Maladaptive daydreaming (excessive daydreaming)
Maladaptive daydreaming is a mental health condition characterized by excessive and vivid daydreaming that can interfere with daily life and responsibilities. Initially described by clinical psychologist Eli Somer in 2002, this phenomenon often serves as a coping mechanism for individuals dealing with anxiety or other mental health disorders, such as ADHD, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. While daydreaming is a common and generally normal experience, maladaptive daydreaming is marked by its intensity and the potential for individuals to become lost in elaborate fantasies for hours, often accompanied by physical movements or vocalizations.
The daydreams can be triggered by real-world stimuli and may include complex narratives, leading to feelings of guilt or shame when they disrupt social interactions and daily tasks. Although not officially recognized as a distinct diagnosis, maladaptive daydreaming can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. Various therapeutic approaches, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, can help manage symptoms, and some individuals find relief with medications prescribed for related conditions. Understanding and identifying triggers, improving sleep quality, and practicing mindfulness are also recommended strategies for those affected.
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Maladaptive daydreaming (excessive daydreaming)
Maladaptive daydreaming is a mental health condition in which a person daydreams excessively. This condition is sometimes a coping mechanism for people with disorders like anxiety, and often presents itself alongside other mental health or neurological conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, certain types of depression, dissociative disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Experts estimate that more than half of maladaptive daydreamers have a mental disorder. The daydreams experienced are often distracting and intense. Maladaptive daydreaming is not considered a recognized condition as of 2023, so will not likely appear as an official diagnosis.
Background
Maladaptive daydreaming was first defined in 2002 by Eli Somer, a clinical psychology professor in Israel. Somer described it as “extensive fantasy activity that replaces human interaction and/or interferes with academic, interpersonal, or vocational functioning.” Little data exists on how common such daydreaming happens. An Israeli study suggested 2.5 percent of adults in Israel are affected. Yet another study put the percentage at 20 percent of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) being affected. If that were true, that would mean maladaptive daydreaming affects at least 2.2 million adults in the United States, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Daydreaming is normal, and the dreams themselves are often pleasant. While they may be momentarily distracting, they can offer benefits such as the ability to relieve boredom or plan future events. Researchers have also found that daydreams can enhance creativity, decrease depression, solve problems, and help people deal with pain and emotional discomfort. However, maladaptive daydreams often involve violence, power, control, sex, captivity, or rescue-and-escape scenarios. Another way normal daydreaming differs from maladaptive daydreaming is that the former occurs in the mind, while the latter is accompanied by repetitive movements, facial expressions, or verbalizations.
Maladaptive daydreaming is also different from general mind-wandering, as the latter tends to occur spontaneously and relate to everyday life. Excessive daydreaming, instead, often manifests in escapism. So, instead of helping manage an anxiety or depression trigger, it can lead to the risk of becoming addicted to escaping into daydreams.
Overview
Some symptoms of maladaptive daydreaming may include vivid daydreams that present as a story, with characters, settings, and plotlines; daydreams triggered by real-world events or sensory stimuli; unconscious facial expressions, repetitive body movements, or talking or whispering that accompany daydreams; daydreams that can last for several minutes up to hours; a strong desire to stay daydreaming; and problems focusing on and completing daily tasks, or sleeping, due to daydreams. Maladaptive daydreamers may spend up to 4.5 hours per day distracted. Their sense of reality becomes muddled and they may ignore their actual relationships and responsibilities.
Real-life events, noises, conversations, smells, topics, or other stimuli may trigger maladaptive daydreaming. People may also start daydreaming intentionally. Maladaptive daydreamers may become so engrossed in the daydream that they may act out or speak dialogue for those present in the daydream. The daydreams themselves are often very vivid and detailed, with elaborate plots. The daydreamer could be engrossed in a daydream for hours at a time. Daydreams may also be so powerful that a person separates from the real world.
People who experience maladaptive daydreaming often experience feelings of shame or guilt. They find that their daydreams interfere with work or other activities. They also tend to prefer to skip social events and spend time alone. Others may compulsively daydream, or try, often unsuccessfully, to stop daydreaming.
Maladaptive daydreaming may have many possible causes. People may daydream because of social anxiety in hopes of getting some relief from anxiety symptoms. Past traumas are another cause of excessive daydreaming, which can help a person deal with painful memories. People may also daydream excessively in an attempt to avoid, forget, or alleviate present real-life problems of any sort. Other causes include distress caused by addiction, abuse, dissociative tendencies, and trying to overcome shame. Age appears to be a factor in maladaptive daydreaming. Research has found that it is more common in younger people, primarily teenagers and young adults, and that even children are susceptible.
No official diagnosis for maladaptive daydreaming exists because it is not an official condition. However, a test called the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale can help doctors determine if patients experience problematic daydreaming. The test is a fourteen-part self-assessment in which patients rate the severity and frequency of their symptoms. Examples of questions on the test include “What takes place in your daydreams? How vivid and detailed are they?”, “Can you stop yourself from daydreaming? Do you want to?”, and “Do your daydreams interfere with your daily life?”
Since maladaptive daydreaming is not a recognized diagnosis, there is no standard treatment plan. However, some practices and approaches are likely to be helpful. Health care providers can diagnose conditions that are likely to be related to the daydreaming. Often, cognitive behavioral therapy is useful for patients with OCD, anxiety, and depression. This therapy may also be used for maladaptive daydreaming. Medications can also be prescribed based on the related condition. Researchers have found that fluvoxamine, which is used to treat OCD, helped with managing symptoms of maladaptive daydreaming.
In addition, the Sleep Foundation encourages improving the quality of sleep, reducing fatigue throughout the day, understanding symptoms, identifying and avoiding triggers, getting support, considering therapy, and taking prescribed medication. Practicing mindfulness and meditation, keeping a journal, and praising oneself when successful in stopping a bout of excessive daydreaming may also prove helpful.
Because of the symptoms associated with maladaptive daydreaming, it can be confused with schizophrenia. But these conditions differ in that those who experience daydreaming realize that their daydreams are not real, while those with schizophrenia may have trouble distinguishing reality from fantasy.
Bibliography
Cirino, Erica. “Maladaptive Daydreaming.” Healthline, 30 Nov. 2021, www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/maladaptive-daydreaming#takeaway. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
“Maladaptive Daydreaming.” Cleveland Clinic, 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23336-maladaptive-daydreaming. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
Soffer-Dudek, Nirit. “Why We Should Take ‘Maladaptive Daydreaming’ Seriously.” Psychology Today, 10 May 2022, www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/consciousness-and-psychopathology/202205/why-we-should-take-maladaptive-daydreaming-seriously. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
Summer, Jay. “Maladaptive Daydreaming.” Sleep Foundation, 17 Mar. 2023, www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health/maladaptive-daydreaming. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
“What to Know About Maladaptive Daydreaming.” Medical News Today, 21 Apr. 2021, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23336-maladaptive-daydreaming. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
Yuko, Elizabeth. “What is Maladaptive Daydreaming?” Very Well Health, 9 Aug. 2021, www.verywellhealth.com/maladaptive-daydreaming-5194802. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.