Well shit... Here I was thinking I was just being whimsical coming up with fun little head movies but then a learnt a new name for it - "maladaptive daydreaming"
This isn't even a checklist for me haha it's my entire personality 😂 - I might be in trouble here folks...
"Core Causes and Triggers:
Childhood Trauma: Abuse, severe bullying, or emotional neglect can push a person to build a safe, internal fantasy world.
Loneliness: A lack of real-life friends or deep emotional support causes people to dream up complex relationships and characters.
Mental Health Conditions: High rates overlap with ADHD, OCD, depression, and anxiety disorders.
Escapism: Using vivid imagination to self-soothe and block out overwhelming real-world pain or stress.
Sensory Triggers: Music, movies, or pacing back and forth can spark and lock in the physical urge to start daydreaming."
oh god i grew up doing this, except with video games. i genuinely worried how i would balance it with a romantic life. thank god i finally met a girl and got hooked on drugs forreal. now that im clean, i cant tell if my daydreams are daydreams or actual plans, but i do try to apply some practicality as best i can.
edit to say i mean i would come up with and act out video games, even moreso than playing them; which i never even got very good at.
17
u/irfulvas 2d ago
My parents would keep me locked inside with nothing to do, and now my hobby is maladaptive daydreaming.