What is Maladaptive Daydreaming?
Maladaptive daydreaming is a compulsive activity where an individual spends an unhealthy
amount of time in the state of daydreaming. The word “maladaptive” means poor or
inadequate adaption, meaning that this behavior is unhealthy and is likely performed by an
individual as a mechanism to cope or escape from a situation.
Maladaptive daydreaming can be a symptom of many mental health conditions such as
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, dissociative disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and types of depression. Although recent research
proves that maladaptive daydreaming is different from these conditions and should be
declared a separate disorder, maladaptive daydreaming is not yet a recognized condition on
its own and is viewed as a symptom of other disorders rather than a disorder itself.
Effects of Maladaptive Daydreaming
Whether or not maladaptive daydreaming is a recognized disorder, it is undeniable that it
affects people’s lives in many aspects. Maladaptive daydreaming can be so immersive and
lengthy that the person disassociates from the world around them, negatively impacting their
relationships, work or school performance, sleep schedule, and everyday life. Since
maladaptive daydreaming is a compulsive activity, individuals who perform it are usually
uncapable of controlling their daydreaming tendencies and often lose themselves in vivid,
detailed daydreams which can distract them from real-life responsibilities and events and stop
them from completing tasks and reaching their goals, which eventually leads to feelings of
guilt, shame, demotivation, unworthiness, and general emotional distress. People who
experience maladaptive daydreaming may become so absorbed with their inner world that it
becomes harder to ground themselves in reality, leading to feelings of dissociation,
depersonalization, and derealization which can lead to the development of other mental
health issues.
Causes of Maladaptive Daydreaming
Since maladaptive daydreaming is a relatively new concept, there is a lack of research around
its causes and treatment methods. Maladaptive daydreaming is often a symptom of other
mental health issues and is part of a bigger problem such as anxiety disorders, dissociative
disorders, OCD, ADHD, and more. Medical professionals suspect it can also develop as a
coping strategy or escape mechanism from reality due to traumatic events; as for a
maladaptive daydreamer, the inner world may feel safer than the experience happening
outside, which causes them to immerse in their daydreams to escape the problems happening
in their real world. Maladaptive daydreaming can also develop without any prior trauma or
any signs of underlying mental health issues, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact causes
of this condition.
Symptoms of Maladaptive Daydreaming
The symptoms of maladaptive daydreaming revolve around the intensity of the daydreams.
Daydreaming is a normal and healthy human activity, it only becomes maladaptive when it is
vivid, intense, lengthy, and addictive. People who experience maladaptive daydreaming tend
to experience it as an addiction; and since it’s a compulsive activity, they find it difficult or
nearly impossible to stop daydreaming when they need to. Maladaptive daydreaming also
includes unconscious facial expressions, verbalizations, and repetitive movement such as
rocking back and forth or walking around in circles while daydreaming.
Diagnosis of Maladaptive Daydreaming
Since maladaptive daydreaming is not an officially recognized condition, mental health
professionals are incapable of producing a diagnosis for this symptom itself. However, they
can use specific questionnaires and diagnostic scales for related conditions like ADHD, OCD,
depression, anxiety, and dissociative disorders. They can also directly use the Maladaptive
Daydreaming Scale-16 (MDS-16), a set of questions that can show if a person is more likely
to have this issue. As mentioned previously, maladaptive daydreaming is most likely a
symptom of other disorders. A person who struggles with this compulsive activity may not be
able to obtain a diagnosis for this symptom itself, but they may qualify for a diagnosis for
other mental health issues.
Treatment of Maladaptive Daydreaming
Since maladaptive daydreaming is not an official diagnosis, there’s no standard treatment.
Mental health providers diagnose and treat maladaptive daydreaming by approaching the
condition based on its similarities to related conditions (ADHD, anxiety disorders,
dissociative disorders, etc.)
In mild cases, maladaptive daydreaming can be managed by maintaining a regular sleep
schedule, recording symptoms to understand triggers, and other coping mechanisms such as
journaling and therapy.
In more severe cases, Maladaptive daydreaming can be treated via mental health therapy
(psychotherapy) such as Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is one of the most
common types of therapy for conditions related to maladaptive daydreaming like OCD,
anxiety, depression, and dissociative disorders. Most people who struggle with maladaptive
daydreaming usually have other underlying conditions, so CBT can be a great approach for
treating related conditions that cause maladaptive daydreaming.
Resources
“Maladaptive Daydreaming: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
Accessed April 5, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23336-
maladaptive-
daydreaming#:~:text=Maladaptive%20daydreaming%20is%20a%20behavior,mental
%20health%20conditions%20like%20anxiety.
“Maladaptive Daydreaming: Symptoms and Diagnosis.” Sleep Foundation, March 17,
2023. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health/maladaptive-daydreaming.
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