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A thread about Maladaptive Daydreaming since I see the word being thrown around a lot
Maladaptive Daydreaming is a psychiatric condition that causes intense daydreaming that distracts a person from real life. It's often caused by trauma, abuse or loneliness and used as a coping mechanism.
Maladaptive daydreamers build a complex and detailed imaginary world with their own characters and plot in which they escape. A lot listen to music while daydreaming, it can also help to build the world or scenario.
Maladaptive daydreamers have an overwhelming desire to daydream and are not in control to just stop.
They have difficulties to complete their daily tasks, like cleaning, doing homework, studying etc. sometimes even eating, and hygiene
They have difficulties to complete their daily tasks, like cleaning, doing homework, studying etc. sometimes even eating, and hygiene
It can also affect their social life badly because it's so hard to pull yourself out of your own mind.
A lot also have trouble sleeping.
A lot also have trouble sleeping.
While daydreaming they usually show repetitive behaviour/movements such as pacing, rocking back and forth, snapping, clapping, tapping your feet etc.
Maladaptive daydreamers daydream for hours. Usually the longest when they are alone but they also tend to daydream while being with other people, making it hard to hold conversations.
They talk to themselves, whisper or just mouth the words that they are saying in their daydream. They also laugh, cry, smile etc. depending on the scenario.
Triggers can basically be everything. A conversation you had, something you read, something you saw, movies, tv shows, music etc.
Please remember that it's maladaptive daydreaming if it makes it hard to complete daily tasks and/or has a bad affect on your social life.
It's also important to remember that maladaptive daydreamers can tell real life and the daydream apart. We do not think that it happened for real. We are aware that the people aren't really there.
Feel free to add more to this or tell me if I forgot something!
