Do you have maladaptive daydreaming?

[ms spock]

For me it is almost paralysing - I ask someone a question and I immediately go off in to fantasy land. I am doing something and the fantasy land is much more important to me than what I am doing - thus I can't remember anything as I wasn't there when it was happening. I find it almost incapacitating.

I am an artist and a writer - I have exhibited and been published. This maladaptive daydreaming means I don't do either of those things. So normal creativity and an active imagination is NOT what I am talking about. That is very different. This is VERY different indeed.

My maladaptive daydreaming seriously inhibits my day to day functioning. I have missed out on having a life literally and figuratively because of this.

And I will just call everyone's attention to the name of the thread - which uses the word maladaptive which I thought would indicate that is what is being talked about in this thread.

 

[chant2012]

For me it is almost paralysing - I ask someone a question and I immediately go off in to fantasy land....

Yes very much so!!! That is how it is for me - Incapacitating at times. I also miss most of my life beaus win literally not there. So sorry you deal with this too.

 

[chant2012]

I'm really scared to share about the details. I'm feeling bad and I'll again. Oh god... This all comes on so fast.

 

[ms spock]

You can start a diary @chant2012 - or you can start your own thread and call it something like "My maladaptive daydreaming" so it sets it up right at the start that it is you sharing about that. Do you have a trauma therapist?

 

[ms spock]

But I think one of the biggest issues is my lying problem. It's like compulsive. I didn't start doing this until probably mid-childhood but I'm not sure. I think it has to do with me needing to lie so much as a child (as I was many different me's for many different people). I was basically made to lie and now I can't stop.

I have this challenge as well!

 

[chant2012]

You can start a diary @chant2012 - or you can start your own thread and call it some...

No I do not even have a T.

I should start my own thread. I wish I had someone to talk to about this. Ugh I'm so messed up.

 

[Fadeaway]

Slight disagreement here... If it's a useful, positive, & wanted thing in your life? It's not malad...

Friday dear, I pretty much said the same thing only in different words. I explained it as adaptive daydreaming in my first post, but continued to use the words maladaptive because professionals will still call adaptive daydreaming maladaptive.

 

[ms spock]

I explained it as adaptive daydreaming in my first post, but continued to use the words maladaptive because professionals will still call adaptive daydreaming maladaptive.

That is not actually what this thread is talking about. I started this thread specifically to discuss maladaptive daydreaming which is derailing my whole life.

I encourage you to start your own thread if that is what you want to talk about. Maybe call your thread "Adaptive vs Maladaptive Day Dreaming".

And it is not a formal diagnosis at this stage I can't see how you would have evidence to back up that professionals define adaptive daydreaming as maladaptive by any stretch of the imagination - but whatever you think, it is off topic in this thread. And if you start another thread I would be happy to discuss that in your thread.

 

[macbeth]

Yes I do this too @Ms Spock. I didn't know it was a thing or had a name until about a year ago. I was floored because I just assumed it was me! I have used fantasy/daydreaming as a coping mechanism since I was a small child and still do. For me it is a problem as I tend to withdraw into myself when life becomes stressful so have been working hard on reconnecting with reality when I catch myself drifting off. I think recognizing what it is and and under

 

[Neverthesame]

I am wondering if there isn't some value in what @Fadeaway and myself do. As it (at least began) as the same thing.

Why did one person, who relied on the mechanism for their sanity, let it go (or at least made it more of a benign part of their lives) when the need for it diminished. While another who has also escaped the situation or need for this mechanism, become trapped within. Unable to leave the fantasy?

 

[ms spock]

I have written about it extensively on here as have others.

Would you mind telling me where your commentary on this is? I didn't know it was a thing until yesterday - and it is a serious problem for me as I am in fantasyland sometimes 80-90% of each day. I can't believe I didn't know about this or someone didn't tell me about it. I am really struggling with this in a big way. I am really finding it very hard and to find that other people actually know what it is and have written about it - well that is blowing me away right now. I can't believe it.

 

[ms spock]

While another who has also escaped the situation or need for this mechanism, become trapped within. Unable to leave the fantasy?

This is me and it happens at multiple levels throughout the day. I am very rarely "here". And sometimes a couple of fantasies can be happening.