5 Signs of Maladaptive Daydreaming

Maladaptive Dreaming (MD) is a psychiatric condition that causes intense daydreaming and fantasizing that distracts a person from their real life. Maladaptive daydreaming disturbs everyday functioning, which includes academics, work, and other regular activities. Do you find yourself emersed in daydreams? Daydreaming can be harmless, creative, and fun, but excessive daydreaming can negatively interfere with your goals and daily tasks in your life.

Disclaimer: This video is made for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Credits
Writer: Monica Taing
Script Editor: Morgan Franz
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
VO: Amanda Silvera
Animator: Darl Stream
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

References:

Somer, E., Lehrfeld, J., Bigelsen, J., & Jopp, D. S. (2016). Development and validation of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS). Consciousness and cognition, 39, 77-91.

Somer, E. (2002). Maladaptive daydreaming: A qualitative inquiry. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 32(2-3), 197-212.

[Psychgo]

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[chaoticquips]

The struggle of finding a private area to literally act out your daydreams so others don’t think you’re crazy..

[strmynight]

Don’t just hate when your daydreaming and then someone interrupts that one part you just got right after the 50th time? No? Just me?

[potionwolf]

Wait so I’m not the only one who acts out whole conversations/actions while day dreaming IM NOT CRAZY?!

[jovanakostic]

Don't you hate when you forget what you were daydreaming about right before the next daydream came? No? Just me?

[defnotjia]

my body literally goes on autopilot whenever i'm alone in my room lmao

[Gyaaaaaaaaaat]

Do y'all ever just have a nice daydream, and then when it's over you're like "okay, let's take it from the top but this time a little to the left" and the next time you daydream it you make it SLIGHTLY different then before or am I just crazy

[Toaster-draws]

"You would rather daydream then talk to people"

I feel personally attacked.

[hellokittykaylah]

The hardest part is that I hate it but I love it. It’s the best part of my day and very addicting. But I sometimes feel less normal than others. I struggle being around others. And I’m a HEAVY pacer. It’s practically my exercise everyday.

[blueboy]

When I was a kid I had multiple imaginary tv shows with SEVERAL seasons and spin offs to go to when I was in class😅

[andreaperkins]

I will literally spend hours with earphones in, listening to music and walking in circles in my house, its bad.

[HardColdReality]

The scariest part of the daydreaming for me is when you feel it about to start and you know it's too late to stop. Some negative event in the day has made you start overthinking, you start looking for a song to listen to, you start to find a secluded place to act out all the dream bits, the scenario starts invading your thoughts, you start rocking/pacing/mumbling, your real world obligations aren't as urgent anymore, etc.

[rj-midw]

I often getting caught smiling or laughing by myself or suddenly getting hyped, energetic, or mad and surprised the other people near me. It's really embarrassing >\\\\<. Sometimes people ask "are you getting crazy?" And i'm like "Nooo!!! I just ... Something."

[g.p.]

why would i want to stop daydreaming when my imaginary cinematic universe is MUCH better than my actual life lol

[diorpearls]

its also very addictive, i feel like i like my daydreams more than my real life ive been daydreaming for almost 4 years and its really hard to let go of something that makes me happy.

[maverick]

And a not so fun fact about my experience with maladaptive daydreaming, is that I've been constantly daydreaming since I was a little kid, but my daydreams evolved to a creative fantasy world to a alternate reality where i'm a better version of myself and a lot of people love me. And it got to a point where I've put my real life in second place and I'm forgetting who I am

[yaz]

it’s so embarrassing getting caught pacing

[deleted.]

Who else daydreams and paces around when they listen to edit audios?

[asiancommenter]

I daydream so much that at this point I feel like I'm going crazy. And what's more Embarrassing is when you are daydreaming and someone just Interrupts you.

[Bunny-umlu]

Here’s my experience.

It started around the age of ten, I created Spotify playlists for each reality I created. For me, I would lay down in my bed and listen to the playlists. Ig was around the age I first started watching anime, so I usually daydreamed about that. It started to get out of hand a year later. I skipped meals to daydream, I faked being sick to daydream, I didn’t even wanna hang out with my friends because my reality was so so so much better.