Experts say there's significant reason people make up fake scenarios before bed
Human beings have long been interested in dreams and their many varied meanings, but what about the moments before you drift off when your mind is full of situations that may have no immediate connection to your day-to-day life.
If you're someone who finds themselves making up fake scenarios at bedtime, then you're definitely not alone, as one quick glance at social media will no doubt tell you.
One romantic-minded TikTok user says they've found themselves imagining watching the stars with their "crush", while another found themselves manifesting a trip to a beautiful island.
For many, this sort of bedtime daydreaming is so effective that they can't imagine drifting off any other way, and they can also be pretty detailed in terms of storyline, with twists, turns, and celebrity encounters.
A third TikTok user reported daydreaming of running away to France after being heartbroken by their lover, only to end up falling head over heels with actor Tom Holland. Others report "rewinding" their fantasies if they "skip to the good part" too fast, allowing themselves time to enjoy the narrative unfolding.
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Some even share examples of their fantasies online, as suggestions for others to pick and choose depending on which alternative universe they want to zip off to. As fun as such daydreams (nightdreams?) can be, one expert says they could have a more serious meaning, and could be counterproductive when it comes to getting a good night's sleep.
Psychologist Brandy Smith told mattress review company Sleepopolis: "Sometimes when people worry or have anxiety about something, creating scenarios of what may happen as well as planning and working to brainstorm ideas may help them feel more secure in different situations.
"There are times when creating 'fake scenarios' may be beneficial based on how a person operates, but even for those individuals there is a line to keep in mind of when it is helping versus exacerbating distress and/or anxiety."
According to Smith, bedtime rumination - ie repetitive thoughts before bed - can result in anxiety and racing thoughts, at a time when you should really be quieting your mind. She suggests using a one to 10 scale to evaluate how helpful and harmful the thoughts you're experiencing actually are, with one being "very unhelpful" and 10 being "very helpful".
In an interview with Metro, certified positive psychology coach Dawn Baxter remarked that such thoughts can serve a practical purpose, as a means of building "everyday life coping and thriving strategies".
Baxter explained: "It may be that you think about what it would feel like for your crush to notice you – how would you react, how could you 'stay cool'. Perhaps you are considering what would happen in the event of a negative situation.
"Like Dr Strange playing the Thanos scenario through his mind 14,000,605 times to find the one that would actually work in their favour and save the planet, you are likely giving yourself a dress rehearsal to ensure that you are prepared for a best-case scenario."
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