There are people who claim that a new trend on TikTok allows you to move into an alternate reality.
In a TikTok community called “ShiftTok,” people say they can shift their consciousness into another reality through spiritual meditation techniques. Viral videos from the online community show various users claiming everything from having a husband in an alternate world to being able to attend Harry Potter's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
“Many of my DRs have husbands. [desired realities]” ShiftTok influencer Maddy told viewers in one video. “The important thing is to remember that you are there.”
So-called “shifters” claim to be able to move between realities through meditative techniques such as creative visualization. Psychologists typically use this tactic to make patients relax or calm down, but some point out that using their imagination can help patients achieve a deeper sense of calm.
Dr. Abigail Brenner writes, “Creative visualization is a great example of how to use your imagination to create anything you want to happen in your life.” psychology today. “This technology has been around for a long time, is well researched, and has proven usefulness.”
However, Dr. Brenner said creative visualization is a method used to help patients see their goals and what they are accomplishing, and is not necessarily an escape into another reality. points out. Creative visualization is done in the first person, with the idea that what you are visualizing is happening in the present. But when the lines between reality and imagination become blurred, psychologists say it could be a sign of something worrying.
In another video, Maddie addressed both future shifters and armchair psychologists in the comments section, explaining that her shifting was not a maladaptive fantasy or a byproduct of schizophrenia. She directed viewers to her comprehensive Google Doc, which she created to address the various diagnoses that have been brought to her.
“People who shift don't lose themselves in the DR,” she said, adding that shifting does not prevent them from living a normal life. “As I go about my day, I am not influenced by the desire to change reality. I am not influenced by thinking about DR. During the day she hardly thinks about DR.”
Even though shift workers may claim that their daily life is not affected because it does not significantly limit their ability to function, that does not mean there is no need to worry. For example, people with schizophrenia tend to believe in magical thinking and often have difficulty distinguishing dreams from reality.
“Altered states of consciousness are normal to human experience,” said therapist Eric Anderson. USA Today. “Some people may come back from such an intense state of daydreaming and say, “Oh, I just had this interesting fantasy.'' I dreamed. I was daydreaming.'' Some people come back and say, “No, that wasn't a daydream.” That was real.''
To a lesser extent, using shifting as a means of escaping reality may indicate maladaptive daydreaming. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this occurs when you daydream excessively to avoid dealing with everyday life. Researchers have found that people who experience it have extremely vivid and detailed daydreams.
If someone vividly imagines a life with a family, it could be a product of loneliness, Anderson explained. Detailed fantasies about being a student at Hogwarts or a hobbit in Tolkien's Middle-earth may suggest that you crave a life with more adventure.
“In previous generations, there were just as many people like this…But now we have the Internet, so these people can form online communities,” Anderson said. The existence of the ShiftTok community shows that it is difficult to ignore people who are struggling with their perception of reality. But as they struggle with their unique experiences, it can be comforting to know they may not be alone.
