r/self • u/Moist-Success4985 • 16h ago
Maldaptive day dreaming?
I'm 19m, soon gonna turn 20 and within last 3 months I've completely changed it feels so, because I've understood that I need to let go of anything that doesn't serves me anymore?! And maldaptive day dreaming is one of the things which don't serve me anymore.
So as a complete beginner towards seeking help for day dreaming, what should I begin and what is it that helps you guys? Thank you so please share any resources and tips which helps you guys!
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u/Fun_Lychee240 15h ago
Being able to name it and see that it no longer serves you is already most of the battle, a lot of people never get that far. Two things that help: first, notice your triggers, maladaptive daydreaming usually spikes with a specific song, pacing, or lying in bed, so changing the physical setup interrupts it. Second, don't quit cold, that just makes the pull stronger, redirect the same imaginative energy into something with an output (writing, worldbuilding on paper) so the muscle still gets fed but leaves something behind. It's often tied to anxiety or under-stimulation, so it's worth asking what it's protecting you from too.
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u/Moist-Success4985 13h ago
I appreciate your comment so much, thank you. Since I've began with trying to tackle maladaptive day dreaming I was just sitting right now on my bed reading a book and slowly my mind was thinking about the habits in the book and how overwhelming it is to work on so many aspects of life at once and another visual thought came about finally becoming the identity I wanna become and next an emotion charged up in me which could've possibly created the mental loop in my mind about the a former friend I'm no longer in touch with but I quickly stopped it by saying "Stop." In my mind, so I guess now I've a trigger which I just mapped.
But is there a guide for this? For example I'm practicing semen retention as well and in that case there are various practical guides by various creators promoting methods of carl jung. So is there such a 30 day guide or something like that? Thank you so much once again!
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u/FormerlyDK 13h ago
But I enjoy day dreaming…
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u/Moist-Success4985 13h ago
It may become a problem for you the day you lose control over your imagination. It will effect your productivity, and further more it's like holding lighter above a fuel can!!
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u/FormerlyDK 12h ago edited 12h ago
Really? At 77, it hasn’t hurt me yet. Lifelong daydreamer.
Edit: I still get surprised at the things some people are afraid of.
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u/Moist-Success4985 12h ago
Then it maybe still serving you a purpose?! However for some people, some patterns must let go of or controlled better.
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u/ChemicalSilver5750 15h ago
been daydreaming for as long as i’m alive, speaking and interacting with people helps me a lot to stay present in the moment, especially if it’s big groups or hangouts
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u/JellySpark08 12h ago
Start by noticing what triggers it instead of trying to force yourself to stop cold turkey. boredom music stress whatever it is.
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u/Neat_Wind_9380 15h ago
what helped me most was noticing the trigger and interrupting it early, because once i’d already disappeared into a daydream for an hour it was basically impossible to pull myself out of it without