Ever felt like you’re too imaginative to stay grounded in “real life”? Yeah. Us too. In this episode of Too Much Apparently, we (Carly and Alice — two therapists with very busy inner worlds) get real about what it’s like to have an imagination that doesn’t switch off. The kind where you don’t just think about life — you create it, replay it, and live multiple versions of it in your head. We explore daydreaming, storytelling, fantasy, and the quiet, often private worlds we build to process, escape, imagine, and make sense of being human — and what it’s like when your inner world sometimes feels richer than the one outside it. This time we talked about: 🎙️ We’ve felt this thing too (and we still do):Hello daydreaming mid-conversation, imagining entire alternate lives, and getting completely lost in books, ideas, or future scenarios. 👀 What it looks like in real life: Having a “rich inner world,” being told you’re away with the fairies or in la la land, and feeling like your imagination can sometimes feel more vivid — or even more appealing — than reality. 🧠 Why our brains do it: Curiosity, creativity, pattern-seeking, storytelling minds, and for some of us, extremely vivid mental imagery (hello hyperphantasia) that makes imagination feel almost real. 🧍🏽♀️🧍🏻 The different ways it shows up: World-building, fantasy thinking, imagining different futures, using metaphor and visual thinking, or quietly living many different lives inside your head. 🧰 Coping mechanisms: Using imagination to process emotions, to create meaning, to self-soothe, or sometimes to escape when real life feels limiting or overwhelming. 🌱 How to make peace with it: Imagination isn’t a distraction from life — it’s one of the ways we understand it, create it, and sometimes survive it. Thanks for listening 💛💜🩷🩵🧡 💬 New episodes every Monday. 🎧 Follow now to join the conversation. 🧡 CONNECT WITH US 🎙️ Podcast socials: → Instagram: @toomuchapparently → TikTok: @toomuchapparently → YouTube: Too Much, Apparently → Website: www.toomuchapparently.com 👩💻 Carly Radford: → Website: www.carlyradford.com → Instagram: @the_sensitivity_therapist 👩🏻💻 Alice Tew: → Website: www.alicetew.com → Instagram: @reparentingwithalice 📩 Email us: toomuchapparently@gmail.com 🗓️ New episodes every Monday This is a podcast that says: bring your too-muchness… we’re here for it. Disclaimer: Just a quick note to say this podcast isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for professional support. We’re here to share ideas and experiences, but if you’re struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or a support service near you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sensitivity podcast, overthinking podcast, therapy podcast, belonging podcast, mental health podcast, deep chat podcast, neurodivergent podcast, autism podcast, adhd podcast, outsider syndrome, feeling different podcast, people pleasing podcast, authenticity podcast, friendship podcast, daydreaming podcast, imagination podcast