- Date posted
- 4y ago
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Hi there, Maladaptive daydreaming has limited research, but has been documented to have a correlation with obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is a spectrum disorder, and while MDD isn’t formally listed under it, the disorder has been proven to have a high comorbidity with a variety of other mental disorders. I’ve lived with MDD since the age of 3. The MDD can be treated in the same regard as OCD because you’re dealing with a compulsive behavior in response to obsessional thinking. Just like doing ERP, you can overcome the maladaptive behavior by exposing yourself to triggers (books, movies, music) and resisting the compulsion to daydream. It’s common to have physical compulsions while you daydream (rocking, pacing, jumping etc). And resisting these physical compulsions can help in limiting your mental compulsions. I don’t foresee myself ever fully eliminating my MDD, especially since I’ve managed to function with it. That being said, in recognizing how my OCD has manifested in other ways, I’ve found it beneficial to be mindful of managing it too.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Hi! Does the ERP has helped you in your MD?
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Hey! This is called maladaptive day dreaming. I’ve experienced it to some degree, and it has a lot to do with certain psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and developmental disorders, predominantly ADHD. From what I know, it’s safe to say MOST people, regardless of whether they’re struggling with mental health, do this. It’s when it becomes excessive and gets in the way of functioning that it’s an issue and becomes termed as maladaptive daydreaming. I haven’t experienced it to this degree, but I know that even though it feels good to fantasise, focussing on the external world and your REAL life is so much more valuable, and ultimately it is wasting your time. When you feel that urge to slip into a maladaptive daydream, fight it. Think about something else you would like to do, and before you know it, you’re so absorbed in what you’re doing that you don’t even think about! But other than that, do some research on it and see what you feel is best for you!
- Date posted
- 4y ago
It's not as bad as it was at some point and it's never really affected my life except maybe the aspect of me not being that present in my life. But I'll try fighting it and hopefully I'll stop
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@verydistressed Remember that trying nor to think makes you think more
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Can this also apply to conversation? Like sometimes I have imaginary conversations imagining it's happening with my friends and stuff
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@verydistressed I do this too and I'm not sure that this is an issue
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@verydistressed I thin this is about having active imagination. Our brain constantly generates different outcomes off of different situations. And when you do this excessively I think it means that you are kind of bored
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@Daria Alexandrovna I didn't find anything worth with it then I started doing it out loud and my parents told me it was weird. I also sometimes have a fear of developing schizophrenia so these thoughts and daydreams kind of cause me anxiety sometimes
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@verydistressed this fear is not rare in ocd community
- Date posted
- 4y ago
The best treatment from excessive thinking is action. Hobbies, active games, for someone - work and study.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
And communication. You can't daydream when you're engaged in the convo
Related posts
- Date posted
- 15w ago
Anyone struggle with this with having ocd?
- Date posted
- 10w ago
I’ve been struggling with something that’s been really overwhelming, and I’m hoping to get some perspective from others here. I feel a lot of guilt about it, and I’m not sure if I’m alone in this experience. Lately, I’ve found myself daydreaming about romantic situations or getting caught up in ‘what if’ scenarios—where I wonder if I could develop feelings for someone else, or if someone develops feelings for me. The thing is, I’m in a relationship that I love, and I don’t want to act on these thoughts at all. What makes it even harder is that these thoughts often hyperfixate on one specific friend, and sometimes they feel entertaining or give me a dopamine rush. But then, of course, I feel even more guilty because it makes me feel like I’m betraying my boyfriend. These thoughts usually happen when I’m upset and looking for comfort, but then they morph into romantic scenarios, which makes me feel so disloyal. I’m constantly going back and forth between feeling curious or entertained by the thoughts and then feeling horrible for even allowing them to happen in the first place. I keep confessing these thoughts to my boyfriend, and he tries to be understanding. He’s just never been the type to daydream, so he doesn’t know if this is something other people experience or if it’s just me. I feel like such an awful girlfriend. Has anyone else dealt with something like this?
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- Date posted
- 9w ago
(20f) I have been dealing with severe OCD symptoms for as long as I can remember. I recently got diagnosed about a year ago, and even though I know that these thoughts are probably my ocd, I still cant shake them. Growing up I was always very sexually curious. I was sheltered from a lot of things, as I went to a private school and things like sexuality and sex were never talked about. I remember doing some weird sexual things growing up (never affecting another person), looking up taboo sexual things, etc. I always seemed to become aroused no matter what the situation was, even if I just saw someone getting changed. I have no recollection of being SA'd, so i'm wondering where this all came from? Was I just curious and wanted to experiment and try different things? Or am I really a pervert, pedophile, etc. I have all these thoughts racing through my head and it's killing me. Everything I did as a kid I look back on and am disgusted, as those don't align with my views at all today. I never thought growing up thinking these things were wrong, or actually realize what they were until I got older. I'd like to think it was just my curiosity, but i'm not sure. What if i'm in denial and actually do like these things? I just need to know if theres something wrong w me, I cant keep going on like this. Could really use some advice.
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