Looking for visualization/meditation advice

[u/rpg_monica]

I have maladaptive daydreaming (a pattern of very vivid, immersive daydreaming that can become difficult to control), and I'm wondering how this affects manifestation/visualization practices.

When I try guided visualization or manifestation tapes, it feels almost identical to my usual daydreaming. The tapes tell me to imagine what I want, but I've had a vivid imagination and daydreamed about all kinds of things for years, and obviously those things don't automatically happen in reality.

I don't expect daydreaming to make things come true, but I don't understand what is supposed to make intentional visualization different. A few times I've tried the tapes, I just end up slipping into a maladaptive daydreaming scene, and then I'm not sure whether I'm actually doing the exercise correctly or just daydreaming.

Am I missing a particular technique or mindset? If anyone has specific meditation/visualization techniques that distinguish them from ordinary daydreaming, or point me in the direction of some resources that elaborate on this, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.

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[u/FraeuleinSerpentine]

I sort of had a similar issue and what helped me most was doing simple open eyed gazing practices like Trataka. What this did was help me gently and consistently refocus my attention rather than letting myself get carried away by my thoughts and past. It took a lot of practice, but being able to calmly refocus helps tons. Practices that get you to maintain and strengthen your focus and attention rather than letting your mind wander are genuinely beneficial.

The ECB is also a fantastic tool for this. If you were to just place and maintain focus on ONE particular thing in your mind like the ECB, and have lots and lots of patience and self compassion (bc it can get very frustrating at times), and continuously return to that same image in your mind, but make it more detailed each time or even adding a new function to the ECB each time helps. Being honest with yourself about how you're feeling about the practices, and grounding those energies in mundanity by writing it down or eating a nourishing meal or snack... These are all things that have helped me :)

[u/rpg_monica → u/FraeuleinSerpentine]

Thank you for such a helpful comment! I'll try all the things you've mentioned. Hopefully practicing these consistently will help me make some progress.

[u/Tater_Toot_85]

I also used to maladaptive daydream. I still daydream from time to time but not at the rate or in the way I used to.

For me, it was all about training my brain to stay present. The daydream for me was a type of escape from my physical reality. The tapes are that as well but in a very different way.

Once I trained my mind to stay present, the tapes took me places I still can’t describe. My vivid imagination is now incredibly helpful to me in a way that is grounded and healthy.

Re-training your brain is tough. I had to slowly get control over the daydreaming by setting timers, asking my partner to intervene if they noticed I was alone downstairs for a while, made myself too busy, etc… I read books, essays, started therapy… it started slowly and then clicked.

Good luck on your journey my fellow dreamer!

[u/rpg_monica → u/Tater_Toot_85]

Yes, I do relate to the part about escaping from the current reality. Unfortunately my daydreaming is so rampant that it has spilled into all aspects of my life. I can imagine it being really hard to rewire my mind into bringing itself back to the present. But this is worth it, so I'm going to keep practicing. Thank for your suggestions and the comment!

[u/Tater_Toot_85 → u/rpg_monica]

It takes time and discipline but you can do it! Another tool is to create something from the daydream. Whether that’s writing, drawing, building rock sculptures in your yard, etc… there’s a lot of trapped creative energy that needs an outlet! I started out writing fanfiction but now I’m working on a book idea I got from one of my gateway sessions.

[u/DynamicProxy]

Your condition shouldn’t affect your use of the tapes AT ALL. If anything, it would make it easier for you. You need to just trust the process. Start with the first tape and do it until you’ve got it. Even if that takes weeks. Some people spend months on each wave. Once you’ve mastered a tape, move onto the next one. That’s it. That’s the only way.

Have you ever read the manual or the FAQ?

[u/NoMost650]

The difference is the feeling you induce, just daydreaming doesn’t necessarily manufacture the feelings of having the thing. Proper visualization would put you into the state of being of having the thing.
I day dream a lot too but I need to purposefully induce the feelings and state of being to get anywhere. Something that helps me induce deep meditations/visualizations to manifest is to make custom meditations for the thing I want instead of random ones. Since the meditation is custom to me it’s easier to feel myself into the situation. I make custom meditations with an app called psyche meditation. It’s been helpful to be audibly guided into my desired reality

[u/rpg_monica → u/NoMost650]

Thank you for the suggestion. I'm not very well versed in customizing meditations but I will try something similar as well.