Do you have maladaptive daydreaming?

[ms spock]

I am struggling with the Maladaptive Daydreaming quite a lot @NatBird - it is pretty strong at the moment - but that is pretty normal for me. Bit by bit I will become more Mindful and work my way out. I am constantly doing Self Compassion Breaks at the moment - free audio off Kristin Neff's website and that is allowing me to be a little more here. But it is definitely a work in early progress!

 

[ms spock]

I am still having this as a feature of my daily life but it is improving every day. I am going through a recovery growth spurt. I can pull myself out of maladaptive daydreaming more and more.

 

[ms spock]

Still there most days, all day on and off! A significant feature of my life. I am, however coming out of it, and then slipping back into it, bringing myself out of it, then going back into it, doing that more and more. A long way to go, but significant improvement.

 

[ms spock]

The maladaptive daydreaming is pretty big and all encompassing at the moment. I wasted yesterday being afraid of saying no to someone, and today I kept dragging myself out of it all, refocussing, and trying to do something else. It is such an easy, well worn groove for my mind to go into. Sheesh, it is a big ask, but I want to have a life, and having a life, means getting on top of this. More physical exercise needed today.

 

[ms spock]

It is just so intrusive at times! It is just so intrusive at times!

 

[ms spock]

I am still battling this quite a lot. I am getting better at noticing that I am doing it, more and more!

I am now learning a musical instrument, because I can want to move into my parasympathetic nervous system, and learn better emotional regulation. It is already making a small difference. I will persist with this.

I walked an hour this morning.
I am doing less Mindfulness at the moment. But I continue to practice.
Coming back to the present.
Self Compassion.
Making an effort not to beat myself up or criticise myself for a few minutes each day.

 

[ms spock]

This came back with a vengeance, so Radical Acceptance time, and onwards I go. I am doing the things that I need to do. I fronted up to the school, and I set some boundaries and got some information. I have two students. I went to another meeting. Then I came home to do things. And I have gone off on a tangent but I have certainly been doing things.

The maladaptive daydreaming became especially strong after I challenged it by doing things in real time, so that is interesting. I am working on emotional regulation. I am working on emotional regulation through playing a musical instrument at the moment. It is working for me.

 

[8888]

I don't know if this counts or not but I commonly have people in my head talk to me. Doctors say I'm not psychotic so maybe it would be considered maladaptive daydreaming.

 

[ms spock]

Interesting @8888. I don't know, but it is entirely possible.

 

[Jasmynesmom]

Until @chant2012 mentioned it...

Me too. I also get twitches with abusive thoughts attached to them. Anybody else?
I have done everything prayerwise to get this to stop. I feel as though a demon is attached to me. I plead the blood of Jesus, and I am STILL getting smacked (this is what it feels like) and called an ugly fat whore and God hates me. Wtf is this?
Robyn

 

[ms spock]

Have you looked at the distorted cognitions @Jasmynesmom dbtselfhelp - if you work through that is really helpful. Also read David Burns' book it was really helpful for me!

This might be of interest for you Robyn?
Name that distorted cognition (thought/perception)

 

[ms spock]

This is much better than it has ever been!