Thread: Always Dreaming
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Old Oct 25, 2020, 12:52 PM
Soupe du jour Soupe du jour is offline
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Member Since: Jun 2015
Location: Czechia
Posts: 5,172
@Jason Todd, I strongly doubt that you are a psychopath.

Daydreaming about different realities (for ourselves and others) is normal. I think it can even be sort of good in some ways, to varying degrees. However, if you feel that your daydreaming is so excessive that it upsets you or keeps you from functioning well enough in real life, I'd consider it "maladaptive daydreaming". Maladaptive daydreaming does not have a code in the DSM-5, but the idea of it is becoming more and more recognized. I have seen it mentioned by a few people here at PC in the past. You can put the term in the PC search feature to find threads on the topic. For more regular support, you may also wish to visit Reddit.com's subreddit on it at Maladaptive Daydreaming - MD. I have because I did have a period in my past when I believe my daydreaming was maladaptive. In my case, it seemed to be accompanied by dissociative symptoms. Looking back at it, it was, for me, an unhealthy coping tool. I'm not saying that daydreaming and imagining oneself in a different situation is an unhealthy coping tool. Just when it becomes maladaptive and affects life.

As I referenced above, I got out of the maladaptive daydreaming period. I believe my therapist, at the time, was helpful with that. That doesn't mean that I no longer daydream, but now it's "normal daydreaming". I don't daydream for multiple hours per day anymore. It now doesn't affect my ability to interact with people properly in life, or accomplish the tasks I need to do. I am now more satisfied in my own skin, and with my own reality.

Last edited by Soupe du jour; Oct 25, 2020 at 01:24 PM.
Thanks for this!
Chazz33, Kriss, RoxanneToto