Hi guys,

So -- my latest obsessive thought: what if everything around me is just something I'm imagining and I'm really in a dream? How do I know that other people exist and what if life and everyone I know is just in my imagination? This sounds way weird, I know, because it implies that I think I have some sort of *control* over other people since I think I'm just imagining them. Okay. So, if you've thought/worried about this, I'd be SO grateful for your replies.

I'm just worried I'm on the verge of insanity or mental illness because I'm *worried* about this stuff.

Is this just another random, obsessive thought -- or is it a sign of something more?

Thanks. You are all amazing people and we will get better! (positive thinking, whoo!)

Hawkgirl,

Yes I have thought about that BIGTIME...Ive always been a person with a HUGE imagination...and now more than ever I wonder "are people real?...are these trees real?"....because Ive always been a person to escape and be in my own lil imaginary world where everything is safe and calm. But I am changing my thinking gradually...realizing I need to put things in the past and not feel like im being controlled or feeling like I have to control the world around me. Hope this helps

I absolutely cannot believe that I am not the only person who has ever obsessed about reality. It is so comforting to know that I am not alone in this thought. The best way I hav thought to understand this is that this thought is a distraction from something that may really be bothering me like Lucinda said for this session. Sometimes life gets so overwhelming that instead of facing our worries/concerns, we find a way to escape by overanalyzing what is going on. I hope this makes some sense. This thought has bugged me for a while now and I know I've said it already but I am in shock that I am not alone here. My husband tries to make a joke about it but I still find myself at times obsessing over it. Another good book that has addressed obsessive thinking is Brain Lock by Michael Schwartz where he talks about obsessions. Basically he says that these obsessions are a byproduct of our brains sending false messages. I hope this gives some insight as I have tried so hard to figure it out myself. When you find the answer let me know.