Why Do I Create Stories in My Head?

For some people, ruminating thoughts are a way to control anxiety. It may mean you're replaying life events in an attempt to make sure that next time, you're prepared and won't feel as anxious. Repeating entire conversations in your head is a type of rumination. It's how your mind attempts to self-soothe.

Is creating stories in your head a disorder?

Sometimes a person with confabulation will only make up small stories to fill gaps in their memory. Doctors call these “confabulations of embarrassment.” Others may tell elaborate stories, which is known as “fantastic confabulation.” Confabulation isn't a disorder itself. It's a symptom of an underlying disorder.

Why do we create stories in your head?

“Stories give us opportunities to live in other people's lives and to experience what they might be experiencing and that's a very powerful opportunity to learn about worlds that we haven't been in yet,” says Zak.