Maladaptive daydreaming is a condition in which a person experiences vivid, intense, daydreams. You might make up characters or pretend in your mind that you’re living another life and make up characters where you develop an emotional connection to. Often taking up hours of their day, these daydreams are usually to escape reality. Does anyone relate to this? Let me know and I’m here to talk!

IhateOCD99

Date posted: 4y

Yes!! It's just too get the mind out of reality, which might be to avoid emptiness, stress, anxiety or other things. I do this all the time sadly. I did not know it was an actual condition until two weeks ago. MD is also linked to OCD, so it could be seen as a symptom of OCD.

FruitLoop

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

Yes it’s a symptom w some mental illnesses, and even though I stopped doing it for awhile, I started a little bit again and wanted to see if anyone was w me in this kinda addictive battle:))

Anonymous

Date posted: 4y

i use to do that but with the boys i liked or girls i wanted to be friends with haha but i grew out of it

FruitLoop

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

Same, It was triggered by music, loneliness, and ideal wishes That captivated my time and kept me feeling ... happy? i guess.. But lmk how it was for you ! I feel you, the thoughts on boys (relationships) and even friends was what I wanted lowkey 😩

Anonymous

Date posted: 4y

@FruitLoop it gave me the reality i wanted but in my head and it was like i was asking god to make all of these things come true because i was in such a low place.

Iwashere2

Date posted: 4y

I still do this 😶 I dont do it as often but I had a whole future and ideal family and which each kid does for hobbies and everything

FruitLoop

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

Same I had a whole fantasy w a future & ideal family and all!!! I guess it was what I craved and wanted but I knew it wasn’t real,,, Maybe at the time for us both w OCD, it was an absence of love life?? Lmkk plss!

Iwashere2

Date posted: 4y

@FruitLoop I didnt have tbe best family dynamic growing up so I think I was into making up my perfect family.

Iwashere2

Date posted: 4y

@Iwashere2 I have three adopted kids, a husband who deals with my antics. We have a nice house that supports everyonrs interests. We have a huge study where a second room is devoted to records. Ive imagined when they went to prom, had a bad scho day, when everything. I know it sounds crazy but it helped for a while.

Sundevil35

Date posted: 4y

I do this too. It actually helps me when im having a hard time managing intrusive tboughts and high anxiety. Its a good distraction and I don’t do it everyday.

FruitLoop

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

It started even effecting my OCD thoughts. I can’t have anything to myself, my own thoughts tear down my maladaptive daydreams which makes me not want to think or Feel at all!!!

stop.

Date posted: 4y

The guy who did the main research on this (forgot his name) is on Reddit and talks about maladaptive daydreaming and immersive daydreaming which are both very similar. I really think I have more of an immersive daydreaming experience because it’s controllable, doesn’t impact my life negatively, and isn’t distressing which tends to be what happens with maladaptive daydreaming. Maladaptive daydreaming, from my understanding, is disordered and often stems from trauma or sever mental illness. Immersive daydreaming isn’t disordered and is more of a hobby I guess. I started daydreaming before my mental health was bad. It was just so fun. I love it. But sometimes my OCD can interfere and make me not want to daydream about certain things.

stop.

Date posted: 4y

I highly suggest reading into both of them and their differences to see where you fit. There’s amazing communities of people in both groups. It’s really fun to share dreams and stuff :)

FruitLoop

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

Omg this is super interesting, I always saw it as a problem or addiction but immersive daydreaming sounds like what I do. And I agree w you on that last part, my OCD of course sometimes likes to ruin the joyable daydreams🙄

FruitLoop

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

@stop. I’m gonna look for those communities as well, I want to talk to people about things like this and see more that I’m not the only one, we in this together😊

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