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Childhood Abuse and Maladaptive Daydreaming

Amandisa16 March 31st, 2018

What is Maladaptive Daydreaming? Maladaptive daydreaming is a form of dissociation that normally begins in early childhood. Childhood Abuse from a young age is common in those that experience Maladaptive daydreaming. What starts as imaginative daydreams, after trauma and abuse become full fledged escapist fantasies. Some children who are being abused will use Maladaptive Daydreaming as a form of escape to escape the abuse. Although it is not a medically recognised term, the concept was first coined by Eli Somer, PH.D., in 2002. Studies for Maladaptive Daydreaming have shown that trauma and abuse are major triggers for this excessive form of daydreaming. Also that the majority of M'Ders (Maladaptive Daydreamers) have experienced some kind of childhood trauma or abuse. Maladaptive Daydreaming is a coping mechanism to deal with trauma abuse, loss, stress, and everyday life.

M'Ders can become so lost in their own thoughts (fantasy world) that they can forget where they are and that there are people around them. Sometimes they have trouble remembering the drive home and react either verbally or physically to their thoughts.When dealing with stress and anxiety Maladaptive Daydreaming can become a compulsive behaviour.

Symptoms

*This excessive daydreaming often begins in childhood, after abuse or experiencing a traumatic event

*Daydreaming is excessive in a way that it can be compared to an addiction.

*Books, movies, music, video games and other media maybe a daydreaming trigger

*Laughing out loud or making facial expressions, gestures in reponse to internal narratives. People suffering from this know the difference between daydreaming and reality and do not confuse the two. This makes them distinctly different from psychotics or Schizophrenics

*Finding it difficult to control daydreams (staying in the present)

*Certain day events trigger daydreams

*Repetitive movement while daydreaming are common (but not always present in sufferers), pacing, rocking, spinning, shaking something in their hand.

*Some people will lay in bed for hours and neglect basic functions.

Why is it considered harmful?

It can be considered harmful because of the aspect of Dissociation, "spending hours not being present".

Sources/Useful Websites

https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Maladaptive-Daydreaming

https://lonewolfmag.com/maladaptive-daydreaming-line-talking-getting-lost-deepest-corners-mind/

https://www.medicaldaily.com/maladaptive-daydreaming-what-it-247629

http://www.academia.edu/3842011/From_adaptive_fantasy_to_dissociative_psychopathology_On_forms_of_daydreaming

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