verydistressed
- Date posted
- 4y
adaptocdadaptocd
- Date posted
- 4y
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.
SunflowerSunflower
- Date posted
- 4y
Hi! Does the ERP has helped you in your MD?
Faye JuneFaye June
- Date posted
- 4y
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!
verydistressedverydistressed
- Date posted
- 4y
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
Daria AlexandrovnaDaria Alexan...
- Date posted
- 4y
@verydistressed Remember that trying nor to think makes you think more
verydistressedverydistressed
- Date posted
- 4y
Can this also apply to conversation? Like sometimes I have imaginary conversations imagining it's happening with my friends and stuff
Daria AlexandrovnaDaria Alexan...
- Date posted
- 4y
@verydistressed I do this too and I'm not sure that this is an issue
Daria AlexandrovnaDaria Alexan...
- Date posted
- 4y
@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
verydistressedverydistressed
- Date posted
- 4y
@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
Daria AlexandrovnaDaria Alexan...
- Date posted
- 4y
@verydistressed this fear is not rare in ocd community
Daria AlexandrovnaDaria Alexan...
- Date posted
- 4y
The best treatment from excessive thinking is action. Hobbies, active games, for someone - work and study.
Daria AlexandrovnaDaria Alexan...
- Date posted
- 4y
And communication. You can't daydream when you're engaged in the convo
Related posts
Em2003
- Date posted
- 25w
Purposely Picturing Taboo Things?
Am I the only one who experiences this, or is it more common than I think? Sometimes, I find myself imagining what a couple’s sex life might look like, or what a person’s body might be like. I think it’s driven by curiosity, and I focus on it for a few seconds. When it comes to family members, teenagers, or anyone I feel uncomfortable imagining in this way, I used to be able to shake it off as an intrusive thought. But lately, I can’t seem to let go of it anymore. I’ve become used to the anxiety, but I’m stuck questioning what this means about me, especially since I’ve taken time to think about it. This is really stressing me out because I feel like a pervert. I’m hoping that this is something more common than I realize and that OCD is just distorting something. I feel like I really need some insight here. Any advice?
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Anonymous
- Date posted
- 20w
Help🤍
Guys, I would like help with maladaptive daydreaming and impulsivity. What would both be in OCD? I've always had daydreams. But it was something I did because I liked creating stories. But recently I've noticed that sometimes when I'm stressed, if I think about a situation, it feels like I'm going to imagine it or want to imagine it. When I say don't do it, it feels like it's basically going to happen. I talked here the other day about what if I try to create a compulsion to get out of my subject? Yesterday I was so anxious and I did this counting thing. Then it came to my mind, "put something like, if you don't do this, someone will suffer harm." And I don't want that. And I don't even want to create this compulsion because I would know that it would be worse because I would never risk it. But the thing is, even though I had a clear idea, it seemed like I was going to do it. I just wouldn't let it happen. Is that daydreaming? Is that impulsiveness? This has happened to my OCD theme before. But I had the feeling that I wasn't taking things seriously. That I was being childish. But I don't do it on purpose, it seems like I can't get out of the habit. Thanks for the help!
emmagracee
- Date posted
- 16w
Help! URGENT!!
I’ve always struggled with maladaptive daydreaming I’ve stopped but I have harm ocd and my brain would hook onto a true crime story and I’d pretend to be a family member/loved one/victim of a k*ller and would make up elaborate stories abt it. That feels so disgusting I’m so scared this shows in a horrible person doesn’t it? And now my brain is telling me I have found k*llers attractive in the past I don’t think I ever did but what if I did I’m scared
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