Anxiety and Imagination

Question for you guys. I have researched and read a lot during this bout with anxiety. I came across a seminar on YouTube by Martin Rossman, a guided imagery expert. It was entitled Worrying Well. It talked about how our imagination is the source for worry and anxiety. He jokes if they could preform an imagination-ectomy we would no longer have worries. The seminar was interesting to listen to, though some parts were very slow and dry. He also has a book out called The Worry Solution, which I have not read yet.

But I think the whole idea of worry and anxiety stemming from your imagination is so interesting. It made me think back to when I was a kid. I was always scared of the wind in elementary. I always worried it would turn into a tornado, even though it never did (I think just about any kid growing up in the mid west was scared of tornados). I remember how big my imagination was when I was about 4 and I had imaginary friends, and I still to this day remember their names. How I could play store in my room, by myself, for hours. How I wrote such weirdly whimsical stories in 3rd grade. I loved reading at a very early age and I could picture everything that went on in a book in my mind, quite vividly. And dreams! I've always, always had dreams that were very real and very outside the box. I even ended up in a creative career field, where I use my imagination pretty much every day.

I'm wondering if when you get older, and you lose the innocence of being a kid, if your imagination starts to use reality against you. I mean, once a big imagination always a big imagination, right? Almost like your imagination had a reality check. Like instead of having wild daydreams, now we have health anxiety.

Soooo, I'm wondering if any of you guys have/had a big imagination? Do you think there is any correlation? Thanks!

MtG&Q,

Excellent topic and point!!

It is true that those who suffer anxiety tend to be if above average intelligence...and highly creative!

Many artists, actors and musicians are examples....as well as CEO's of major corporations, entrepreneurs, inventors, professionals, ect....successful people who also happen to struggle with anxiety issues.

I have never thought of your theory about childlike wonder becoming corrupted by the harsh realities of adult like...and morphing from fantasy to anxiety...that is a great point!

We, as imaginative people may have to work harder than others to manage our anxiety...but I do love being a creative person...and accept that which goes along with it.;)

S.C.

I am very artistic too and used to love to read stories. I was a sensitive child and cried at anything sad. I was always drawing, making up songs on the piano, and so forth. I never really felt that I fit in with ones my age overall.
My dreams have always been vivid and detailed.
Strange.
janet

Wow, that's a great theory and it never occurred to me that having such an active imagination as a child could lead to more. I did the same things as you as a child, I was reading novels in 4th grade, I would have dreams about them and I could see everything just like I was there. Even the games I could entertain myself for hours all alone playing different games. I always tested at high levels as well. In 4th grade I had a 12th grade reading level. Even know my dad says I have an over active imagination that gives me symptoms for an imaginary illness.

I think this topic definitely deserves some serious research.

So glad I'm not alone in this thinking! Thanks all for responding:)

TMA, fear is part of the imagination, I think anyway. Fear also plays a huge role in this. I was scared of everything too. Elevators, escalators, planes...I was even afraid to stick my thumb into a bowling ball!! My childhood fear stories are still part of family get togethers.

When I first started therapy we spent a lot of time trying to uncover the root of my panic. LOTS of time. I still don't know what it is. So I'm wondering if the root is my imagination and the inability to control it.

It looks like we are a group of intelligent , creative people! Yay us! Like SC, I wouldn't give up my creative side for anything. I'm comfortable being outside the box. Lisa, let's get started on this book:)

Yes, same with me. Imagining the worst case scenario, at a really young age too. I'm wondering if we are just wired like that? My parents were not frightful people. They weren't the type of people that were scared of break ins or getting sick (and still aren't). So my behavior definitely was not learned from them.