Maladaptive Daydreaming 101

Once daydreaming gets out of control, you may experience maladaptive daydreaming. If your daydreams are frequent and long, to the extent that they can interfere with your daily life, then we can talk about maladaptive daydreams.

People who suffer from maladaptive daydreaming are starting to lose touch with reality because they are creating a fantasy world so realistic that they can even smell, hear sound and experience other similar stimuli.

There are various causes of excessive daydreaming, but none specific, especially because this disorder has not yet been officially recognised, as we mentioned in the previous paragraph. Psychiatrists, sleep experts and other scientists believe that loneliness and overcoming some personal tragedy are often the trigger for maladaptive daydreaming.

Although 99% of people know that this is not a reality, they develop a state similar to addiction. The British Psychological Society does not agree that it is an addiction, but rather a neural biochemical imbalance. However, there is something called behavioral addiction.

A clear correlation was observed between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and maladaptive daydreaming. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a rather common mental disorder that is diagnosed in childhood and lasts a lifetime. Symptoms can be very mild but also severe.

People with severe ADHD cannot maintain focus and they are very impulsive. Patients with ADHD often have sleep problems, almost 80% of them, and maladaptive daydreaming is another concomitant disorder, however not as common as sleep disorders.

Remember some of your recent daydreams. Although that daydream seemed realistic to you at the time, now that you remember it, you will realise that it only had vague outlines, but no details. This is natural for all people who are not maladaptive daydreamers. But when we talk about maladaptive daydreamers, the situation is completely different. 

Their daydreams are so developed that it would be hard to tell what reality is and what is fantasy if someone could put us in maladaptive daydream, like in the movie “Inception”. All people who participate in someone’s maladaptive daydream have developed characteristics, locations seem realistic, as well as the plot.

When the brain is constantly trying to go beyond reality, it is not possible to complete even the basic everyday tasks. Not to mention more complex tasks that require complete focus for a few hours, for example. Excessive daydreaming will sooner or later take its toll on you.

So if you notice that you are struggling with simple everyday tasks or that you are trying to finish them as soon as possible so that you can have a daydream, seek professional medical help. Otherwise you run the risk of getting fired, getting divorced and experiencing similar huge life problems.

Once you become a maladaptive daydreamer, your only need and desire will be to start a new daydream. Everything else will seem pointless to you. If your condition is not severe, you will be able to complete basic tasks through the days, but you will be mentally absent.

People around you will notice that quickly. So if someone suggests to you that you are mentally not present, do not take that words as an insult, but think about your condition and the steps you need to take.

Don't despair, there are ways to treat maladaptive daydreaming disorder. How long it will take until you notice progress depends on the person, but if you persevere, you should be able to fight off this problem. It is important that maladaptive daydreaming is not a fatal condition, although it may have comorbidity with recognised mental disorders.

We will not talk about medications separately because no medication is officially intended for maladaptive daydreaming, but consult your doctor about fluvoxamine, medication for obsessive compulsive disorder, as there are indications that it significantly helps control episodes and frequency.

Improving sleep quality is of paramount importance not only as a way to treat this condition, but also for overall health. Do everything you can to improve your sleep hygiene. Be physically active. Walk as much as you can, go to gym, do push-ups and include yoga in your routine. Also pay attention to your diet. Get enough macronutrients and micronutrients. It is also important what you eat before going to bed.

Avoid caffeine after 3 PM, and limit alcohol, nicotine and other unhealthy things or better yet do not consume at all. It is not only the duration of sleep that is important, but above all is the sleep quality, because you can wake up tired even after 8 hours.

Acceptance is the first step towards solving most problems, including this one. As long as you are unaware of your problem or refuse to accept that you have a problem even though everyone suggests it is the case, you will not be able to find the solution. It's hard to be 100% realistic about yourself, but do your best.

Think about whether your productivity has dropped at work and whether you have recently argued with friends and family about your behavior. If the answer is yes, then you need to seek help. You certainly enjoy your vivid daydreams, but that is not the way you can continue to live your life.