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Post by aimlessb on Aug 11, 2020 14:27:25 GMT
Hi, all. I was wondering what are everyone's opinion about MD? Do you guys think it's a mental illness or something that can be a blessing that protects us from cruel things in the world? Just wondering, because yesterday I was caught doing it by my husband. I felt embarrassed by it, but it's the only way I truly feel happy. It's also impossible to stop. What are all your thoughts?
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Post by Sam on Aug 12, 2020 18:39:34 GMT
I don't really believe that MD by itself is a mental illness. For all intents and purposes, its a behavioral addiction that often occurs as an unhealthy coping mechanism (frequently for other mental illnesses). Daydreaming as a coping mechanism isn't inherently bad. Non-MDers do it all the time. However, for us, it's grown out of control and has taken over our lives. Instead of only daydreaming when we really truly need an escape, we start daydreaming whenever we encounter something that makes us even slightly uncomfortable.
It's also important to note that there's really no such thing as "stopping." Daydreaming is a natural and necessary function that helps with creativity and problem solving, and it's quite literally impossible to just completely stop daydreaming. The goal is to create a balance between real life and daydreams so that you can daydream and still function normally.
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Post by erva on Sept 14, 2020 11:26:12 GMT
I think this is not a Completely ill. Yes I know that sometimes it spend my time when I try to work but this is type of relaxation. And The same thing happened to me. My sister saw me when I was in the daydream time, so ı understand you.
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Post by inmymind on Oct 15, 2020 22:45:25 GMT
personally? I don't think it's a blessing, but more of a coping mechanism I guess. It's on the verge of a mental illness and definitely needs more recognition, at least in the wider science/medical/mental health community.
you shouldn't be embarrassed by MD, and I would recommend talking to your husband about it - it's always good to try and spread awareness about lesser-known boarderline mental illnesses/coping mechanisms.
there isn't a cure, but it's true that you can learn to control it a bit more with practice. for me, anywhere from 10-80% of my mind is occupied with daydreaming at any given time - it never stops, and sometimes I loose all sense of what's around me (I was once walking home and got mugged, but was so out of it due to MD I didn't even notice apparently - I only know this because I was with someone else, who told me of how I acted later).
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Post by katey on Nov 19, 2020 10:57:33 GMT
Hey aimlessb, I'm with Sam on the "coping mechanism that evolves into a behavioural addiction" definition. I personally think that other people don't daydream in the way that I do, because for me daydreams are so emotional. Normal people don't cry during daydreams. When I cry during MD and then I get interrupted by something, I am not the tiniest bit  , but actually feel very good. I do think that a mental illness can be the result of MD. When I don't daydream, I talk to myself all the time, like I was explaining things from my life to someone else. I do it in a normal loud voice and in public. I didn't have the urge to do that before MD (I started when I was about 11). And I've actually talked a LOT to a LOT of people recently, so it's not like I can just get it out of my system. For me, the side effects are the bad thing, not MD itself. So yeah, I really think it's an addiction. The special problem, in comparison to other addictions is that you can do it basically ALL your waking time (no hangover, tired eyes, need to buy new substances, etc.) and that it is so individually formed for your needs. For me it brought me to a life / identity crisis. I wanted to scream it all out and that seems mental to other people, but to me it makes sense, it's not overreacting. Just that I should have broken out many many years ago, when the unsatisfaction about my life wasn't as big and complicated. Anyways, a therapist once told me, as long as I can explain myself in such a reflected way, that's a good sign for my sanity. And I feel like we're all reflecting about ourselves in a pretty understandable way. |
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d00mebi
New Daydreamer
Hello. This is my first time on an MA forum.
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Post by d00mebi on Nov 27, 2020 1:18:54 GMT
I agree with Katey on this. The same thing happens where I get so emotional and even cry from daydreams but when interrupted I feel normal. I don’t think it’s a blessing because it stops me from doing so much because I easily get triggered to daydream and end up so slow. It is definitely a coping mechanism but it’s grown into so much of my personality I even find myself barely speaking to people because I have so many conversations in my daydreams I feel like I’m tea being social but I’m not. I don’t know if it’s meant to be that bad.
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ohmymagenta0214
New Daydreamer
To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. - Nietzsche
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Post by ohmymagenta0214 on Nov 29, 2020 3:38:59 GMT
If you want to talk about classification of MDD as a recognized diagnosis, approach it like addiction. People use substances for a variety of reasons; to feel good/high, to relieve life stressors, or to improve performance. Symptoms of substance abuse are grouped into categories; Impaired Control - a craving for the substance and failed attempts to cut back/stop using. Social Impact - Substance use has negatively impacted work/school performance and leisure activities are cut back due to use. Just switch out substance use for MaDD & this would still apply. It would have to negatively impact a persons ability to function in multiple areas of life.
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Post by thedolphinbaby57 on Dec 5, 2020 1:21:44 GMT
In my personal opinion, i think Maladaptive Daydreaming is a mental illness or some kind of disorder that our brain has. I also feel like that sometimes Maladaptive Daydreaming is just a symptom of something bigger and more damaging to our well beings and we just don't it know yet. I also talk to myself but there's nothing wrong with it honestly i do it all the time and it kinda keeps me in the present. i have been caught by other people too when I daydream and i always get embarrassed. Madd is also an addiction but one where it's hard to control but it's not impossible. I definitely agree that Madd should be looked upon more and have more research done because like I said this could be something more serious and we just haven't seen it for ourselves yet. That's just my opinion though.
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Post by blueberrymuffin on Dec 5, 2020 21:49:02 GMT
I agree with Sam and ohmymagenta0214
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, but actually feel very good.
