New Member Here: Shame and Sharing

I’m if anyone actually reads these, but regardless I thought it would be beneficial for me to share my experience for my own self. I am a 22 year old who has been experiencing maladaptive daydreaming (MADD) for 12 years.

It it seems as though many members had never shared their MADD experiences before finding this forum, however, I had the chance to speak to a therapist about my particular case before I found myself here. Like many people who have MADD, I was worried the therapist may think I had schizophrenia or some other kind of mental health disorder and that I would have to suffer the consequences of that diagnosis. But what I found instead was acceptance. Which was quite possibly the single greatest mental relief I’ve ever gotten. But, the therapist did ask me a question, and it is one I cannot get out of my head so I’ve decided to pose it to others like me. 

“What if you told someone you love about your maladaptive daydreaming and they simply accepted it and still loved you?”

My answer was that the question was rather moot. I would not share my daydreaming and I have been most certain for my entire life that no one would accept it. But, is the reason for this simply because I view MADD as shameful so I expect others to do the same?

I realize I have posed two questions, and while I am not expecting any kind of response, I hope that it makes you think more about your experience the way it made me. Does telling the people we love allow us to release our shame? Is releasing our shame the way to recovery?