Thanks for sharing about your experience, @InkyTinks! The research articles are also interesting.

I'm sure that mine had been a form of avoidance coping strategy. However, over time my maladaptive daydreaming truly showed as maladaptive; affecting my life negatively.

I was also a heavy childhood daydreamer, but not a maladaptive one. It's odd how nowadays (some years after my main maladaptive daydreaming period) I daydream very little. Perhaps my stability and ability to practice mindfulness and grounding techniques are why. It's a different life. I experience life differently.