Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder

Medusax · May 12, 2019 at 11:59 AM

I am off in my head at work all the time. It keeps me from going insane with the morons I have to be with all day. At home I put on my music and zone out doing housework. It is enjoyable and helps gets through the day. I don't see it as a "disorder" or something bad.

Buffy01 · May 13, 2019 at 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizabeth406

It's interesting you brought this up because not long ago I came across a forum about this. What people were describing is something I've done since I was a kid, but I never realized it was a condition. When I was little, and as a teenager, I made up vivid continual stories in my mind, where I was one of the main characters. I still do it sometimes, especially when I'm really stressed. It's kind of like tuning into a favorite television show, or better yet, taking part in an alternate life that's more enjoyable. Is that what it's like for you?

Personally speaking, I don't think of it as an issue, at least as long as it's not having a negative impact. There were times when I'd become so immersed that a couple hours would go by, like dissociation. But in my opinion it's also the sign of a very creative mind. I once kept a diary, so to speak, of this ongoing story. Essentially it was told by the person I was in my imagination. I guess some would find that weird, but I enjoyed it.

I done this myself. I still do it. I begin when i was a toddler and people around me thought I had something mentally wrong with me. I did it out of boredom and loneliness.

MoxieDoxie · May 15, 2019 at 09:57 PM

When Daydreaming Replaces Real Life - The Atlantic

Perna · May 16, 2019 at 05:56 AM

I tried to get rid of mine by killing off all the main characters when I was about 20, but that upset me (under statement) and I realized that if you're that upset about killing off imaginary people you yourself created, you really need help :-) The next thirty years of life and good therapy finally freed me but it was not easy.

Rose76 · May 17, 2019 at 12:04 AM

I'm surprised at how many posters have reported this tendency. I've been a daydreamer since as far back as I can remember, like to age 4. I thought I was unusual, but perhaps not.

My teacher in H.S. Driver's Ed noticed it and suggested I curb it behind the wheel. I spaced out, while waiting at a red light. When I failed to notice that the light turned green, he said, "Rose, what do you think about, while you're driving?" He sounded pretty annoyed.

I can become pretty oblivious to what's around me, if whatever is on my mind gets a hold of my attention.

I don't think my brain generates content, as well as it used to. Nowadays, I hate to be waiting somewhere without something to read. Used to be I could happily pass the time just attending to my inner world. I think boredom drove some of that mental activity, but not all.

Somewhere I read that daydreaming is a form of dissociation. That sounds right to me. It always did tend to make me somewhat absent to the reality around me. I wasn't escaping abuse, but I probably wasn't always getting my needs well met.

May 17, 2019 at 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perna

I tried to get rid of mine by killing off all the main characters when I was about 20, but that upset me (under statement) and I realized that if you're that upset about killing off imaginary people you yourself created, you really need help :-) The next thirty years of life and good therapy finally freed me but it was not easy.

I kill the imaginary characters in my head as well. New ones pop up but I keep either forgetting them by focusing my attention on elsewhere or kill them and never think about them again. It's a win-win situation.

CepheidVariable · May 17, 2019 at 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose76

I'm surprised at how many posters have reported this tendency.

Well almost everybody daydreams to the point of zoning out at some time. It's hard to say how many have it so bad it's a maladaptive trait that does significant harm to their lives.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose76

Somewhere I read that daydreaming is a form of dissociation. That sounds right to me. It always did tend to make me somewhat absent to the reality around me. I wasn't escaping abuse, but I probably wasn't always getting my needs well met.

That sounds like me. I retreat to it when I just can't bring myself to deal with it all. It's not like I was beaten or raped either, although I was mistreated. Badly enough to warrant all this? Compared to others? I don't think so. But how the heck should I know? I haven't lived other people's lives. Certainly I did not -- and still do not -- get certain basic human needs adequately met.

Sorry I haven't been keeping up in the depression forum. I hope you're doing okay Rose.

Rose76 · May 17, 2019 at 08:03 PM

Thank you, Cepheid. I'm okay.

I think it's a 2-edged sword. Like, it can be a strength and a weakness depending on the context the person's in. It's pretty maladaptive behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. (I managed to total out my first 3 cars during low speed crashes.) But it's said that creative people often have this tendency. I believe it allowed me to think outside the box at times. I tended to feel very comfortable inside my own head. That can be a strength . . . or not, depending.

May 18, 2019 at 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose76

It's pretty maladaptive behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. (I managed to total out my first 3 cars during low speed crashes.) But it's said that creative people often have this tendency. I believe it allowed me to think outside the box at times. I tended to feel very comfortable inside my own head. That can be a strength . . . or not, depending.

I do this all the time behind the wheel. I think I have the ability to do both at the same time. I have never been in an accident.

I absolutely think outside the box all the time. I have a zillion examples of doing that.

Even as a kid though my parents said I had an active imagination.

One issue this I think works with is NOT liking fiction stories. For the most part I feel like I can do a better job on fiction stories and or... often if they do a good job I day dream other ways they could have gone.

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