole daydream is based mostly on reality and maybe things I’d like to accomplish. I try to draw a line as much as I can, I hope that makes sense. I don’t have imaginary characters but in my dream the "characters" are real people I that know or interacted in real life. Sometimes, these daydreams include situations from the past or me reliving it and make it better.

When I get the "urge" to act on it, meaning (for me) I notice moving my arms and hands around, walking back and forth in a fast pace/runnning and at times I wouldn’t say I jump but I do get on my toes for a quick second. For those several minutes I forget about reality that’s in front of me and phase out into world I created or a situation that is taking place. This usually happens when I listen to music. I enjoy listening to music in general. Always have my headphones on if I’m trying to relax or taking a walk somewhere, or even in the car. Also, different genre of music can slightly change the situation in my daydreams.

While all of this is happening, I get an adrenaline rush and some sort of satisfaction out of it. At times I try to forcefully stop and maybe do something else. Change the situation I’m in, in reality. For example if I’m home alone and get the urge to "daydream" I would find something to get myself busy with. I can’t say it always works but for me it’s worth a try. My take on this is, If I can snap out of it at a point in time, I can try and maybe modify how I go about if or when I feel that "urge".

I found that taking a long walk with my headphones on or even going to the gym and doing cardi for a long period of time helps with this. I can phase out into my dream but still keep in mind that I’m at a public place so I don’t engage into the "weird act" if I may. Also, after the workout, jog or cardio, I still get some sort of satisfaction. It may not be the same kind of satisfaction that I’d get from phasing into my daydreams but it helps me feel better about myself, I guess. And there’s also a bonus to this, when I get tired I don’t feel the "urge" to go into my daydreams and get into the "act".

Lastly, I want to wish everyone on here a better way to cope with this and hopefully it goes away on its own or someone finds a better solution to this. For me, it’s been a good experience to share and I have to say it kind of made me feel a bit better. I honestly thought that I was the only one with this special "gift" until I stumbled upon this page. I really wish there was a better way for us to communicate with people like us.

Also, to the girl that was afraid of her daydreams, in the recent comments.. Have you tried taking a long walk while listening to music? If you can snap out of it at any time and without exposing yourself to the public, try it. While you are walking or jogging, it should somewhat satisfy the urge to do whatever your daydreams make you do. For me I can walk for hours until I get tired.

Anyone is welcome to use my way of kind of dealing with this. Hope it helps guys!

Nov 03, 2018
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This thread is the first place I have found others like me
by: Mike Luck

Hi, it`s Mike again.

This thread is the first place I have found people exactly like me who have jumping, shaking intense daydreams!

How do we connect with each other to find out about the condition and resources available?

There is no contact for admins and my previous letter to them was unanswered.

Oct 16, 2018
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I feel scared
by: Anonymous

I know I have maladaptive daydreaming issue and I also flutter my hands every time I get lost in my imagination. I have characrers made in my head. They are just in head and I know they're not real but I feel scared what if someday they force me to enact them? I think I can control daydreaming buT what if the character demands it? Please help
I'm a 23 year old female.

Sep 30, 2018
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Me too
by: Mike Luck

Wow! Gwen, I am SO relieved to hear there is another person like me!
I am also 55 and have also been doing it since I was a baby.
I have daydreams that I get totally immersed in and jump up and down and become a bit manic I suppose.

Even where it`s inappropriate, like at work, I will have exciting daydreams that run away with me and I will bite my finger and even have facial twitches etc.

I have spent hours researching online and I am pretty sure I am not bipolar or psychotic!

When I read your piece it was totally a EUREKA! moment for me. Thank you!!!

Sep 24, 2018
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Me too...
by: Anonymous

I'm a 15 year old girl in year 11(secondary school in uk) and I have been doing this for as long as I remember. I've always had an overactive imagination and when I was about 8 or 9 i started standing on tiptoes, shaking hands and leaving my mouth open as if I'm stretching upwards.This happened whenever I daydreamed.

When my parents told I didn't believe them, i knew I lost track of reality when in my dreamworld but I wasn't aware i was doing so. Then they showed me a video proving it.

Since then I have tried to control it, when I'm with family i tend to be comfortable pacing around whilst in thought and might make a noise or two. In public i just tap my hands and try hard not to show it when i daydream.

But to this day whenever I'm alone i put on music (enhances the daydream) and jump crazily and I feel a good rush of adrenalin as I imagine a scenario including me or not with all types of genres. It's good to hear i wasn't the only one and weird like my brother said to me one day when he caught me doing it.

Aug 09, 2018
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Gift thats lost
by: Nicholas

I know some of you dont want this but i feel it is a gift and believe it helps me think and be happy. But recently I have stopped doing it and i want to keep doing it.

Do any of you know how to continue to use this mental feature?

Aug 05, 2018
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Shaking while fantasising
by: Indie Kairies

This is so crazy to see that others do this too. I'm a 16-year-old female living in Australia and have been doing this since I was a child when my Father would call me a 'kickin' chicken'.

While I'm in the midst of a vivid fantasy (whether it be good or bad), I find myself subconsciously falling into this state where muscles from all part of my body would appear to be in spasms.

When I was at the age of 8-11, I'd sit on the couch for an hour sometimes just shaking my body (wiggling legs, wiggling fingers etc) whilst listening to music and, of course, daydreaming.

My parents are aware that I've been doing this all my life but it has never been as an issue to them. They have not questioned it but have instead accepted it as a 'quirk'.

I am able to daydream without shaking my body but my fantasies are not nearly as vivid. I also shake n daydream whilst walking (at high speed) and swinging on my swing. If I don't do it at least once a day, I start to crave it, like an itch that is demanding to be scratched.

I have started to question myself though as I have found a way to momentarily boost my self-esteem whilst fantasizing. Example, I will imagine myself saying something particularly eccentric and having my peers admire me for it, it does wear me down if I do it too much.

Jul 19, 2018
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Moving my hands
by: Anonymous

This comment thread is probably the closest thing I've seen to my own experience.

For as long as I could remember, since early, early childhood, any time I would imagine something vividly, I would almost go into something that looked like a trance. I would flap my hands really hard and my would stare off into space while I would experience whatever I was imagining. I both have control and no control over it; I start it not on purpose, but if I hear someone coming nearby, I quickly snap out of it.

I only do it when I'm alone because I know it doesn't look "normal" and would probably raise concern to people who don't know better. I can daydream without flapping my hands, but it's definitely not as vivid. I don't know why I do it (maybe it's part of my ADHD??), all I know is that I have for a very long time and it's reassuring to see it's not just me.

Jul 12, 2018
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Glad to Have Found This
by: Anonymous

I am so grateful to have found this, because I am 19 years old and have had this for as long as I can remember.

It's not something that I HAVE to do, but when I'm by myself it's something that I do a lot because the imagery is so real feeling. I can imagine myself in any scenario and it feels vivid and real, but it's accompanied by my hands shaking and needing to twirl something, such as a pen or anything like that.

I broke the habit when I was in middle school because I lost the pen that I would normally use, and for me if I don't have something specific in my hands the daydreaming is not as vivid; I need the physical stimuli of something being in my hand. Thankfully though that experience allowed me to break my habit, however I have recently begun doing it again, however now it's not controlling me in the sense that I have the urge to do it, I just do it because it's a nice form of escapism from the stress of university and my job.

When I'm with friends though or staying away from home I don't feel like I'm missing it or that I need to get away and have a session, but whenever I do have private time where I won't be seen I do let myself give into it.

I'm so incredibly embarrassed by it that it's amazing other people have the same condition; I didn't even know what to google search to find this.

Jun 13, 2018
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What causes this behavior?
by: Anonymous

I have the same problem too. I am 18 years old and have done this since middle school. When ever I’m imagining scenarios of me somewhere like in a movie I have this urge to jump up and down also. My twin sister does the same thing and I thought it was just us who only done this. Seeing that I’m not the onlly one makes me feel reassured that this is common.🙂

Jun 12, 2018
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Daydreaming - in a trance - Jumping2x
by: Anonymous

I am 32 years old, female. Been daydreaming since little. The jumping started when I was in Middle/High school. I have this urge to jump whenever I listen to music (love to distress this way) and sometimes tvshows gets me excited.

So, basically I created a scenario in my head and I would get into a trance/high whereby I would jump up and down. The more exciting the plot of the movie in my head, the more satisfying it becomes-and higher the jumping goes. My parents would/still always complain of the loud thuds and thumps. At times, as much as I try to avoid jumping, my conscious mind blacks out and I woke up jumping in midair. It's so satisfying that it is so hard to stop. It's like A RUSH OF ADRENALINE AND DOPAMINE all at the same time.

It's good to know I'm not the only one with this weird behaviour or disorder.

May 13, 2018
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Shaking objects
by: Anonymous

These comments are the closest thing I’ve found to what I do so far. I’m 38 and ever since I was a kid I would vigorously shake an object. It would usually be a stick or sometimes a plastic hanger. It has to feel right. Spatulas are perfect.

So anyways what I do is sit in one spot and start shaking the stick. It’s almost like shaking the object is like an old movie projector cranking on and then I’m off into my imaginary world. When I was a kid I was usually the Indiana Jones type who would be rescuing some girl I liked.

I would reenact movies. I liked to play out epic sports scenarios in which my favorite team wins at the last second. I can easily go for a half hour or longer. I still do it. Only when I’m alone. It’s the only thing I’m too embarrassed to share. Even with my wife. But at the same time, I don’t care. It’s a stress reliever. I even feel a little worn out afterwards.

Anyone like me on this one?

May 03, 2018
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Jumping and shaking
by: Anonymous

Whenever i listen to music i fall into a daydream, and if something physical happens in that daydream, whether it is running, fighting or dancing I have to sudden move to jolt up out of my position and move.

Sometimes I just tap my foot and other times I have to pace back and forth to stop myself from jumping in my usual seated or lying position. It scares me and I’m not sure what to do, my mum and dad dont know but I think they know something is wrong. When i listen to music late at night i forget to turn the volume down and my parents complain about loud thumps and charades from my room when i start jumping because of this.

Does anyone know how i can stop or control this better?

Mar 23, 2018
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Hi Everyone
by: Anonymous

I have been enjoying reading the comments over the passed few years. I do not remember leaving a comment but I do keep track of the page.

It seems to me through some discovery of my own that I have not only had an issue with losing control of my situation, my bodies position or other behaviors that go on display when I drift into Lalaland I have also had a deep and long standing relationship with trauma.

I spend a lot of time in PTSD mode and of course shaking and daydreaming. It wasn't a problem until I was required to hold a job.. oh fun stories there.. a place for another time.

So to catch you up to where I am at, I would have to say the best thing for me so far has been cannabis. It hasn't stopped the excessive motor functions or the verbal leakage or the jumping up and down or any other physical que but it has given me insight that I never thought possible. Another time another place.

I would like to say good luck to all my fellow shakies that have been kind enough to share their story with the crowd and for giving me the courage to share my story.

I would like to say thank you for reading my tiny blurb in this long line of awesome peoples blogging and highly energetic genre of specie.

Mar 22, 2018
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;(
by: Add_Sugar

I have it, too. I daydream and shake my hands uncontrollably. I’m usually yelled at to stop. I love to daydream, mostly in school. But people have caught onto my twitching..... I also make weird noises, (sometimes) and my toes move around, too

Jan 29, 2018
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Brother does something imilar
by: Anonymous

my brother does it to. He rocks back and forth slightly, rapidly shake his hands, and makes sound affects. He does not have autism. We are twins but I don't do it.

Nov 27, 2017
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Same problem
by: Mohammed salem

Hi , I had that problem since I was child & I thought it would vanish when I grow up but that didn't happen , my brother has it too , I hope if it was an autistic disorder cuz I have problem communicating with others

Oct 20, 2017
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Me too
by: Anonymous

Every time someone's out of the room my hands start shaking while I daydream about just normal stuff but I don't actually realise that I've been doing it for Hours

Aug 21, 2017
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31 years old and still do this.
by: Jack

Growing up, I would always act out video games, action scenes from TV or movies, or any kind of active fantasy by pacing or running around and flailing my arms and hands. My dad would always call me a "spazz" and tell me to stop spazzing out.

I was never taken in to be checked out and it wasn't until I was an adult that I searched for symptoms online. I still do it as an adult occasionally, when I am alone or when my girlfriend isn't looking.

I had thought that it could be related to autism or tourettes, but have found that it is probably Complex Motor Stereotypy or Intense Imagery Movements. I hide it because it's embarrassing, yet can't control it and actually enjoy doing it when I am alone because it feels as if my imagination takes over my senses and feels as though I am experiencing an intense video game or hallucinatory fantasy in my mind. It is so realistic and seems like lucid dreaming while I'm conscious.

I wish there were more research done and available to understand the condition as far as the cause and relations to other conditions.

Will lead to underlying conditions or be connected to other neurological conditions in the future? Will my children have it? It is a very fascinating experience and there is not much information about adults with it.

I hope everyone here with it or with family that has it stays healthy and happy.

May 11, 2017
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THIS MIGHT HELP EVERYONE
by: Anonymous

Guys! Check out Maladaptive DayDreaming and Stereotypic Movement Disorder.

I have the exact experience as you all

Apr 09, 2017
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Running around?
by: Anonymous

I usually pace around or run around while daydreaming. Usually movies or music or TV shows trigger it. I have an uncontrollable urge to move while creating thesee scenarios. Does anyone else experience this?

Mar 31, 2017
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Wriggling Your Arms
by: Dan Johnson

My mom would yell at me for "wriggling my arms." I would create intense fantasies about Star Trek, Power Rangers, often my own narratives. Vivid fantasies. I was definitely a nerdy kid but always had a group of core friends

I'm 34 years old. Have a good job and a family. Still do it when alone.

Mar 28, 2017
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Glad I'm not the only one...
by: Anonymous

I'm so glad that I haveI found this as I thought I was the only one! I'm 22 and I have done this nearly everyday since the age of 6. I just find that I have the urge when I'm on my own to lay down on my bed, put music on and pretend that I am someone else. I have noticed that the 'character' has the same name, but there are different scenarios for that person. It doesn't have to last long, but I feel better once I've done it and feel agitated if I don't.

My mum noticed I did this when I was younger and she described it as role-play in my head and I made some noises. She respected it, but I felt too embarrassed that she found out that I could not discuss it with her. In fact, I have never shared this with anyone, but I do hope that I can find out the reason for doing it.

Mar 05, 2017
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Tension and Increased heart rate?
by: Anonymous

Since I was very little, I wiggle/tense my fingers when fantasizing about stuff. I also made sounds but don't do that anymore. My parents amd brother always told me it was weird and I should stop it.

But in recent years I have developped Narcolepsy and when I think back the wiggling and stayinv active might have been a way for my body to stay active and not fall asleep (I always nodded off easily).

What I'd like to know: I also tense my tongue a lot
when I do it, something that resembles the Valsalvva maneuver. (Heart rate goes way up temporarily while breathing against a closed throat/mouth). 1. Could this be dangerous? 2. Does anyone else recognize this tension with daydreaming?

Feb 08, 2017
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connected to creation
by: katy

I used to swing and listen music for hours EVERY day. Ive rocked violently to music in the car, my room, anywhere. I would jump on the trampoline for hours..all of this daydreaming.

In college i turned to drugs to feel "normal" and the use escalated until i dropped out of law school. Today, 6 years later, i have been clean for 1 month and all of the rocking & bouncing has returned, but i have realized the spiritual component behind it all. I feel close to God when i do this.

I have realized i may have sensory issues BUT modern psychology is very good at using pathology & trying to "get rid" of behavior deemed as abnormal instead of making the person whole by cultivating their uniqueness. I might be socially odd, but only because there is no way those around me can possibly understand in this lifetime how deeply intuned to the oneness creation i am in these moments, and thats okay! I hope this helps someone, brings you peace <3

Feb 03, 2017
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I tic and daydream too and I've become so confused!
by: Anonymous

This thread makes me so happy! I was diagnosed with chronic motor tic disorder when I was very young but I'm now 16 and I'm not so sure. My tics only ever happen when I daydream. I go into intense daydreams using characters from movies and tv shows etc and put them into my own plots. But when I do this, I move my hands, stamp my feet or pace in circles if I'm standing and move my mouth entirely without meaning to. I've been reading about tics and they're just not the same. I think I could stop the tics if I stopped daydreaming but daydreaming is so addictive and takes up so much of my time. I've tried to explain to my doctor recently but I just can't get an answer right now and still have the same diagnosis. It's not that I love labeling myself but I just need to know what exactly I have.

Dec 13, 2016
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Im 21 I still day dream
by: Anonymous

I glad I not the only one, I do daydream when I get bored or tired, I usually do it on bus on way to college mainly, when I day dream it happens when ever it happens, on the buses occasionally I get so embrasd afterwards because I don't know what was I doing during that time I day dream, I look around after I day dream if people seeing me if I like making noises or making movements, but it seemed no one don't even notice but I just still concerned about it

Nov 05, 2016
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Yes!
by: Cpt. Anonymous

I was sitting at my computer taking a break from work and found me going into one of my imaginative convulsions, that we all seemed to know so well. For the first time EVER I Googled it to see if I was alone in these ticks. Thank God I am not. In fact, it seems so common that it shocked me. My tick is with my fingers. I've done it my whole life and have been caught daydreaming with my fingers twitching erratically in front of my face. Even as a child, various family members have caught me and have used it against me later in life to suggest that I was mentally unwell. My job depends on my creative energy and, my embarrassing finger ticks in front of my face is a small price for getting paid to use my brain.

Nov 05, 2016
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I'm 13 and I thought I was insane
by: Anonymous

I do this to, I thought that I had a mental disability. Except I take string, my hair or bracelets and I can imagine anything. I can sense if somebody I watching me and then I stop, it doesn't work when someone is watching me. After I saw somebody was watching me it doesn't work and if I try to make it work while someone is watching me the "characters" in my mid go crazy. They say things and do things I don't want them to do and only I can see and hear the things going on in my mind. Sorry if I sound insane lol

Oct 29, 2016
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Me too
by: Anonymous

I'm so glad I'm not alone. When I daydream I pace back and fourth and shake my arms and my mouth is wide open. I can't help myself doing it, but I'm also very paranoid of people seeing me do it.

Sep 21, 2016
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me too
by: Anonymous

It started when I first started watching television. I started daydreaming about certain situations and characters, and then I'd grab my hands and rock back and forth. It was compulsive, I had no control over it, and only stopped when I realized what I was doing.

I went to a neurologist as a six or seven year old. He hooked me up to heavy wires, monitored me for like a week, and then told my parents that I had too much imagination. That there wasn't anything to worry about.

So, don't feel bad or ashamed if you have this tick. I like to think it just happens because I'm imaginative.

Aug 14, 2016
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I move my body according to what I am thingking of what to do
by: Anonymous

I well am 10 years old, and your probably thinking. "She/He is so young to even daydream!" And stuff, but I actually have maladaptive daydream or whatever they call it. I started daydreaming when I started to create my own story, out of like anime, I was 8 back then and my imagination wasn't so wild. I noticed this year actually, on June but I thought it wasn't real. After a time I have been doing this always,

Example. (By the way I'm a christian) There was one day in the afternoon, when we prayed before lunch, our teacher only instructed us to stand. In all honesty because of boredom I started to daydream, when I stopped daydreaming, I was already seated. I asked my seatmate if she saw me pray and said the prayer, she said yes and asked why. This is practically happening when I do the rosary too, my hands keep moving on their own and my lips too.

May 12, 2016
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I'm so glad I'm not alone
by: Anonymous

I have been doing the same sort of things for basically my whole life I can't even remember when I started or whatever but i am 16 years old and i lie on my bed and I have a brats doll beside my bed at all times so I pick it up and shake it's hair around while I twist my legs around and intensely day dream, I don't control my actions so I don't really know what I do during this time but it's gotten to a stage where I will spend my entire day doing this and I crave it through out the day of I am not at home. I usually never think about it after I do it but I am starting to get a little worried as I am now wasting most of my days doing this. If anyone has any answers that would be very helpful

Feb 29, 2016
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Thought it was just me...
by: Anonymous

I do the same thing and I've done it for as long as I can remember. When I was still in the womb I had a stroke. I'm 17 and there are no notable side effects. But I only do it when I'm alone and it freaks me out. I want it to stop, its a conscious effort for me to stop it. I also had seizures as an infant. I don't know if any of these are related though.

Feb 03, 2016
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Complex motor stereotypy
by: Anonymous

Look up complex motor stereotypy -- there is a subset called intense imagery movements (IIM) -- I hope this helps someone! There are a couple of groups on Facebook for CMS and a lot of people talk about the imagination and uncontrolled movements!

Feb 03, 2016
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Weird, huh?
by: Anonymous

Wow. I have been doing this strange daydreaming routine for years. It feels great and can be really addicting, but I get so absorbed in it that it scares me a little. What really concerns me is that when I feel depressed, my daydreams turn violent and suicidal. However, I did feel a bit better after reading the comments on this page. Knowing that I'm not alone helps. Still, I am convinced that I could never accurately describe the feeling to anyone in person without freaking them out. I would never even admit it to a therapist.

I always get the impulse to pace or walk around in circles when listening to music. So I blast loud, upbeat music, do the flappy-arm motions like a retard, and feel a rush of adrenaline. I also use song lyrics to come up with my own stories. If I'm listening to instrumental music or music in a foreign language, I will make up my own lyrics. While doing this, I completely forget my surroundings and see vivid images. I am extremely paranoid about somebody walking in on me, so I wait until nobody is in the house to do it.

Jan 26, 2016
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Excess daydreaming, shaking whole body
by: Anonymous

Thanks to this webpage and everyone else who have commented in this.....it really made me feel better..................

I am 17 years old....I daydream in excess.it started some 5 years ago that I started daydreaming.i have maladaptive daydreaming. Nowadays I has become too much...2 years back I used to perform very well in studies so i didn't want to daydream...but now because there is a change in system I have started daydreaming a lot.....because I am not happy with myself.....I shake my whole body...for eg. If I am dancing in my daydreams....I literally dance in reality.......without my own knowledge I keep literally acting out whatever I daydream......it makes me tired.....I feel unable to daydream without acting it out....but I really want to daydream and I am not able to control it....like u even I try to stay isolated and inside my room....to daydream.....it is really affecting my studies.....the biggest problem is I daydream negative things....I don't know why....I keep daydreaming about being punished in my imaginary non existent own created music class.i daydream like I am horribly punished and I really hang my head and act it out....I start crying as I would do when I am really punished....it wastes my time a lot.....does anyone else daydream such negative things along with body shaking? How to overcome this in a short time.i hope it is not a big problem .

Jan 21, 2016
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daydreaming
by: Anonymous

I've been daydreaming and running around back and forth for 3 years now, its become so addictive its impossible for me to stop. Id rather stay at home and run around than go out. I usually daydream about situations that never happened in my life but make me happy and most of the time i listen to music while doing it.

what is wrong with me? why cant i stop? I need help this is getting out of hand

Dec 13, 2015
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I do something kind of similar
by: Anonymous

Every time I am fantasising about something (aside from sexual fantasies)or when I'm listening to music I flap my arms around and tense all of my muscles. I only started flapping my arms around 2 or 3 years ago (I'm currently 16) but I have been tensing all of my muscles when I fantasise about things since I was very young. I have never told anyone that I do this and I would never even think of doing it in public or around anyone that I know (I do it in my room when I'm alone usually). I have read that this is what some autistic people do but I don't think that I have austism. Does anyone else do the same thing as me?

Nov 27, 2015
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I never realised others did it too!
by: Anonymous

I'm 22 and like many below, have experienced this since childhood! I never realised anybody else did this and never really had the courage to ask! Like others, it tends to be when I'm anxious i'll do it more, however the daydreams are normally positive or negative with a positive outcome (like i'll be fighting someone, my arms will be tense and moving and so is my head and core muscles, and then i'll win; or escaping; or stopping a war)

I feel like this tension of the muscles and especially the head must mean that there is some form of brain seizure or something. However I'm a psychologist so may be biased towards that! I'd love for someone to complete some research around this and maybe we could all finally get some answers!

Nov 08, 2015
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I'm glad I'm not alone
by: Anonymous

Apparently I started doing this when I was a little child (so my parents say), and personally I find that this helps me view certain issues differently, whether it's personal or something for school, but I always wondered why I do this.

Aug 30, 2015
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Daydreaming, Concentrating, Shaking.
by: Anonymous

I'm 50 years old and work as a designer and composer in TV. I have a terrible scar on my thumb as a result of pushing my hand into my teeth and hissing when I'm really daydreaming/concentrating 'i.e.. when I'm in that 'creative place'. I've done for as long as I can remember. It used to make my parents angry. The other day my daughter (who is in her early 20's) spoke to me while I was doing this (I was actually in front of the computer arranging a song), she said, 'hey Dad, looks like you're loving life'... her comment snapped me out of it immediately. Apart from that no one has ever said anything to me about it.

It's embarrassing, but I like it. I can only describe it as being in a 3rd state, where my enthusiasm and energy for what I'm doing blocks out everything else. I have rushes of ideas that wouldn't be possible by thinking in purely logical steps.

Thanks everyone for sharing their experiences, this is the first time I've even thought about trying to understand this condition by searching on the net.

Aug 10, 2015
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I am 16 and I have this problem
by: Anonymous

I did this even when I was a little kid. My brother used to laugh at me for it. I used to completely zone out when I would start thinking about something and wouldn't even realize that I started doing. Mostly I do it when I'm alone now, but sometimes I can't control it. Most of my daydreams are really intense. I daydream about professional dancing and one of my hands will begin rapidly moving in a side-to-side motion while my fingers on my other hand will begin twitching. Sometimes my toes even do it. I've caught myself doing it before right before I snap out of it. As long as I don't daydream it doesn't happen. It scares sometimes because it gets to the point where I can't stop daydreaming.

Jul 05, 2015
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I am 16 and i have this also
by: Anonymous

well i used to play the piano and i think this is how this whole thing started. i would imagine myself playing certain songs on the piano and i would move my fingers like i was playing the piano. However, as years passed i used this movement of my fingers whenever i would think or imagine certain situations. some of my friends have commented on the fact that i do this. i feel like i cant even fully think or imagine without doing this hand motion. i have no idea what it is but i just seem to find myself doing this all the time.

Jun 04, 2015
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Any advice to a mom?
by: Mom

Thank you all so much for your candid sharing of your experience. My son is 9 years old and he has been running back and forth while daydreaming since he could walk. From walking up until about age 5, he would hum while he did his running back and forth. We have never addressed it except to let him know that kids would start to make fun of him because it's different and that's what kids do. But he doesn't care. He doesn't want to stop, nor do I think he can stop. My problem now is that he no longer wants to see his friends and he rarely wants to go do something. If it's his choice, he would just stay home and run back and forth daydreaming for hours. How do I pull him back into the real world more? And convince him that friends are worth having? He also suffers from low self-esteem so staying home is his total comfort zone. It is interesting to know about the maladaptive daydreaming, but in his case, I think it might be related to OCD/anxiety/depression as well. Just wish I knew how to help him tone it down and take control of it.

Apr 23, 2015
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Finally, I have found answers
by: Anonymous

Ever since I can remember I will go off and daydream, not every day, but often. Usually more often when I'm not busy or sometimes stressed. I think I do it more when I just have a lot of time on my hands. My mom noticed it when I was 2. She said I'd shake my right hand and sometimes open my mouth in an O shape.

As I got older I started using a clothes hanger, or pencils to get the right weight. It can't be too light or too heavy. I even have pictures mom took with my hanger. I was always SO embarrassed!! One time, my sister broke my hanger. I flipped out and had a huge breakdown which I know believe to had been an anxiety attack. Also my mom tried punishing me once by taking my hanger and I also had a huge breakdown. Crying and not being able to calm down or move on and drop it. I definitely believe that is an anxiety attack. I've had anxiety since I was little but I am just now learning about it. I moved states when my dad got a promotion, and that's when I remember my social anxiety began.

Moving schools must've been hard for me, I was 7. This is when mom started to notice and took me to a therapist. I tried a couple different therapists. They told her I had autism, but she never told me until later. Which I now believe I do not have autism as I've read symptoms online and I don't have them. I have never had problems focusing either.

In school I always excelled. I'm great at writing. I'm great at making myself focus. My mom told my therapist about my hanger shaking and she mentioned Tourette's and autism but really didn't know what it was. As I got older I started hiding it and using pencils. I could go off for a couple hours or just 10 minutes and just daydream different stories with characters I had made up. It was entertaining!! I would pace in circles and shake, sometimes opening my mouth in the O shape I mentioned. I'd do it until I just got tired and was ready to do something else.

Now I'm 19, and I still do it. This has been my huge deep dark secret. It's so relieving to know I'm not the only one. I've always questioned what it is and if I would ever stop. I now accept that I don't think it ever will. But I can control it. I never do it at friends houses or in public or even in front of my family. I do it when I'm home alone or in my room alone.

I liked the comment someone posted about how it gives them ideas for books. I've often thought about doing that since I am so good at writing! Idk if I have the patience to write a book, but man do I have the imagination for it and the skills. Anyways I think people who have this, which I now believe is called maladaptive daydreaming, should look at it in a positive way. I mean you have to live with it so make it positive.

I have some questions now, like I've noticed it's common with people who have anxiety, adhd/add, and autism. I wonder why this is? Again I have extreme anxiety and when my anxiety is worse I do it more. But I also do it when I'm really happy about something and just want to think about it! I've often wondered if I could make myself stop, because as I've gotten older I do it less, and when I'm less stressed I do it less. And I can control it and stop myself from doing it, but it feels good so I've never tried. I feel like I may have a mild case after reading some of the comments, and I'm going to try and stop now that I'm aware what it is, and see if I can. It took me awhile to even find this online, i was searching for answers and it seemed there was nothing online about shaking your hand and daydreaming until I found this. I've wondered forever about it!

This has been extremely helpful and I don't feel as alone. I still feel weird, but not as weird. If I can't stop then I will embrace it and be proud of who I am. Heck, it's enjoyable so maybe I won't even try to stop. I still use pencils to this day because it just feels right. i don't really see it as a problem since I can control it by stopping whenever I want and not doing it until I want. But I don't want to just waste my day doing it so I'm going to try writing books and making it a productive act. Although sometimes I feel it's okay to just do it and relieve stress.

This has been extremely helpful. I'm glad I finally found some answers. I still am curious though is maladaptive daydreaming a genetic thing? Or what? I guess I'll have to look that up next.

Apr 08, 2015
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Can Relate
by: Anonymous

I've had such bouts ever since I could remember. As a kid I would always take a concept or plot from a cartoon I watched and daydream over it. I would giggle to myself and move about imagining things.

Today I'm 18 and I still go about going so. Extracting stories and settings I gather from books and movies and make my own world and character from there on. My maladaptive daydreaming has gotten worse though as I run across the house and make movements such as drawing out a sword or blocking an attack.

I try to control these bouts when people are around though it's difficult and I end up doing so in front of my brother or parents until they stop me. I do injure myself quite often while running across and have sprained my fingers and injured my limbs quite often.

It's troublesome to others though fun. In fact it's my way to escape from a monotonous lifestyle.

Mar 30, 2015
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wow
by: Anonymous

This is something I have dealt with since childhood. My older brother and sister used to make fun of me when I was as young as 5 or 6, and call it playing with my fingers..why are you playing with your fingers?/hahah.

I would clench my fists together really tight and scrunch my face and go into fantasy land. To this day, I am 34 years old and still find myself doing it..I think it happens more during stressful times but I also do it out of enjoyment. I fantasize about something exciting and face a wall or corner and squeeze the hell out of my fists and flex my back muscles..My shoulders and upper back are really muscular and always have been with or without lifting weights and exercise. How weird, I clench my upper back so tight it builds muscle definition! hAHA

Just to point out, I suffer from depression, social anxiety and panic disorder..:( I have always felt self conscious and this weird thing I have always done has in some way contributed to me feeling odd or weird..Other than that I am a really likeable, intelligent, and funny guy.

I googled my symptoms a couple years ago and found this page..WOW! is all I can say..after 30 + years of doing this and feeling so ashamed and odd I finally found other people to share my symptoms..I cannot tell you how warm that makes me feel inside. I have an 8 year old son now and I see him doing something similar, and when I catch him he looks embarrassed..I just want to hug him and tell him that its fine and normal and lots of people do it..now I can say it and mean it!! I don't care what the cause or reason is I'm just glad I'm not alone anymore. Thank you all for sharing. It truly means the world to me.

Mar 21, 2015
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Daydreaming
by: Anonymous

I don't have this shaking movement while I daydream, but what you have sounds similar to Maladaptive Daydreaming. Its when you go into your own dream world and you could be there for hours, its different for everyone. Some people can just sit there and go into a daydream, or they start moving around, walking constantly, rubing their fingers together, or bouncing on the spot. I have this, I know what I'm doing, I know what's going on around me. And sometimes I can spend hours just doing it. I also know that people sometimes can laugh and cry as that is what the character the is acting out in your head. Or people talk and say things during the daydream because that's what the character in your head is doing. I usefully do this and have been doing for as long as I can remember, I am only 15 now, but I know I will have it for the rest of my life. I don't think you all do that, but maybe you have a different type of Maladaptive Daydreaming. I hope this might help, I know you might not find what you want. But what you have described what you have sounds very much like Maladaptive Daydreaming and for all we know, there could be different types of these and just no one has told anyone who could diagnose it... I guess.

Mar 05, 2015
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Has anybody found any more research on this?
by: Hannahjoe

I have also been doing this since childhood.
At the beginning with pencils and clothes hangers, to get the 'right weight' (as somebody else mentioned) when I was with other kids playing with dolls I used to shake them a little more than everyone else.

I don't find it to be a negative thing in my day to day. Although I have recognised since my late teens that the day-dreams became desperate and bottomless if I kept it up for to long.

I actually see it as an amazing resource. I am an artist (doing contemporary sculpture stuff ) and no I don't use it while I'm making things, or for ideas for sculptures. But I do use it to 'conjure up' visuals. I find it keeps up my energy when I need to spend ages and ages on something. I can stand back and look at the bits of what I am doing and then go off daydreaming for a few mins returning to the unimpressive bits with a surge of focus and energy. When I am finished work, and happy with it I won't daydream for days. But I think its important to mention I use it for other things now as well: in college when I was excited about areas of research, in business/financial and administrative duties,.. again, I have this resource that tunes me in to some feeling of potential and I find it easy to get stuff done, or plan things out better.

The only consistent thing in the daydreams is the emotion- something like an excited feeling of potential. I am so so so lucky that my mom was annoyed one day when my auntie said that doing it was weird and not normal. I have always felt weird about it, and I suppose I wouldn't do it in front of people. But it has become an (I would say) healthy and productive tool in my life. Even the movements that I make with my hands are far less dramatic than when I was a kid.

I remember in secondary school getting frustrated when I hadn't had a creative outlet, and a lot of the time going off on long day dreams that only resulted in built up nervous energy, like winding a spring too tight with nowhere for it to go. I am looking forward to researching this site more, but I first wanted to write my experience after reading so many expiriences of difficulty. They reminded my of my teens when the daydreaming was a draw from my life rather than fuel for it. I don't believe it's the sort of thing that can or should be repressed.

I have mentioned it to a few people but it has always been shrugged off, looking forward to reading more about it!

Feb 22, 2015
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Rocking
by: Anonymous

I have been rocking back and forth, or sometimes bouncing a little bit whenever I daydream or listen to music. I have an entire imaginary world that I escape to. I can go without moving around, but if I get to "into it" I make faces and move. This is something I have done since I was little, and now I am in college and still do it. It is very embarrassing when someone walks in on this or sees me, it is difficult to explain. I got a gym membership about a year ago and found that it is a good outlet for it. Instead of rocking or bouncing, I run on the treadmill or bike to my music. The more I would get "into it," the harder I would work out. I actually lost 60 pounds from this switch. The issue is that I get stressed when I cant find an outlet for my rocking/moving behavior.

Feb 18, 2015
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I thought I was the only one
by: A

I thought I was the only one. I have been doing this ever since I was a toddler. I am so tired of it it's ruining my life because people around me think I'm strange and it's looks weird.

Jan 05, 2015
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i do it to
by: Anonymous

I do the same thing as Guen I am 10th years old and I do that. Ive done it forever. I even did It in my car seat.

Dec 06, 2014
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I am not alone
by: Anonymous

So glad to read this... I started when I was very young, shaking pencils first, and I would have the best daydreams. I used to be embarrassed and sit behind the lounge chair to do it, a lot of times while having the TV running. Later I got more comfortable and did it on the floor in front of my parents with my back turned, with dolls not pencils, but when one's head broke off from doing it too much, the weight was "off" and I couldn't do it anymore. I would go in my room and do this for hours instead of playing with toys like normal children. Now, I am 21, I still do it, but not with dolls or pencils, instead I rub my knuckles together really fast and sometimes I can waste away hours doing it while I am "watching" (listening) to TV or youtube. I have to be staring at a blank space, usually the side of my computer screen, where it is white. My only issue is that I get calluses on my knuckles but I am just glad I don't have to use objects anymore, I have no plans to stop because I physically cannot go a day without my daydreaming!!!

Nov 26, 2014
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Wow..
by: Anonymous

I'm at a loss for words right now...I've thought off looking up what this might be for a while but to be honest I was terrified about about what I would find, like what is wrong with me!? And not to mention what do I search up "I shake my arms violently when imagining things" well I did and found it actually EXISTS. I'm a very open person that doesn't keep much inside, but this is literally the only thing that nobody knows about. So grateful this site is here. I love doing it although I lose hours in a day or night doing this. When sombody asks what I've done in that day I have to make somthing up because I can't tell them I sat around daydreaming the whole time?! I wish I'd known About this sooner. If anyone has advice on how to turn this into somthing productive? Or at least cut down?

Nov 19, 2014
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So glad I found this page!
by: Anonymous

This is something I've been dealing with my whole life.

I'm now 33 and have tried to control/stop it in many ways. Physically, it's not as wild as the motions I made as a kid. Still, I have ripped pants pockets, gotten muscle cramps, pulled muscles and I may even be developing tendonitis. Once, for a year or so (during a period of heav6y drug abuse) the "sessions" were even triggering major migraines.

It happens when writing music, coming up with stories, making business plans and even sometimes when planning the rest of my week. It can get in the way of actually accomplishing these things.

The only person I've ever told was a psychiatrist, and she had no interest in hearing about it, so that was very disheartening. Some have called this an addiction, and I can agree, to an extent. I like the mental state, but the physical effects are not desirable...

Either way, I feel a great sense of relief in knowing that I'm not alone. Thank you so much to Gwen and all the other posters. I felt compelled to respond because it's unloading a burden and hopefully it is encouraging to the next person to stumble across this to see that we're not alone.

Nov 13, 2014
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looks crazy
by: Anonymous

I am glad to read so many similar experiences.

I have been doing this since I remember. My family knows about it I would not hide it but I don t do it with friends or in public.

I have the daydream and all of the sudden I am jumping around and pacing and running. My family called it "jumping" because that s the main thing but in general it is a purposeless moving around while having intense imagination experience.

I don t live it as a pathology or anything that harms me or others. It doesn t fit with the grown up description and I feel unproductive. I wish I could use it more to achieve some goals. Maybe it s just how I function and I need this to keep a balanced life even though it looks like crazy.

Oct 10, 2014
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Pheeewww
by: Anonymous

I thought I was the only one who did this!! So relieved I'm not the only one (-:

Aug 07, 2014
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I have been daydreaming for as long as I could remember....
by: Anonymous

Ever since I could remember of been daydreaming. I get this sudden urge to run, so I'll just start running around the room jumping on top of objects, and running into walls. It's an addiction , something that I seemingly can't stop doing. When ever I daydream I get this tingly sensation that goes from my head to the bottom of my feet. I have lost so many hours of the day (and night!) compulsively running around downstairs and running into walls. My family is very disturbed by this, they want to help me but don't know how. I have discovered that I exibit almost every symptom of ADD, ( inattentiveness, forgetfulness, disorganized, racing mind, inability to follow instructions, sleep problems) some symptoms of Asperger's syndrome ( Lack of interest in other people, wanting to be alone most of the time, liking to socialize only with people older than my age group , mostly adults( I am in the 10 grade), Rigid and repetitive obsessions, and severe anxiety.

May 05, 2014
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Shaking and daydreaming
by: Gwen

Hi all, I've been writing on here since 2010, and also reading all of your comments that you all wrote here. I have found that no medicine helps me to stop this, but I don't do the daydreaming as much as I did since I live with my husband now, but I still shake around some every day , and more often when I feel really stressed out, like from marital problems when my husband and I are not getting along for some reason. I do it less when I feel happy and calm. I think relieving the stress in our lives help. I do still daydream some which would be ok if I didn't feel like I had to shake around while doing the daydreaming. I hope my comments help people.

May 01, 2014
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omg
by: Anonymous

Ive been doing this since i was about 9, my family calls it 'squeaking'. i crouch down into a tight ball ball my hands and shake them while scrunching up my face. i used to do it in the open i know do it when people cant see me. its a real problem, i do it when i go toilet(in private and public), in my room or whenever im alone. im 22 now and it seems to be alot worse than ever. ive actually aged my face because of the 'facial scrunching'. alot of things trigger it, sometimes i can be doing it for so long till the point of exhaustion. ive tried to stop it by replacing it with other things such as putting on vaseline- sounds weird i know but did actually work for a while.

its great to know others are in the same boat. hopefully a solution will appear

natasha x

Dec 24, 2013
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whats so bad about daydreaming
by: Anonymous

Can people stop calling maladaptive daydreaming a problem I have it and its one of the best things about my life it like watching tv but better you can come up with your own characters your own plots you are the narator the camera man the director heck you can even play the roles of the characters. Its entertainment a freind a lover anytime and anyplace you want it itcan help get rid of stress make you laugh give you conpanionship. If people say its bad they might as well say watching tv is bad too people waste hours watching tv aswell when people watch tv they go into a trace like state just like when people daydream watching tv takes you away from social life too alot of tv programs are based on fantacy just like daydreaming is whats the difference between daydreaming and tv.

Nov 18, 2013
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Shaking my head, when I am thinking or daydreaming
by: Anonymous

I am 64 years old and I am often told that I shake my head which I am not aware of mostly when I am thinking. This has been happening since the past few years. Can someone help me, thanks.

Nov 07, 2013
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Thanks everyone
by: JK

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories. I think my son (11) has this. He runs back and forth, making sounds, holding something (generally long, thin and pointy), daydreaming. I am fine that he does it and encourage him to perhaps write down what he is dreaming about in a journal (I told him perhaps it will make a great book someday.) But, for now he just needs to "do his running thing" (what he calls it.) He is socially just fine and he does fine in school. He just needs his own time to do this (to decompress, destress, whatever.)

I worry that it impacts his desire to participate in organized activities. He makes comments that "it interferes with his running time." His close friends know about this behavior; but he does get embarrassed about it and not want to share it with others. I'm hoping to get him to talk to a counselor if only for him to feel normal about this behavior. It is fine with me as long as it doesn't interfere with his life. Thanks again everyone!

Nov 02, 2012
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hey,
by: Anonymous

Is there any way to stop this shaking and daydreaming because is just getting out of control..during some times and while going on busy areas....it started from my childhood...I thought due to hurt on skill which might effect the brain...but now It's serious...I feel good with it..but I don't want this as its just destroying my capabilities and effects on my studies and my future...

Please tell me the solution for this...I can't take it for long..sometimes it makes me mad.

Aug 02, 2012
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Maladaptive Daydreaming
by: Anonymous

This all sounds exactly like Maladaptive Daydreaming, a condition that causes excessive daydreaming. Here is a website about it:

http://www.daydreamingdisorder.webs.com/

Aug 01, 2012
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I thought I was the only one!
by: Trav

As long as I could remember, when I'd (seriously) day-dream, I'd unconsciously cusp my hands over my mouth and, unknowingly, make the required sound-effects for my fantasies with my mouth while shaking. I noticed a much higher heart-rate when I did this, as-well. Can anyone else identify with this?

Jul 13, 2012
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Shaking and daydreaming
by: Gwen

I've been doing these things all my life. I'm 57 now, and I still nee to do some kind of movement a lot, and the daydreaming has gotten more controlled, but I rock, shake around ect. a lot. It helps me especially when I'm really stressed out.

Jul 11, 2012
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Yeah
by: Anonymous

Yeah.. I often, when with company, shake my foot, instead of my head. It looks less obvious that way.

Jul 11, 2012
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Hm..
by: Kelsey

See, I do this all the time. I saw some of the comments and realized that, most of them described what I've been doing.

One in particular mentioned that it was like replaying a movie in your head. It seems like I can make up stories in my head when I do this.. it's bizarre. I've done it for as long as I can remember. My parents are hoping I grow out of it, but I don't think I ever will.

Jul 10, 2012
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Hi everyone!
by: Anonymous

I thought I was the only person who had Physical Day Dreams (PDD [if it is not an acronym I just made it]). I never thought about "googling it" until today.

I wish we could all get together sometime in a nice forum to discuss this physical day dreaming. I would like to know more similarities, maybe it can be researched...

May 26, 2012
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I do this too!
by: Anonymous

I tend to run around the house, skip, laugh, even sometimes say the words I'm saying in my daydream. It can be a bit embarrassing as people wonder what I'm doing. My parents are always telling me to stop it. X

Feb 05, 2012
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No Diagnosis
by: Anonymous

I tend to pace and flap my hands when excited or daydreaming as well (sometimes uncontrollable laughter at nothing... that i havent noticed much lately). So far the only thing I have found about it online was on Autism, but I do not have Autism. As a matter of fact, I work with children with autism.

I was diagnosed with PMDD, Depression, and ADHD, but other than the PMDD everything else seems mild to me and had no connection to flapping or pacing when excited/daydreaming. I have tried to tell my psychiatrist, but I think he just thought it was a weird quirk. It kind of scares me and it is embarrassing. I hate it, but I am glad that I am not alone!

Jan 19, 2012
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Creativity Flows
by: Anonymous

I have day-dreamed like this for as long as I can remember and it now I don't do it as often. When I was little I believe I did it because I thought it was fun. My brother never understood it, but it was like replaying your favorite movie scenes in your head. Now as I have gotten older I seem to start to pace and daydream when ever I have a creative idea. whether it be a movie, video game, book, or music idea, I pace and daydream. This got me wondering if people with creative minds tend to do this more often.

Dec 11, 2011
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Maladaptive Daydreaming
by: Anonymous

I think that a lot of you should look at this website about Maladaptive Daydreaming, since you are describing many of the symptoms.

http://www.daydreamingdisorder.webs.com/

Dec 08, 2011
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How I am doing sinc I started writing and reading all your comments on this site.
by: Gwen

Hi everyone, I am so grateful to read all your experiences with shaking and other body movements, sounds and daydreaming. I never had anyone to talk to that did the same things I've been doing all my life.I hope you keep on writing on this site. I love to hear from all of you. I still rock or shake around a little each day, but not as much as I used to, because I now have a husband that loves me and is good to me, so I don't feel so alone. But when I feel stressed out, I do it more often. It feels good to do it, but I would like to do something else to relieve the stress, but this works best. I also take Lexapro for depression and anxiety. I think it helps.I also have a strong faith.

I am a christian, and I prayed a lot about my problems and my life, and it is getting better for me now. My husband encourages me too, so I don't daydream as much, but sometimes it still helps me to rock or shake around for awhile, till I feel less stressed.I'm glad I can share this with all of you. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers, and if any of you pray, please pray for me too. Love Gwen

Nov 14, 2011
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Help
by: Anonymous

I have this too and I am the only person who knows. Is this in anyway dangerous and can it be stopped. Plus is it less harmful if im using it to be creative

Apr 16, 2011
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Thank you!!
by: Ana

I'm so happy right now, after reading this! I thought I was the only person who did that! Since I can remember, I daydream most of the time and I shake my hands and head like I'm having an epileptic attack. It's really really weird. I thought I had some neurological problem but now that I know other people do it, I'm relieved!

Mar 27, 2011
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I've Never Known Anyone Else . . . .
by: Anonymous

I've been doing this since I was two years old. My family always called it "flapping," because it started as me flapping my hands. I've learned to live with it, and don't even give it much thought anymore. I agree with the people who say there are benefits to it. I'm a lawyer, and when I hit a particularly difficult problem I close the door to my office and "flap" while I work through it. I've come up with my best and most creative arguments this way.

But. . . . It also can be an inconvenience, because it is hard to control and can be distracting.

I've been variously diagnosed with OCD, mild Tourette's, and ADD. I actually am inclined to think that this is related to or a variation on ADD.

Anyway, fascinating to finally hear for the first time in 35 years of someone else having these symptoms!

Mar 17, 2011
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yea
by: Anonymous

I about cried when I read this. I'm a very normal person I have ADHD but you really cant tell. I started running around my couch and would flap my hands like I'm drying them off when i would think of something fast, I was about 5 or 6. Its amazing having such a great Imagination but It sucks only having full access unless I'm alone. Its the most embarrassing thing in the world and it just makes me so happy knowing I'm not the only one who does it. Stay strong everyone.

Jan 30, 2011
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I am so happy I'm not the only one
by: Anonymous

For as long as I can remember I always had a very active mind. All through school I found it hard to focus. I remember when I was little I would rock back and forth on the couch. As I got older I started to rock back and forth on my bed. Now I feel like things have gotten worse. I have been dating someone for along time now and somewhere in our relationship he started to get jealous like he just wanted it to be me and him. People around me tried to warn me but I blew it off and now that I got layed off from my job it seems like the daydreaming is getting worse. I want to start college soon but I can't ever focus, its like I just want to sit around in my chair and rock while listening to music or watching tv. My boyfriend has started to notice but he seems to think I have ADD. I don't want to tell him about the daydreams because I feel ashamed and I don't want him to think I am crazy. I have a bad childhood and over the years I have lost most of my friends. I just wish there was something to help me so I can function.

Jan 11, 2011
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I somewhat do this
by: Anonymous

I'm almost 16 and I started this the day I became a loner in school (I also have learning disabilities). However unlike uncontrollable shaking, and flapping of the arms, actually act it out in my room, or when no one is around. It makes for great stories though, and yes it is very embarrassing, but my mother said as long as you don't mistake reality from fiction it's probably not a problem. Anyway you took a great fear off of my chest, especially because i was afraid I was very weird. I also feel it is an overactive mind that cannot just think of it, but a physical action must work alongside of it. Yeah, music really does trigger it.

Oct 01, 2010
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It is a GIFT
by: Anonymous

For me, the extraordinarily vivid imagination and daydreams are a true gift. All of the above: shaking, sounds, pacing, tensing, deep inward sight, and all of it, when combined, creates "magic". After years of catering to this and being motivated with practicing and working it like a muscle, I developed a clairaudient sound and soon after that strong non-physical feeling. I can hear the music within the mind so clearly and it has gotten to the point where I can orchestrate any sound I wish within the mind, and produce incredible vivid multi-dimensional imagery to go with. Beats television for sure (which if you think daydreaming is a bad thing, then just look at what TV has done to society in terms of "entertainment"). This has become a tool and also a way of spiritual development for me. I can use my vivid imagination to visualize goals and have empathy for my friends and family as well. I can feel what they feel, because I simply imagine it. That is why it is a gift, because once you truly embrace it and want to learn it like learning to tame a wild beast, then ride it and steer it, then it becomes something that is truly a gift and not a "disorder". Your mind does this for a reason, and if you actually train yourself to use it to your advantage, the "issues" like being internal for too long can be solved. You just gotta work the muscle. Your mind will want to do more and more of it until you work it, and drugs will only harm you if you try that to stop it, and it won't be any good if you suppress it. It is your choice though, so I just wanted to share this with you.

I am 18 and have been daydreaming like this since birth.

Sep 16, 2010
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me too me too
by: Anonymous

geez i'm soo glad i'm not the only one with this
something always told me that other people have similar problems. the shame is too much to bear if anyone found out that i pace for miles in my on living room daydreaming. so many dreams so many i can no longer keep track. it helps to release my mind but now its becoming a curse rather than a gift.

Aug 13, 2010
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Answer about trouble focusing.
by: Gwen

I have trouble focusing on reading, getting a meal cooked and served and concentrating on the computer, when people are talking while I'm trying to do these things.I have learning disabilities and I shake or rock a lot to help relieve stress and to comfort myself.I wrote before that I was 55 years old and have done the shaking and daydreaming all my life. IM writing again because some boy on here wanted to know if anyone who does this has trouble focusing or has ADD.I never have been diagnosed with ADD but I have some of the symptoms of it.I also have trouble focusing and concentrating on a decision or task if I feel someone is pressuring me to hurry up and do it. Gwen

Aug 12, 2010
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maladaptive daydreaming
by: Anonymous

hey, my names luke and im eleven years old, wen i was in nursery i was neglected by the other kids so i drew into my own fantasy world.

its as addictive to me now as a drug and this i think scars my personality, making people avoid me more and then i daydream even harder tho i try not to.

u probably think im a psychopath kid but its good to know im not the only one,

thanks

Aug 11, 2010
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my brother and i have it too
by: sal

hi, i am so glad i found this page. I have a brother who extensively daydreams with sounds and tensing up. it's interesting. he's had it all his life, but what's more interesting is that i have it too to a much more less extent. Im gonna ask my doctor soon about this cz i'm really curious to know if there's a name for this. i wonder if this is related to ADD or if it's a genetic thing of it's own. Does anyone of you folks who have this, suffer from attention deficiency or have trouble focusing?

Jul 26, 2010
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during intense daydreams...
by: Anonymous

It's been happening to me since I was 5, as far as i can remember at least because I remember playing with some dolls and I started to shake and my babysitter told me to stop.

I start to visualize something exciting in my mind and play it out. My mouth sort of tenses, my arms and hands start shaking, as if I am shaking water off of them. My vision is the same but I also feel like I'm seeing the daydream more than what is physically in front of me. It seems that I only do it when I am alone. It only happens for a few seconds but after wards I am usually slightly out of breath and my heart is racing.

It doesn't seem to affect me otherwise. I don't have Autism or OCD but I do suffer from depression.

Jul 15, 2010
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I do this too!
by: John

I have been having intense daydreaming for as long as I can remember. I was made fun of in elementary school by kids saying "Look at this kid freaking out!". Then I started only doing it alone. My family would catch me doing it and sometimes watch me, then tell me to stop it. I have been doing it for a good 16 years. I too have it triggered best with music, it makes it more intense. I however clench my fists and all my muscles when I do it. I block out what I am looking at in reality and focus only on my imagination. When I try to explain it to people they just think I am weird. It makes me very anti-social and I feel like I am stuck in a everlasting loop of nothing is real anymore. Kind of like living my life in my head.

Fantasy realism is a crazy addiction. I do it everyday it seems like and I seem to be having memory loss from it now. I snap into it and snap out. Every time I come out of a daydream, my heart is racing and all my muscles tension stops leaving me to shake it off. To me its an adrenaline rush and I can't stop. I wish I could in a way, but I kinda like it sometimes. The weird things the human mind can create...

Jun 09, 2010
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Happy to here from Others
by: Gwen

I wrote on this site that Ive had shaking and daydreaming all of my life. I am glad to find out there are others who do similar things. I find I dont do it as much since I got married to a great guy a little over 7 months ago. But I still do it some. My life is more now like I used to dream it would be. But when I feel stressed out I still do it and it helps me to feel better.

Jun 08, 2010
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I do the same thing. Heres the reason
by: Anonymous

So Im not the only one... That spread a smile over my face when I read you guy's comments. especially when some of you mentioned the pacing because I pace(I call it running around when I daydream) or make sounds like talking... I learned to bite my lip when I daydream that way it doesnt look like Im talking to myself. The vocal part of it has stopped but I still pace when daydreaming. Im 17 on june the 9th and I told my ex about it(on and off) I keep wondering if one day when Im out of the navy and stuff and meet a good guy, he'll think its weird that I do that. My family is okay with it "oh she's just daydreaming again" but I feel self conscious about it with my ex. The crazy kids in school do things like make sounds and talk to them selves and I dont want to be put in that category with them. I know that they aren't talking to them selves that they are daydreaming too, but they really DO have problems and makes me wonder if I may be like them and have problems too.

Daydreaming is an addiction. You escape from reality by doing it. When daydreaming, you create for yourself an ideal world. Signals to the brain tell your mind that the world is some what real and so creates the jolts. When people sleep talk, they do that because dreams appear so realistic to them and their mind feels the need to interact with the characters in the dream on a higher, less mental extent. when daydreams, you dreaming while awake. The same processes with the mind go as if you were asleep. Your body hasn't fallen unconscious but your mind has. It's almost like two types of sleeps. Physical sleep and mental sleep. Mental sleep is just what I call the process of dreaming. Your mind takes a rest when you sleep. its nothing wrong with you but because your body is still active when your mind "falls asleep" it moves and your body feels the need to act out the scenario in the daydream. Im studying myself. I just want to stop the sounds and pacing but not daydreaming all together. Its embarrassing, yes, but its also a great gift that god has given me to complement my writing talent. Ideas for books just dont pop out of no where Some writers seriously has to sit and think of ideas to write for a book. Some have an amazing dream and turn that in a book. I daydream so much and thats where I get these awesome ideas from. they are like stories in my head just looking for a way to burst out and once I got it on paper, I make money off of it.

In a way its a blessing within a curse. I just want people to accept that about me with out putting a label on me. My ex said he thought I was weird from day one, and He likes different. If I explain to him that my mind is an artist constantly coming up with creative ideas and that when I daydream I turn that daydream into ideas for books.... I don't know, Its weird, doesn't mean Im crazy or have some type of problem, if I can make money off of it, why not call it a blessing?

Jun 02, 2010
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I am another victim of this
by: Anonymous

I daydream on a continual basis and completely understand this.

It began when I was around 12 and had to stay in bed because of Mono. As the years progressed, I would stay in my bed, listen to music, and rock back and forth violently while day dreaming scenarios (from every day life to fantastical adventures, from scenarios that I am in, to scenarios for characters I have created) that match up with the beats of the music I am listening.

I do too flap my arms and wiggle while rocking violently back and forth. Another aspect is that I do best in the dark- so that no one can see me acting so wild (Though I day dream completely alone).
To me, I have come to observe through my own behavior that it is a form of coping with everyday life. One may not have had a terrible or traumatic experience to do this. I think the body must uncontrollably wiggle as it tries to act out this 'Different life' I believe it is completely in tune with OCD, Depression, Anxiety, and Even to a form of Social Phobia.

On a good note- it is relieving that there are a large amount of others in this world that deal with this sort of thing. It is indeed an addiction of some sorts.

Apr 21, 2010
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maladaptive daydreaming
by: Anonymous

omg. i have been hiding this from friends,family even my husband for around 30years now. i daydream constantly,even acting out my scenarios. i often pace too. i also use music alot,i find it easier to get into the daydream. although it is a great source of worry and stress, it is also like an addiction and i need to do it to re leave stress.

Mar 29, 2010
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Maladaptive Daydreaming
by: Anonymous

I saw your comments and it's possible that you could have Maladaptive Daydreaming. It's a condition that causes excessive daydreaming. People with this problem will sometimes pace or do some other repetitive movement while they daydream. I have had this problem most of my life (I pace while daydreaming.)

Mar 08, 2010
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My daughter does that to.
by: Anonymous

My daughter will do that and she has a mild form of autism. It could be that or a tic disorder or tourettes. Talk with your doctor about it and ask for a referral to a neurologist.

My daughter will also flap her arms while walking in a pattern back and forth. She says she is daydreaming, but she doesn't really know what of.

Good luck to you and sorry to hear you have suffered with this your whole life. My daughter takes medicine for her tics and so far has responded good to it.

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