If you’ve been wandering around the internet recently you may have heard the term, maladaptive daydreaming.
But what exactly is it?
While it may seem on the surface to be a fun daydream, it is actually more complicated than that…
What is maladaptive daydreaming?
Maladaptive daydreaming is a mental issue where a person regularly experiences prolonged bouts of daydreaming, often for hours at a time.
These daydreams are usually much more vivid, intense and complex than regular daydreams, with multiple characters and intricate storylines.
Daydreaming in of itself is completely normal, and everybody spends time in their own head every now and again, but maladaptive daydreaming can be all-consuming and often interferes with a person’s daily life, including work, study and socialising.
In 2002, clinical psychology professor Eli Somer coined the term ‘maladaptive daydreaming’, although it is not recognised as a mental disorder. However, many professionals associate it with or consider it a by-product of, other mental disorders such as ADHD, OCD, anxiety and depression.
The condition is believed to be an unhealthy coping mechanism in response to previous trauma or an underlying mental health issue. Maladaptive daydreams can be extremely intense and distracting, so much so that a person experiencing this condition may disassociate from their surroundings and stop whatever task they are doing so that they can focus on the daydream.
Maladaptive daydreams are often triggered by real-life events or stimuli such as music, movies, and even smell. Another characteristic that separates the condition from regular daydreaming is that a maladaptive daydreamer will often become so immersed in their daydreams that they unconsciously mimic the actions or repeat the lines of characters from their daydream.
It is also usually a compulsive habit, meaning daydreamers feel the need to dedicate time to daydreaming and become agitated if they don’t get the opportunity to do so.
What are the symptoms?
There is not enough research done to produce a spot-on list of symptoms, as they differ from person to person. However, there are some symptoms that are common to most maladaptive daydreamers:
- Vivid, intricate daydreams that consist of complex storylines and multiple characters.
- Daydreaming about an idealised version of oneself, often in a fantastical setting.
- Daydreaming for hours at a time.
- Unconscious facial expressions, movements, talking and laughing that coincides with events happening in the daydream.
- Often feeling a need or strong desire to daydream at least once a day.
- Finding it difficult to focus on tasks or socialise with others as you become distracted by your daydreams.
- Difficulty with sleeping.
- Maladaptive daydreams tend to be a lot more dramatic or intense in content than normal daydreams. Look out for daydreams including themes like power, violence, sex, heroism and loss.
As maladaptive daydreaming is not a recognised disorder right now, professionals cannot diagnose someone with this condition.
Research does suggest that there are connections between maladaptive daydreaming and other mental disorders such as ADHD and OCD, as well as depression and anxiety.
Therefore, testing for those conditions might help you find more answers about maladaptive daydreaming. Professionals have also created the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS), a self-assessment questionnaire that can help doctors determine if someone is struggling with maladaptive daydreaming.
How Can It Be Treated?
Unfortunately, there is no established course of treatment for maladaptive daydreaming, as researchers are still unsure as to what causes the condition in the first place.
If you are already receiving treatment for conditions linked to maladaptive daydreaming, especially ADHD, OCD and dissociation, there is some research that suggests that medication for these mental health issues can also help reduce maladaptive daydreaming.
If you believe that you struggle with maladaptive daydreaming, especially to the extent that it is interfering with your daily life, then it is highly recommended that you consider therapy.
A therapist can help you resolve any underlying trauma that might be causing the excessive daydreaming, or they can provide different strategies to help you manage your symptoms, for example, grounding techniques.
It is also recommended that you keep a record of your daydreams, taking note of what was happening before you started daydreaming, how many times a day it happens and how long they last. Keeping a record helps you notice trends and interrupt your own habits.
A good amount of sleep, exercise and sunlight helps too, of course. Feeling relaxed and energised can reduce the amount of time you spend in your head and motivate you to stay active in the world around you.
Words by Aicha Chalouche