[TheNightWhistle]

I'm starting this thread because I have a unique MH condition and want to see if there's anyone in the community with it as well.

I have had maladaptive daydreaming for as long as I can remember. I often drift off into space when I'm at home, and will even pace back and forth for hours just imagining. Some articles say that it's a way for people to cope with a depressing reality, much like a kid who escapes into their own imaginary world. This is somewhat the case for me, as I tend to do it after a stressful day, or when my anxiety is at its boiling point. Only the people I live with know about this because I think that even my closest friends will find it bizarre, and might not want to hang out with me anymore. I almost feel like I should be on an episode of My Strange Addiction.

The only therapist I've ever told about this told me it's perfectly healthy to have a way to calm down.

Anyone else out there have weird coping mechanisms to deal with stress?

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.

[PouringRain]

I've done Maladaptive daydreaming since I was really young. These days, I actually walk around my dining room table, earbuds in, just disappearing into my own world. Music is a huge trigger for it.

I have multiple worlds in my head, and I'm one of the main characters in all of them. It becomes a problem for me because I'd rather stay in those imaginary worlds than face this one.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by TheNightWhistle

I'm starting this thread because I have a unique MH condition and want to see if there's anyone in the community with it as well.

I have had maladaptive daydreaming for as long as I can remember. I often drift off into space when I'm at home, and will even pace back and forth for hours just imagining. Some articles say that it's a way for people to cope with a depressing reality, much like a kid who escapes into their own imaginary world. This is somewhat the case for me, as I tend to do it after a stressful day, or when my anxiety is at its boiling point. Only the people I live with know about this because I think that even my closest friends will find it bizarre, and might not want to hang out with me anymore. I almost feel like I should be on an episode of My Strange Addiction.

The only therapist I've ever told about this told me it's perfectly healthy to have a way to calm down.

Anyone else out there have weird coping mechanisms to deal with stress?

I completely understand how you feel! I do this myself!

@TheNightWhistle , it's nice that you added this thread to PC. Maladaptive Daydreaming is definitely an issue for a small number of people out there, enough that Reddit has a whole subreddit for it. Have you ever checked that out?

I can't know the severity of your issue with daydreaming, but for some people it is far from being a good thing or simply a "perfectly healthy [way]... to calm down" like that one therapist told you. Some people daydream so much that they almost ignore reality and/or neglect important things in life. The daydreaming can even become dangerously distracting in some ways.

I had a period of maladaptive daydreaming in the past. I have always been a daydreamer, but there is a difference between frequent daydreaming and doing so maladaptively. At my worst, I spent all day long in my bed daydreaming, only getting up to eat and go to the bathroom, while still daydreaming. When my husband came home, I mostly ignored him in favor of my daydreaming. I stayed up late at night because I didn't want to stop my "stories" going on in my head. My daydreaming mostly had just a handful of characters and were like long mini series that when they seemed to end, I would start from the beginning with some modifications to the story. In real life, when I would see one of my daydreaming characters face to face, I often experienced dissociative symptoms, including hallucinations. At one point, it was suspected that I was having Simple Partial Seizures when in fact, it was likely associated with the dissociation related to the maladaptive daydreaming.

Why did I start to daydream maladaptively? Well, I think as a protection and escape for me mentally. I had had some traumatic experiences in years prior and had not yet found a healthier way to cope and eventually heal.

I wrote about my experience and recovery with maladaptive daydreaming in a blog post at Obsessive or maladaptive daydreaming easing back into grounded creative thinking – Bird Flight if you're interested.

[MoxieDoxie]

I have mentioned this over the years in my post as it is a way of escaping. I still constantly do it. I am in all sorts of scenarios in my day dreams from savior super hero type to being saved. Sometimes I am a beautiful amazonian type warrior that has mad skills. Sometimes I have weird powers like I can telepathically talk to animals and they protect me and do my biding. Sometimes I have powers of teleportation and teleport myself to beautiful isolated locations where I have a magnificent beach to myself. Sometimes I can breathe underwater and I explore the great barrier reef.

I replay out these daydreams depending on what part is activated. My T is in them a lot too.

[Ohseedee]

I used to engage in maladaptive daydreaming for hours a day. I would sit in a rocking chair or on the couch, listen to music while rocking back and forth and daydreaming made up stories in my head. This was during the lower points of my life when things were not going well - it was an escape from reality.

I am in a much better place now and no longer use it as a maladaptive coping mechanism. There is nothing wrong with daydreaming in itself, but it used to interfere with more important things in my life and that is when there was an issue.

[CepheidVariable]

I have avoidant personality disorder, and this is a repercussion. Both rumination and daydreaming. The daydreaming isn't immediately harmful in itself, except that I should be doing things and living life instead of being lost in my head. It's gotten better as I've tried to limit it and engaged in more activities.

Sorry, that's all I've got at the right now -- I'm sick at the moment and so awfully tired and fuzzy-brained.

[TheNightWhistle]

I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one with this habit!

It's just always been a crutch I've leaned on in times of stress. No matter how bad things are, I have always been able to just check out of this world and go into my own for as long as I want. I imagine beautiful landscapes, architecture, decor, and incredible art pieces that I would never have the skill to create in real life.

I've made attempts to bring things from the inside of my mind into the real world but like I said, I would need years and years of practice and training to create the things I imagine.

Have any of you ever tried to write down some of the stories you think of, or do you also just prefer to keep them stored in your mind?

[rise13eyond]

I didn't hear about this til much later in life, and I still haven't heard it talked about in a formal setting, such as by a mental health professional, but since having it myself I have heard many people say they relate. The the is there's a difference between this and daydreaming casually. Most people daydream when they'd got time to spare on occasion, but MDD is as stated obviously maladaptive. Meaning it hinders rather than helps. Though I have to say yeah, it probably is some kind of coping mechanism, or was meant to be in some way. A coping mechanism shouldn't really impair your day to functioning...Again that's kind of the meaning of maladaptive. I really don't think I can say much more about this without insulting someone, because it's only actually MDD if it gets in the way of everyday life, so I shall end there.

[Fuzzybear]

I’m sending hugs

[Sciurid]

This is fascinating--yes! I can absolutely relate.

From as early as I can remember to about the 27 or 28, I was constantly day-dreaming. Grew up in a house with a dad and brother who screamed, cried, punched walls, and generally terrorized my mom and my sisters until age 22 or so. So I learned to "mentally escape" situations I had no control over. It became my default state.

Sadly, I wonder if it's a factor in my problems now. I don't daydream much now, but I often "disassociate" from experiences when I should run, fight, or say "Stop / No Way / Not gonna happen." Instead I just check out and endure it.

But no, you are not the only one who does this. And I don't think you're crazy.

[TheNightWhistle]

Originally Posted by Sciurid

This is fascinating--yes! I can absolutely relate.

From as early as I can remember to about the 27 or 28, I was constantly day-dreaming. Grew up in a house with a dad and brother who screamed, cried, punched walls, and generally terrorized my mom and my sisters until age 22 or so. So I learned to "mentally escape" situations I had no control over. It became my default state.

Sadly, I wonder if it's a factor in my problems now. I don't daydream much now, but I often "disassociate" from experiences when I should run, fight, or say "Stop / No Way / Not gonna happen." Instead I just check out and endure it.

But no, you are not the only one who does this. And I don't think you're crazy.

So you did it up until age of 27 or 28 but you stopped. What made you stop?

[LiteraryLark]

I'm 26 and have never stopped daydreaming or having "imaginary friends". I think it's completely normal.

[avlady]

OMG I daydream almost all day long and I hate it if I am interrupted. not all days are like this, but I found if I get 9 hours of sleep, its less. I do have sleep apnea an could sleep all day if I was able to. I remember being in school or church I couldn't even remember what the people were saying. I would be in a half awake half asleep daydream. I would love too hear more about it and am going to look at the links suggested, thank you, -avlady

I tend to think it is normal too. The Maladaptive part I think is if your daydreams interfere with reality. I have done this since childhood. I wondered sometimes if the daydreams interfered with reality but I don't think they do. They are a tool to use when nothing is going on.

I tend to do this

1. When I am on the train and there is nothing to do on the phone.
2. When I am driving.
3. Right before falling asleep.

When I was younger I had a health device that made my life not so great so this was a way to deal with it. But interestingly this was a thing with me before that.

It is my theory that the people that do this have large imaginations that require it. My entire life I have had creativity and large imagination and that can be used in appropriate ways, such as work, or school.

My sister, on the other hand, has always had a very linear way of looking at things and she doesn't have a large imagination. She was very good at school and was never very creative. She seeks stimulation from others. Very big into video games. While I never touch them. They can't compete with my head.

[saranity92]

I have also done this since I was a child, glad to see its not just me! I have several story lines running at any given time, and will daydream about them depending on my mood.

Does anyone else get sad when you can't get back to a certain story in your head that you used to love? Like you remember the details but it doesn't feel real anymore? It probably shouldn't be something to mourn, but sometimes I miss the way a certain daydream would make me feel.

[Turtle_Rider]

Same here, I've daydreamed since a very young age up until now. I admit at one point it became too sever I almost unable to diferentiate between reality and imagination. But aside of that, I get a talent on writing. I've gotten a lot of praises thanks to my skill. I also keep a journal to write my imagination.

@saranity92 I understand that. There are several stories remain in my head right now, but I can only obsessed and think only one story; one world. It becomes well developed compared to the other stories. Too bad because sometimes I want to go back to those stories, but I'm not feeling anything.

[Unrigged64072835]

I’ve had this off and on for decades. I’ve been having this lately too. It interferes with doing things because I forget what I was doing when I wander off in my head. I also have dropped out in conversation because my imagination took a detour.

[downandlonely]

I used to daydream a lot as a kid. Now I don't so much during the day, but I think I exercise my imagination during my night dreams. I can control them somewhat.

[Medusax]

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]

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]

When Daydreaming Replaces Real Life - The Atlantic

[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.

[Rose76]

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.