Maladaptive daydreaming describes the scenario where a person spends excessive time daydreaming and is often used as a strategy to cope with reality. This write-up delves into maladaptive daydreaming, how to identify it, and ways to control it.
Daydreaming is when your mind wanders away from your immediate environment or the task at hand while you’re awake. Such thoughts are typically enjoyable as they often involve imagining or fantasizing about participating in a desirable activity or accomplishing a goal. A focus of research points to daydreaming as an output from sections of the brain known as the default mode network. These brain function areas maintain regular activity patterns when the brain is not focused on any task and when the individual is at rest. However, when the brain gets busy with an external task, activities in these areas drop.
Despite links to creativity and introspection, excessive daydreaming could disrupt the smooth flow of daily routines at work, in school, or personal relationships. Professor Eli Somer was the first to describe the maladaptive daydreaming phenomenon in 2002, identifying it as an outcome of trauma or abuse employed by individuals as a flight from reality. However, the evidence supporting it as a clinically recognized condition remains weak, hence it doesn’t appear in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
At this stage, the issue arises in defining the exact symptoms of maladaptive daydreaming as it’s not officially recognized as a medical condition. Symptoms may, however, include one or many from the established characteristics. Note here that a formal diagnosis for maladaptive daydreaming is not in place yet, although there are symptoms to watch out for suggested by a 14-point gauge for maladaptive daydreaming.
While similarities exist between maladaptive daydreaming and other psychiatric conditions, there is no substantial evidence categorizing it as a psychiatric condition. An instance relates to how people with dissociative identity disorder can immerse themselves in fantasy, losing touch with reality—similar to maladaptive daydreaming instances. However, individuals experiencing maladaptive daydreaming are typically conscious that their fantasies are not real.
At present, there’s no specific treatment modality available for maladaptive daydreaming. Some anecdotal evidence indicates possible methods of managing its symptoms. A case study points out that Fluvoxamine seems to be effective for an individual. Still, there is the current scarcity in research work supporting medications for treating maladaptive daydreaming.
The lack of an official diagnostic system makes it tough to identify and treat maladaptive daydreaming. Nonetheless, if it disrupts a person’s daily living, medical assistance should be sought. Determining and evading the triggers can also aid someone to be less absorbed in their daydreams.
Despite the lack of official treatment options, many online communities provide platforms for inducing discussions and guidance on handling maladaptive daydreaming. Additional discussions included in this article include how dreams and nightmares manifest, the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists, the impact of activities on brain efficiency and connectivity, as well as how forgetfulness may be a by-product of aging and other factors affecting memory retention.