5 Signs It's Maladaptive Daydreaming, NOT Just Daydreaming
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Date: 2023-08-20
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Comments and reviews: 25
psych2go
My daydreams are vivid, so much so that I can basically see two things at once to almost the same degree: my daydream and reality. But my daydreams are never about me so I never mistake them for reality. And they're usually about another world, usually expressed through a visual art median that my daydream adapts to and moves around to fit my story, even if the art is stationary. So I can daydream an entire moving conversation between two fictional 2D characters in a specific drawing style that were from a webtoon and I never saw move. And it doesn't have the dream like cloudy affect, but I know it's a veil over reality and I can pull it off to find reality when I want. But when I don't want to, I do things that I'm not even aware of. I often rewind the song fueling my daydream without even being aware of it. I bump into things too, not too much because I usually daydream in my room. When I'm out and about and have to focus, I take any opportunity to daydream again and when I can't I often long to go back home so I can daydream. I sometimes tell people I don't feel like hanging out or talking when I daydream, which is all the time, so most of the time I just force myself to hang out and it's never as bad or boring as I fear
Also, like I've said, my daydreams are never about me so I don't think I'm somewhere I'm not, or make too specific gestures. I just pace unless it's an emotional scene in someway and then I act out some movements, maybe a bit of a run, a twirl, mouthing the words, stuff like that. My daydreaming does affect my actual sleep, because I can't control my dreams and they're too boring for me, while my daydream I remember, can pick back up on, and is more engrossing. I do have more control of when I'm daydreaming and when I get out of daydreaming, so it's not so bad, but I can see how it could get worse. Maybe I'm not a maladaptive daydreamer, maybe I just daydream too much. I think really the reasons I haven't drifted too far are that 1) I take work seriously, so I'm not likely to doze off there, despite wanting to a lot of the time, 2) I can't daydream as effectively without music and a place to pace (because I get self conscious when I notice people see me and that makes me stop, 3) I always daydream about fictional people in fictional worlds, so I can't confuse it with my own life if it gets too intense, and 4) I switch up the daydream to different worlds (I have a ton) within the many hours I daydream, so I can't play out a whole event start to finish and even if it's in the same world with the same premise sometimes it's jumpy from one imaginary event to another.
This was really really long omg
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My daydreams are vivid, so much so that I can basically see two things at once to almost the same degree: my daydream and reality. But my daydreams are never about me so I never mistake them for reality. And they're usually about another world, usually expressed through a visual art median that my daydream adapts to and moves around to fit my story, even if the art is stationary. So I can daydream an entire moving conversation between two fictional 2D characters in a specific drawing style that were from a webtoon and I never saw move. And it doesn't have the dream like cloudy affect, but I know it's a veil over reality and I can pull it off to find reality when I want. But when I don't want to, I do things that I'm not even aware of. I often rewind the song fueling my daydream without even being aware of it. I bump into things too, not too much because I usually daydream in my room. When I'm out and about and have to focus, I take any opportunity to daydream again and when I can't I often long to go back home so I can daydream. I sometimes tell people I don't feel like hanging out or talking when I daydream, which is all the time, so most of the time I just force myself to hang out and it's never as bad or boring as I fear
Also, like I've said, my daydreams are never about me so I don't think I'm somewhere I'm not, or make too specific gestures. I just pace unless it's an emotional scene in someway and then I act out some movements, maybe a bit of a run, a twirl, mouthing the words, stuff like that. My daydreaming does affect my actual sleep, because I can't control my dreams and they're too boring for me, while my daydream I remember, can pick back up on, and is more engrossing. I do have more control of when I'm daydreaming and when I get out of daydreaming, so it's not so bad, but I can see how it could get worse. Maybe I'm not a maladaptive daydreamer, maybe I just daydream too much. I think really the reasons I haven't drifted too far are that 1) I take work seriously, so I'm not likely to doze off there, despite wanting to a lot of the time, 2) I can't daydream as effectively without music and a place to pace (because I get self conscious when I notice people see me and that makes me stop, 3) I always daydream about fictional people in fictional worlds, so I can't confuse it with my own life if it gets too intense, and 4) I switch up the daydream to different worlds (I have a ton) within the many hours I daydream, so I can't play out a whole event start to finish and even if it's in the same world with the same premise sometimes it's jumpy from one imaginary event to another.
This was really really long omg
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Paulina
So I like and agree in general with what you've said in this video. I want to make that clear. Thing is, Maladaptive Daydreaming isn't the same for everyone. I don't have a diagnosis, only think that I have a very high chance of being a maladaptive daydreamer thanks to other sources, but if I only diagnosed myself from your video I would have a lot of doubt. The speaking out loud thing, for example, isn't something I would do because I am quiet. I make facial expressions because I haven't had to check my face so often during lockdown, and I pace in private, but I do my best to keep it private so no one notices that I don't pay nearly as much attention as I should. So I don't really have these problems in public, but rather in private. That makes it harder for me to tell if I am doing something that would weird others out, because they are not there to draw attention to my facial expression. For all I know, I could just be pacing to get the creative juices flowing. And the points about distinguishing from reality/being unable to leave the daydream are problems for people whose daydreams involve them in a fictional, but otherwise identical version of our reality, but assuming my self-diagnosis is right then there is another scenario which is the one I am used to, and that's taking fictional characters from video games, shows, the likes and imagining them in different scenarios or even whole new stories with them in it. Pokemon, Digimon, Legend of Zelda, and currently Ace Attorney are all real-life pieces of media and entertainment that have nothing to do with me, whose protagonists and characters have nothing to do with me, yet I dream about them for a rough minimum of three hours each day (though of course I don't actually pay attention to how long I daydream, so this number is probably lowballing it. That means that I do know that my daydreams aren't reality, but I still immerse myself in them for hours on end, even when I should be trying to sleep, and ultimately go back to the daydreams even when I shouldn't - at school, for example, I often find myself ignoring the teachers in favour of my daydreams, especially when I'm not that good in a subject.
Again, I have not been diagnosed by a professional. In fact, it would be best to only listen to my experience if it is backed up by others. I do feel and think that my situation fits the defintion of Maladaptive Daydreaming, however, and hope that what I've written here helps understand how maladaptive daydreaming works.
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So I like and agree in general with what you've said in this video. I want to make that clear. Thing is, Maladaptive Daydreaming isn't the same for everyone. I don't have a diagnosis, only think that I have a very high chance of being a maladaptive daydreamer thanks to other sources, but if I only diagnosed myself from your video I would have a lot of doubt. The speaking out loud thing, for example, isn't something I would do because I am quiet. I make facial expressions because I haven't had to check my face so often during lockdown, and I pace in private, but I do my best to keep it private so no one notices that I don't pay nearly as much attention as I should. So I don't really have these problems in public, but rather in private. That makes it harder for me to tell if I am doing something that would weird others out, because they are not there to draw attention to my facial expression. For all I know, I could just be pacing to get the creative juices flowing. And the points about distinguishing from reality/being unable to leave the daydream are problems for people whose daydreams involve them in a fictional, but otherwise identical version of our reality, but assuming my self-diagnosis is right then there is another scenario which is the one I am used to, and that's taking fictional characters from video games, shows, the likes and imagining them in different scenarios or even whole new stories with them in it. Pokemon, Digimon, Legend of Zelda, and currently Ace Attorney are all real-life pieces of media and entertainment that have nothing to do with me, whose protagonists and characters have nothing to do with me, yet I dream about them for a rough minimum of three hours each day (though of course I don't actually pay attention to how long I daydream, so this number is probably lowballing it. That means that I do know that my daydreams aren't reality, but I still immerse myself in them for hours on end, even when I should be trying to sleep, and ultimately go back to the daydreams even when I shouldn't - at school, for example, I often find myself ignoring the teachers in favour of my daydreams, especially when I'm not that good in a subject.
Again, I have not been diagnosed by a professional. In fact, it would be best to only listen to my experience if it is backed up by others. I do feel and think that my situation fits the defintion of Maladaptive Daydreaming, however, and hope that what I've written here helps understand how maladaptive daydreaming works.
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nat
my daydreaming started at 8, it was early 2017, when i got a small puppy keychain for my birthday. the tip of the puppy's head was a string to hang it somewhere. i've played with the string for hours sitting, shaking the puppy's body so that the string can move and i imagined it being long hair, dresses, skirts, basically made people in my mind who were moving all the time. you know these anime girls that have shiny long hair, waving all the time when she's moving? yeah, that's it. the need to do that got stronger with music, since i could do a whole new scenario with my characters. 6 years passed and i still have this puppy keychain with me. playing with it every day, just like i used to. still wasting my precious time of the day to delve into imaginary scenarios. every day, i put on my earphones and walk around the room aggresively, syncing my moves to the song, most of the time i listen to one specific part of a song, like the chorus. i jump, run, walk, sometimes dance while walking. it happens every time i'm bored, even though i have A LOT of work to do. i start at 7 pm, ending at midnight, then showering and actually taking care of myself, then waking up at 6 am for school.
it's a really unhealthy condition/addiction, i don't have much sleeping time, and i don't take my chores seriously. i get lost in my imaginary world, which affects me.
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my daydreaming started at 8, it was early 2017, when i got a small puppy keychain for my birthday. the tip of the puppy's head was a string to hang it somewhere. i've played with the string for hours sitting, shaking the puppy's body so that the string can move and i imagined it being long hair, dresses, skirts, basically made people in my mind who were moving all the time. you know these anime girls that have shiny long hair, waving all the time when she's moving? yeah, that's it. the need to do that got stronger with music, since i could do a whole new scenario with my characters. 6 years passed and i still have this puppy keychain with me. playing with it every day, just like i used to. still wasting my precious time of the day to delve into imaginary scenarios. every day, i put on my earphones and walk around the room aggresively, syncing my moves to the song, most of the time i listen to one specific part of a song, like the chorus. i jump, run, walk, sometimes dance while walking. it happens every time i'm bored, even though i have A LOT of work to do. i start at 7 pm, ending at midnight, then showering and actually taking care of myself, then waking up at 6 am for school.
it's a really unhealthy condition/addiction, i don't have much sleeping time, and i don't take my chores seriously. i get lost in my imaginary world, which affects me.
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Jules
I always daydream and then I start believing my daydreams and deluding myself into sort of. I dont wanna say I belive theyre real, but I feel like they are. Like for example, there is this guy I have a crush on who has no idea I exist, hes a year older than me, its never gonna happen. I started daydreaming one day that we were together and when I woke up from my daydream (idk if thats the way to put it) 2 hours had passed and I was still sitting on the floor of my room, and it seemed like it had only been 20 seconds. Since then it has progressed to be daydreaming, living in my head,
not with just my imaginary boyfriend but with everything I want but cant have. Its like I know its not real but after Ive invented and lived through a little story in my head, then I sort of wake up and feel the same elation I think Id feel if it were real. My grades dropped, I lost a few friends, because Id rather sit in my room and daydream and lie to myself. its really disrupting my life. If anyone knows what to do, pls lmk. The dreams are so vivid, so bright, so real seeming. My sister had taken video of me talking. I cant sleep, Id rather lay in my bed and daydream some more, until boom, its almost 6 am and where did the night go? I definitely have this problem, but my parents say its not a real thing. Please help.
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I always daydream and then I start believing my daydreams and deluding myself into sort of. I dont wanna say I belive theyre real, but I feel like they are. Like for example, there is this guy I have a crush on who has no idea I exist, hes a year older than me, its never gonna happen. I started daydreaming one day that we were together and when I woke up from my daydream (idk if thats the way to put it) 2 hours had passed and I was still sitting on the floor of my room, and it seemed like it had only been 20 seconds. Since then it has progressed to be daydreaming, living in my head,
not with just my imaginary boyfriend but with everything I want but cant have. Its like I know its not real but after Ive invented and lived through a little story in my head, then I sort of wake up and feel the same elation I think Id feel if it were real. My grades dropped, I lost a few friends, because Id rather sit in my room and daydream and lie to myself. its really disrupting my life. If anyone knows what to do, pls lmk. The dreams are so vivid, so bright, so real seeming. My sister had taken video of me talking. I cant sleep, Id rather lay in my bed and daydream some more, until boom, its almost 6 am and where did the night go? I definitely have this problem, but my parents say its not a real thing. Please help.
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PastelDemon07
I had this thing like a week ago, I asked my mom if we still had painkillers or something like that. Then she said, We only have three left. I sighed and said What, only three for this intire week? I still don't know if this was a dream or not. Stuff like this has been happening alot to me, and my mental health also has been declining rapidly lately.
My sleep has been terrible, I've only been able to dream about a secific group of people from a show. Yes it can be comforting, but it got to a point where it interrupts daily stuff. Sleeping is a MASSIVE struggle, I would be up till around 5 am, wakeup at 3 pm. My intire day gone, I havent gone to school anymore either, mental health is terrible, and I cant concentrate for a second. Every small thing I try to do, I get distracted for a second, and start dreaming again. Sometimes i'm aware that i have been dreaming. Sometimes I dont. Whenever I dream, I sometimes ramble whats going on in my head, or pull expressions. This might be funny to others, but very emberrasing for me. I dont want to go to therapy again. My last therapists didnt do anything for me, infact they made it worse. And my last therapist ghosted me. I'm honestly so dissapointed in myself that I cant just do what other people can, I havent done anything usefull for years.
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I had this thing like a week ago, I asked my mom if we still had painkillers or something like that. Then she said, We only have three left. I sighed and said What, only three for this intire week? I still don't know if this was a dream or not. Stuff like this has been happening alot to me, and my mental health also has been declining rapidly lately.
My sleep has been terrible, I've only been able to dream about a secific group of people from a show. Yes it can be comforting, but it got to a point where it interrupts daily stuff. Sleeping is a MASSIVE struggle, I would be up till around 5 am, wakeup at 3 pm. My intire day gone, I havent gone to school anymore either, mental health is terrible, and I cant concentrate for a second. Every small thing I try to do, I get distracted for a second, and start dreaming again. Sometimes i'm aware that i have been dreaming. Sometimes I dont. Whenever I dream, I sometimes ramble whats going on in my head, or pull expressions. This might be funny to others, but very emberrasing for me. I dont want to go to therapy again. My last therapists didnt do anything for me, infact they made it worse. And my last therapist ghosted me. I'm honestly so dissapointed in myself that I cant just do what other people can, I havent done anything usefull for years.
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GC
Occasinally I daydream about me but it's usually just that. I can be doing things and suddenly get an URGE to daydream about it, like an itch that won't go away. Once I finally relieve that itch, yay. Sometimes I don't even want to daydream or imagine stuff but I end up doing it and it can get so draining. I can be daydreaming for a bit then I come back to the real world like I can't wait to- oh yeah its not real. what the heck this is trippy. Makes me feel like I'm missing something in life. I tend to daydream for hours/most of the day but I can control when to stop but ofc, the itch will be there still though. I'll be told to do chores but wait, I need to feel satisfied first. I actually have skipped many classes because of this. It's probably draining because of thinking of those images in your head and actually moving a lot during it or maybe it's because I can never continuously daydream because I randomly feel the need to repeat phrases or hit my stomach cuz I feel like something I don't like would happen for some reason. When i daydream I usually put up music and just run around doing weird hand movements for hours. I don't think I maladaptive daydream since I don't really show symptoms like that to an extreme extent and I am not one to self-diagnose
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Occasinally I daydream about me but it's usually just that. I can be doing things and suddenly get an URGE to daydream about it, like an itch that won't go away. Once I finally relieve that itch, yay. Sometimes I don't even want to daydream or imagine stuff but I end up doing it and it can get so draining. I can be daydreaming for a bit then I come back to the real world like I can't wait to- oh yeah its not real. what the heck this is trippy. Makes me feel like I'm missing something in life. I tend to daydream for hours/most of the day but I can control when to stop but ofc, the itch will be there still though. I'll be told to do chores but wait, I need to feel satisfied first. I actually have skipped many classes because of this. It's probably draining because of thinking of those images in your head and actually moving a lot during it or maybe it's because I can never continuously daydream because I randomly feel the need to repeat phrases or hit my stomach cuz I feel like something I don't like would happen for some reason. When i daydream I usually put up music and just run around doing weird hand movements for hours. I don't think I maladaptive daydream since I don't really show symptoms like that to an extreme extent and I am not one to self-diagnose
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Diara
My day dreams get so excessive that (depending on the dream ) I run, jump, say dialogues. I listen to music cause it sets the tone. Or even make entire playlists for one. Listening to 1 song can erupt into a new world. I can cry for hours if I dream of something traumatic. Like actually waterfalls erupt in my eyes. It the only time I really cry
I can tell the difference between day dreams and real life. Because not a lot of people in my realLife are in my daydreams. But I cant get myself to stop daydreaming and focus on my life. I feel like the day dream is my life. I know the characters and things arent real but that doesnt stop me.
Yesterday I woke up early to study around 7 and I spent 6 hours day dreaming. I only realised when my friend called me at 1. I didnt really want to answer but I did cause our exams are going on and I didnt wanna leave her hanging in case she had a question. Ive been doing this for 3 to 4 years now and its constantly comming in the way of my life and Im sick of it. Even today I woke up at 7 but only got to studying by 11. Im here now cause I cant stop. I need help
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My day dreams get so excessive that (depending on the dream ) I run, jump, say dialogues. I listen to music cause it sets the tone. Or even make entire playlists for one. Listening to 1 song can erupt into a new world. I can cry for hours if I dream of something traumatic. Like actually waterfalls erupt in my eyes. It the only time I really cry
I can tell the difference between day dreams and real life. Because not a lot of people in my realLife are in my daydreams. But I cant get myself to stop daydreaming and focus on my life. I feel like the day dream is my life. I know the characters and things arent real but that doesnt stop me.
Yesterday I woke up early to study around 7 and I spent 6 hours day dreaming. I only realised when my friend called me at 1. I didnt really want to answer but I did cause our exams are going on and I didnt wanna leave her hanging in case she had a question. Ive been doing this for 3 to 4 years now and its constantly comming in the way of my life and Im sick of it. Even today I woke up at 7 but only got to studying by 11. Im here now cause I cant stop. I need help
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Lucius
I've got some tips as someone whos been doing this for years! :
-Setting timers (Keeps me as aware as possible to how long its been)
- Taking pics (Proof + I have a horrible memory)
-Trying to keep a journal (Usually forget lol)
-Making my fictional selves (Aka my vers. of my fav characters) go to sleep at the same time as me or just do whatever I'm doing
-I also have issues telling the difference between reality n daydream so I try as MUCH as possible to keep magic in or real ppl out (which is usually pretty easy since my type is VERY fiction based.
Bonus Tips:
-The best places I've found is bathroom and your own room!
-If you pace or smthng like that then take off your shoes! (Socks depend on the person but I like to keep mine on) ESPECIALLY if you have feet prone to ingrown nails!
-If you're trigger is music but hate silence, listen to podcasts instead!
I know these tips might not help everyone but as someone whos pretty sure im a mala-daydreamer, these help me and I hope they can help you too!
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I've got some tips as someone whos been doing this for years! :
-Setting timers (Keeps me as aware as possible to how long its been)
- Taking pics (Proof + I have a horrible memory)
-Trying to keep a journal (Usually forget lol)
-Making my fictional selves (Aka my vers. of my fav characters) go to sleep at the same time as me or just do whatever I'm doing
-I also have issues telling the difference between reality n daydream so I try as MUCH as possible to keep magic in or real ppl out (which is usually pretty easy since my type is VERY fiction based.
Bonus Tips:
-The best places I've found is bathroom and your own room!
-If you pace or smthng like that then take off your shoes! (Socks depend on the person but I like to keep mine on) ESPECIALLY if you have feet prone to ingrown nails!
-If you're trigger is music but hate silence, listen to podcasts instead!
I know these tips might not help everyone but as someone whos pretty sure im a mala-daydreamer, these help me and I hope they can help you too!
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Cookie
I maybe a maladaptive daydreamer cause I cant get diagnosed with because of my ablest parents.
I can tell that my daydreams are not real since I always have to pause and play my daydreams because of my strict parents. I can also tell if its real or not because the daydreams dont actually have me instead I am this made up fictional character and sometimes I can change perspective and see the lives of other characters.
Sometimes the daydreams do include me but thats rare. The problems with pausing and playing my daydream is that I could end up losing my daydream completely and I would have to start all over again with the characters backstory.
I do not struggle with sleep because the daydream I have all day is the dream I use in my sleep. If I do not have a daydream well then I will struggle to get to sleep because it takes a long time to plan out a daydream.
When I daydream I pace in a circle or I rock back and forth sometimes when my character says a sentence I will say a few of those words in real life.
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I maybe a maladaptive daydreamer cause I cant get diagnosed with because of my ablest parents.
I can tell that my daydreams are not real since I always have to pause and play my daydreams because of my strict parents. I can also tell if its real or not because the daydreams dont actually have me instead I am this made up fictional character and sometimes I can change perspective and see the lives of other characters.
Sometimes the daydreams do include me but thats rare. The problems with pausing and playing my daydream is that I could end up losing my daydream completely and I would have to start all over again with the characters backstory.
I do not struggle with sleep because the daydream I have all day is the dream I use in my sleep. If I do not have a daydream well then I will struggle to get to sleep because it takes a long time to plan out a daydream.
When I daydream I pace in a circle or I rock back and forth sometimes when my character says a sentence I will say a few of those words in real life.
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Anonymous
I do this all the time.
My main reason is I feel safe and loved in those daydreams.
Someone's there to make me feel worthy, to care and make me feel living. Actually Maladaptive daydreaming is the only way where I feel myself living, otherwise my OCD and self harming thoughts eat me up.
I don't have friends in reality but there I have so many supporting friends, they comfort me whenever I am weak.
But now its ruining my life, nowadays I am unable to differentiate between real or unreal. I don't feel myself real in reality but I do have lots of emotions in my daydreams. I don't know what to do. I try but it doesn't work. I am stuck in this unknowing situation. I wanna live in reality but I am scared of it, all those abuses happened, don't let me.
I have almost ruined most precious high school years of my life where it was my turning point to career, Now with 20 days left to prepare for exams I have no motivation. I am not okay, really not okay. I'm just living on my daydreams. I am tired.
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I do this all the time.
My main reason is I feel safe and loved in those daydreams.
Someone's there to make me feel worthy, to care and make me feel living. Actually Maladaptive daydreaming is the only way where I feel myself living, otherwise my OCD and self harming thoughts eat me up.
I don't have friends in reality but there I have so many supporting friends, they comfort me whenever I am weak.
But now its ruining my life, nowadays I am unable to differentiate between real or unreal. I don't feel myself real in reality but I do have lots of emotions in my daydreams. I don't know what to do. I try but it doesn't work. I am stuck in this unknowing situation. I wanna live in reality but I am scared of it, all those abuses happened, don't let me.
I have almost ruined most precious high school years of my life where it was my turning point to career, Now with 20 days left to prepare for exams I have no motivation. I am not okay, really not okay. I'm just living on my daydreams. I am tired.
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Dolly_melody_subs
I have a question that might seem kind of strange but if anyone could answer it would be appreciated. In order to have maladaptive daydreaming do you have to be present within your day dreaming? I have vivid daydreaming of imaginary worlds I've created and I spend most my days pacing around my room imagining my characters act out very vivid scenes repeatedly for hours on end it interferes with getting school work done and maintaining family and friend connections but I myself am usually never present within the day dream. More like watching a script of a movie play out where I don't exist. Just asking because when I hear other maladaptive daydreamers talking about their experiences they always seem to be present as a person or character within their daydream but it isn't like that for me necessarily. Although alot of times I do have daydreams where my characters come into my world to talk to me but I never go into their world if that makes sense? Hope this made sense to anyone reading it.
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I have a question that might seem kind of strange but if anyone could answer it would be appreciated. In order to have maladaptive daydreaming do you have to be present within your day dreaming? I have vivid daydreaming of imaginary worlds I've created and I spend most my days pacing around my room imagining my characters act out very vivid scenes repeatedly for hours on end it interferes with getting school work done and maintaining family and friend connections but I myself am usually never present within the day dream. More like watching a script of a movie play out where I don't exist. Just asking because when I hear other maladaptive daydreamers talking about their experiences they always seem to be present as a person or character within their daydream but it isn't like that for me necessarily. Although alot of times I do have daydreams where my characters come into my world to talk to me but I never go into their world if that makes sense? Hope this made sense to anyone reading it.
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Hyperf1sh
Okay here we go, so
I have this super weird habit where Ill go outside in my backyard multiple times a day (maybe 2-6 times depending on the weather and other responsibilities. Ill grab my phone, and a pair of wireless headphones and swing on a swing set for around 15 mins - 2 hours (depending on weather and mood and whatnot. I play different songs and daydream sometimes according to the lyrics of the song, sometimes according to the theme of the song, or on rare occasions not related to the song at all. Idk why but whenever I dont go outside and swing at least twice a day I get really irritated. At this point its like an addiction. Is this maladaptive daydreaming?
Also important to add, when I do this sometimes Ill speak the daydream out loud or unconsciously make facial expressions. Also, I have depression, anxiety, and adhd. So those are probably linked to each other
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Okay here we go, so
I have this super weird habit where Ill go outside in my backyard multiple times a day (maybe 2-6 times depending on the weather and other responsibilities. Ill grab my phone, and a pair of wireless headphones and swing on a swing set for around 15 mins - 2 hours (depending on weather and mood and whatnot. I play different songs and daydream sometimes according to the lyrics of the song, sometimes according to the theme of the song, or on rare occasions not related to the song at all. Idk why but whenever I dont go outside and swing at least twice a day I get really irritated. At this point its like an addiction. Is this maladaptive daydreaming?
Also important to add, when I do this sometimes Ill speak the daydream out loud or unconsciously make facial expressions. Also, I have depression, anxiety, and adhd. So those are probably linked to each other
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NSellak
I have some of these signs but I don't have others
Like Im a very heavy sleeper I just close my eyes and I'm gone
Also I'm glad and happy to say that I don't have any trama or depression but I did have a lot of imaginary friends when I was younger
Also my daydreaming is intense and I do whisper some times but it doesn't take a long time at most 30 min and I can do it on command when I'm alone and don't have anything to do
But I never daydream when I don't want to or Im focusing
Last thing I always remember where I'am and I don't forget about it
I think I had it for so long since I was like 6 I learned how to control it maybe
I feel like I'm in the fictional world and the real world at the same time almost as if I'm just watching a movie with the controller in my hand
Could you guys tell me what do you think about this
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I have some of these signs but I don't have others
Like Im a very heavy sleeper I just close my eyes and I'm gone
Also I'm glad and happy to say that I don't have any trama or depression but I did have a lot of imaginary friends when I was younger
Also my daydreaming is intense and I do whisper some times but it doesn't take a long time at most 30 min and I can do it on command when I'm alone and don't have anything to do
But I never daydream when I don't want to or Im focusing
Last thing I always remember where I'am and I don't forget about it
I think I had it for so long since I was like 6 I learned how to control it maybe
I feel like I'm in the fictional world and the real world at the same time almost as if I'm just watching a movie with the controller in my hand
Could you guys tell me what do you think about this
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psych2go
now i dont have a diagnosis, but my day dreaming gets so bad that i could spend 3 HOURS pretending as if i was in an interview bc i was in a movie or sum. whatever fun thing my brain could make up. I know it isnt real, but i use it as a comfort thing and a strong urge which eventually leads me to get lost in the daydream that it feels normal or almost real. In this interview i talk, pace, and listen to music. i do it in my head sometimes, but yk its always better out loud lol. i know how to control it when around people, but it does affect my life and school studies when im alone. it helps with my stress, and helps me be less uptight but it does cause me to feel disassociated from reality for a bit. i feel like i tend to overly question things about life that i normally wouldn't. i might start therapy soon, and if so ill ask abt it.
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now i dont have a diagnosis, but my day dreaming gets so bad that i could spend 3 HOURS pretending as if i was in an interview bc i was in a movie or sum. whatever fun thing my brain could make up. I know it isnt real, but i use it as a comfort thing and a strong urge which eventually leads me to get lost in the daydream that it feels normal or almost real. In this interview i talk, pace, and listen to music. i do it in my head sometimes, but yk its always better out loud lol. i know how to control it when around people, but it does affect my life and school studies when im alone. it helps with my stress, and helps me be less uptight but it does cause me to feel disassociated from reality for a bit. i feel like i tend to overly question things about life that i normally wouldn't. i might start therapy soon, and if so ill ask abt it.
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BratzB00
At my next appointment i was going to talk to my therapist about this. I usually doze off but its taken longer amounts of time. Its getting harder for me to go back and forth from the dream to reality. I'm consistently losing track of time. Its 2: 07 am at the moment and im up daydreaming. Sometimes i go do something cause i need something and i stop halfway, go the rest of the way and sit back down thinking i had done what i needed to do. I go through the cycle multiple times before its actually done. It just weird and i didn't know it was a problem. Sometimes i will be with someone then i completely blackout daydream not knowing for how long. I wake up after a while not knowing where i am so i look around and figure it out. Yet i am still in the in between state. I will make sure to tell my therapist and see what she says.
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At my next appointment i was going to talk to my therapist about this. I usually doze off but its taken longer amounts of time. Its getting harder for me to go back and forth from the dream to reality. I'm consistently losing track of time. Its 2: 07 am at the moment and im up daydreaming. Sometimes i go do something cause i need something and i stop halfway, go the rest of the way and sit back down thinking i had done what i needed to do. I go through the cycle multiple times before its actually done. It just weird and i didn't know it was a problem. Sometimes i will be with someone then i completely blackout daydream not knowing for how long. I wake up after a while not knowing where i am so i look around and figure it out. Yet i am still in the in between state. I will make sure to tell my therapist and see what she says.
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knts8411
Around the start of this year, I've created a fleshed out fantasy in my head. Apparently my parents died, and a couple adopted me-- a meek and polite housewife and her wise, hardworking husband. My daydreams with them were very sweet ones, as they can't keep up with me hehe, but we still love each other nonetheless. Then there's my other friends whom I sorta fleshed out? They're pretty neat. One of them is my supposed boyfriend. Another detail is that I am a cisbi teen boy in my daydreams, I am a cisbi girl irl.
Anyways I don't think it's thaaat bad but at most edging towards maladaptive, sometimes i just drift off to my fake world, intention and not. Sometimes I forget reality, sometimes I remember.
Aside from this being a vent dump, i just wanna hear yall's thoughts, even if it's not 100% accurate.
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Around the start of this year, I've created a fleshed out fantasy in my head. Apparently my parents died, and a couple adopted me-- a meek and polite housewife and her wise, hardworking husband. My daydreams with them were very sweet ones, as they can't keep up with me hehe, but we still love each other nonetheless. Then there's my other friends whom I sorta fleshed out? They're pretty neat. One of them is my supposed boyfriend. Another detail is that I am a cisbi teen boy in my daydreams, I am a cisbi girl irl.
Anyways I don't think it's thaaat bad but at most edging towards maladaptive, sometimes i just drift off to my fake world, intention and not. Sometimes I forget reality, sometimes I remember.
Aside from this being a vent dump, i just wanna hear yall's thoughts, even if it's not 100% accurate.
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Lancelot
I both unintentionally and purposely daydream, I daydream a lot especially when I have headphones on during lunch breaks or when I'm alone, I am aware that I am daydream and can easily snap out of it, it's something I've been doing to avoid the negatives emotions and to pass time, my friends told me that when I do, I just stare into nothing, sitting there motionless, sometimes with my jaw dropped. I've become so addicted to it that I always want to find time to myself and just sit their imagining things with complex stories, characters with their own emotions, life, problems, extended families, jobs, what their parents do etc. But I never get lost to the point I confused it as reality.
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I both unintentionally and purposely daydream, I daydream a lot especially when I have headphones on during lunch breaks or when I'm alone, I am aware that I am daydream and can easily snap out of it, it's something I've been doing to avoid the negatives emotions and to pass time, my friends told me that when I do, I just stare into nothing, sitting there motionless, sometimes with my jaw dropped. I've become so addicted to it that I always want to find time to myself and just sit their imagining things with complex stories, characters with their own emotions, life, problems, extended families, jobs, what their parents do etc. But I never get lost to the point I confused it as reality.
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sof
Wow, I guess I am really a maladaptive daydreamer. However, I do know that it's just a daydream and it will never happen which makes me sad lol. And yes, I do lose track of time when I daydream and it gotten to the point where I would rather daydream than do my homework which is pretty bad: ') I would get so invested in my daydream that I would smile, laugh, or even cry unintentionally which makes my parents wonder if I'm crazy or not XD. I would often pace around my room and even have background music to fully elevate my dream (which happens A LOT) and sometimes I enjoy my life in my head more than reality, which is kind of depressing lol hehe.
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Wow, I guess I am really a maladaptive daydreamer. However, I do know that it's just a daydream and it will never happen which makes me sad lol. And yes, I do lose track of time when I daydream and it gotten to the point where I would rather daydream than do my homework which is pretty bad: ') I would get so invested in my daydream that I would smile, laugh, or even cry unintentionally which makes my parents wonder if I'm crazy or not XD. I would often pace around my room and even have background music to fully elevate my dream (which happens A LOT) and sometimes I enjoy my life in my head more than reality, which is kind of depressing lol hehe.
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Marrenlann
I have a question. I often have real life events and soon after (even hours or days after the event) I trick my mind into believing that it was all a dream. An example being, I was in the car with my mom and I look over and said I had a really random dream years ago that a hot air balloon landed in my yard. She responded with that wasnt a dream. This has happened multiple times in the last few years. Is this just something I alone deal with or is this a real thing? I also tend to loose myself between the real world and dreams. Often asking myself if the event I just experienced or something that happened a while back was real or not.
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I have a question. I often have real life events and soon after (even hours or days after the event) I trick my mind into believing that it was all a dream. An example being, I was in the car with my mom and I look over and said I had a really random dream years ago that a hot air balloon landed in my yard. She responded with that wasnt a dream. This has happened multiple times in the last few years. Is this just something I alone deal with or is this a real thing? I also tend to loose myself between the real world and dreams. Often asking myself if the event I just experienced or something that happened a while back was real or not.
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Ilove
I got all the symptoms except for number 5. I still can recognize what's real and not. I'm scared. I've been trying to control it. Everytime I listen to music, reading stories, watching dramas, get angry, sad and etc. I lost control. And sometimes I didn't even notice that I was starting daydreaming again. I thought it would stop as I get old but was wrong. My little daydreaming before when I was a kid turned to maladaptive daydreaming now Now I don't know how to escape in my own created world. It keeps pulling me in and ruining my life.
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I got all the symptoms except for number 5. I still can recognize what's real and not. I'm scared. I've been trying to control it. Everytime I listen to music, reading stories, watching dramas, get angry, sad and etc. I lost control. And sometimes I didn't even notice that I was starting daydreaming again. I thought it would stop as I get old but was wrong. My little daydreaming before when I was a kid turned to maladaptive daydreaming now Now I don't know how to escape in my own created world. It keeps pulling me in and ruining my life.
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Lara
Im pretty sure Im a maladaptive daydreamer, but I dont identify with the majority of these symptoms. It started when I was young, imagining sinarios to help me fall asleep, but now I do it all the time. I can pay attention to what someone is saying, even while Im daydreaming. I cant write stuff down or say anything while daydreaming, but I can turn it on and off if I NEED to focus. I never have spoken or acted out anything in the daydream, but sometimes I worry I will. I dont want to stop, cus reality sucks, but I know I need too.
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Im pretty sure Im a maladaptive daydreamer, but I dont identify with the majority of these symptoms. It started when I was young, imagining sinarios to help me fall asleep, but now I do it all the time. I can pay attention to what someone is saying, even while Im daydreaming. I cant write stuff down or say anything while daydreaming, but I can turn it on and off if I NEED to focus. I never have spoken or acted out anything in the daydream, but sometimes I worry I will. I dont want to stop, cus reality sucks, but I know I need too.
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Jillian
Almost everyday I just think about a dangerous story that happened to me. Like for example in my head I was thinking I had cancer and passing away or I survived being kidnapped and missing legs or arms. And then at the end everyone would be worried about me and morn my loss. I just dont know how to stop thinking about such terrible things. But the thing is I can do tasks while just thinking about it and its not like a story telling with main characters its just me being injured or dying
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Almost everyday I just think about a dangerous story that happened to me. Like for example in my head I was thinking I had cancer and passing away or I survived being kidnapped and missing legs or arms. And then at the end everyone would be worried about me and morn my loss. I just dont know how to stop thinking about such terrible things. But the thing is I can do tasks while just thinking about it and its not like a story telling with main characters its just me being injured or dying
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Charlie
I always thought I was just creative, I have autism so I feel bad when I think it may be this, but everything fits, though I always go along the same path, especially with music. I have my whole world in my head and I love getting back to it, sometimes I try and put things off to do so. I dont know how to bring it up and if I should really, because it may not be, though Im getting to where it might be. I know whats real and whats not, but I get so into it its not healthy, obsessive.
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I always thought I was just creative, I have autism so I feel bad when I think it may be this, but everything fits, though I always go along the same path, especially with music. I have my whole world in my head and I love getting back to it, sometimes I try and put things off to do so. I dont know how to bring it up and if I should really, because it may not be, though Im getting to where it might be. I know whats real and whats not, but I get so into it its not healthy, obsessive.
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education
I've experienced stuff like this since 4th grade, and they last so long the same character's new adventures, to the point my own personality becomes the character in my head. My friends think it's funny that I play my life like a video game character form final fantasy, but it's to the point I'm basically the irl version of the character down to how he acts and everything yet alot of my faimly says I'm makeing it up and useing it to be silly
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I've experienced stuff like this since 4th grade, and they last so long the same character's new adventures, to the point my own personality becomes the character in my head. My friends think it's funny that I play my life like a video game character form final fantasy, but it's to the point I'm basically the irl version of the character down to how he acts and everything yet alot of my faimly says I'm makeing it up and useing it to be silly
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chibbis
I thought this was very much common but whn i tell people i dream vividly creating my own plot my own characters. tht it's almost real they'll laugh and just brush it off, i had a very vivid imagination from childhood n i used to get sucked into my imagination wherever i get the chance. n now it's like an addiction i can't stop my self from dreaming, it just feels like reality is dissapointing n i keep snuggling into my own imagination
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I thought this was very much common but whn i tell people i dream vividly creating my own plot my own characters. tht it's almost real they'll laugh and just brush it off, i had a very vivid imagination from childhood n i used to get sucked into my imagination wherever i get the chance. n now it's like an addiction i can't stop my self from dreaming, it just feels like reality is dissapointing n i keep snuggling into my own imagination
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