Maladaptive daydreaming is characterized by the mind drifting in a way that is so extreme that it can negatively impact the life of a person. The fantasies are more complex than the normal wandering around or drifting. There’s no cure for daydreaming that isn’t adaptive, however, techniques for coping may help you end it.
This article will explore the causes and symptoms of excessive daydreaming. The article also explains how it’s diagnosed and what you can do to manage it.
What Is Maladaptive Daydreaming?
Maladaptive Daydreaming that is not adaptive is more than the normal, occasionally occurring thoughts wandering around the mind. It is characterized by vivid, excessive fantasies that could hinder an individual’s ability to live a normal life, and ultimately create stress.
Sometimes the fantasies may become so complicated and fascinating that one could lose hours absorbed in them, even to the point that they replace contact with the real world. In these dreams, individuals create imaginary characters or imagined self-images.
Although maladaptive daydreaming isn’t currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a psychiatric disorder that is officially recognized research suggests that obsessive-compulsive and dissociative factors are involved, suggesting that there is a more serious clinical diagnosis.
Other researchers view the endless fantasy as a sign of addiction to behavior.
Maladaptive Daydreaming Symptoms
A few of the most common characteristics and signs that are associated with the disorder of maladaptive daydreaming are:
- A lot of time, and sometimes a complete immersion in fantasy for several hours per day
- Unable to put aside daydreams
- Very detailed fantasies including characters and plot lines
- Real-life reactions to fantasies, such as body movements, facial expressions, or even verbalizations
- Trouble concentrating or focusing on other aspects
- Sleep issues (especially the inability to fall asleep)
- Replacing human interaction
- The desire to keep fantasizing is triggered when it is interrupted.
In certain instances, nonadaptive daydreaming may also be defined by the requirement for more stimulation. This can be accomplished through intense book-reading and watching films or playing.
What Causes Maladaptive Daydreaming?
The research hasn’t yet revealed the causes of maladaptive daydreaming however, it’s believed to be a way to cope with previous trauma or anxiety over social interaction.
Children (or anyone of any age) might develop maladaptive daydreaming in order to escape a hostile or traumatizing environment.
For those who experience maladaptive dreams Some causes could include listening to music through headphones, watching movies, or hearing conversations about specific topics.
Other Potential Reasons for Unhelpful Daydreaming
Other than processing traumas, additional reasons for daydreaming that are not adaptive are:
- Wish fulfillment
- Entertainment (regulating boredom or a feeling of isolation)
- Regulating distress
How to Recognize Maladaptive Daydreaming
While daydreaming is a normal thing for the majority of people, those who have maladaptive daydreaming devote more than a quarter their time to a single dream. If you’re a daydreamer who is maladaptive The fantasies can be intense, usually with a storyline in mind, and the urge to repeat the fantasies is intense or even addictive.
Since maladaptive daydreaming doesn’t constitute a psychiatric condition The diagnosis of this disorder will not be made by a medical professional or a mental health professional. Instead, a self-reporting test is a good way to determine whether someone suffers from maladaptive daydreaming.
In the 14-part test of the maladaptive dreaming scale, the patient is asked questions regarding the severity and frequency of various symptoms associated with the disorder. Some examples of questions that are part of the test are:
- What is happening during your dreams? How detailed and vivid are they?
- Do you have the ability to keep yourself from dreaming? Do you really want to?
- Do your dreams influence your daily routine?
The ability to manage daydreams and to recognize the advantages and stress of daydreams is evaluated to aid in self-diagnosing abnormal daydreaming.
Related Conditions
Although some studies have found that maladaptive daydreaming is associated with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) however, the connection between the two disorders isn’t yet fully recognized. One of the major issues that is not fully understood is whether daydreaming that is maladaptive is an individual psychiatric condition or is a sign of a different disorder such as the dissociative disorder, OCD as well as something completely different.
One study showed that even though the maladaptive way of thinking about daydreams could be something like an anxiety or mental obsession OCD obsessions are generally linked to anxiety and stress however for certain people types, it can be more enjoyable and voluntary.
How to Quit Unhelpful Daydreaming
Since so much is unclear or isn’t fully known about maladaptive daydreaming, and because it’s not recognized officially as a disorder, there aren’t any treatment options for the condition that are standard.
In a case study, researchers discovered that fluvoxamine, an antidepressant that is used to treat OCD was able to alleviate the symptoms of daydreaming that is maladaptive.
Therapy can also assist in avoiding excessive daydreaming that is not adapted to your needs. A psychotherapist or mental health counselor can help you identify the triggers that cause you to be anxious and ways to stay clear of them. They can also assist you in discovering ways to make your maladaptive daydreams less satisfying, and you’ll be more likely to end them.
Issues
The effects of maladaptive daydreaming are all-consuming, and it could cause you to disconnect from the people and surroundings around you. The complications of the disorder include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Focus impairment
- Poor work or school performance
- Anxiety
- Depression
Coping
While there isn’t a formal treatment for daydreaming that isn’t adaptive, however, there are several strategies to manage it. They include:
- Practice mindfulness and meditation
- Maintaining a diary, noting the factors that lead to the maladaptive behavior as well as the thoughts and emotions
- Making use of coping strategies that are convincing and beneficial
- Identifying triggers or stressors that are specific to the situation
- Giving self-praising when successful in stopping a case of non-adaptive daydreaming
- Achieving a regular sleeping schedule
- Exposure to sunlight, particularly in the early morning
- Consuming a moderate amount of caffeine (less than 400 milligrams daily)
Summary
Daydreaming that is not in sync with your needs can lead to thoughts that are constantly wandering around and fantasies that can negatively affect your life. To combat it, talk to your physician or mental health specialist. They can help you formulate and implement strategies to prevent excessive daydreaming and also process any trauma that may trigger these episodes.
