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Dr. Eric Perry
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How Creative Are Your Dreams?

Written by Dr. Eric Perry

“I have everything I need in my daydreams. A big home, fast car, money and tons of good friends. I could never have that in my so-called real life so why try?” ~Anonymous

Maladaptive daydreaming is a psychological concept that was first introduced in 2002 by Eli Somer, a clinical psychologist who specializes in traumatized patients. Dr. Somer found that patients who suffer early trauma regularly escape into a world of imagination where they fantasize compensatory empowering stories. Through these stories, they live a life full of experiences they were missing or missed in their real lives. Somer named this phenomenon “Maladaptive daydreaming.” In 2011, another study by Jayne Bigelsen and Cynthia Schupack showed maladaptive daydreaming in individuals who had no childhood trauma. It appears that this form of daydreaming is wide-spread and practiced by many regardless of whether they experienced early childhood trauma.

Maladaptive daydreaming is a psychological concept that is yet to be recognized as a disorder. It describes extensive fantasy activity that replaces human interaction and/or interferes with academic, interpersonal or vocational functioning. Dr. Somer and others are currently working on research to prove maladaptive daydreaming is a valid disorder that differs from normal daydreaming. It is somewhat controversial because other psychologists consider daydreaming as a normal part of being human. They tend to believe that if the daydreaming is causing problems, most mental health professionals will be able to help without labeling it as a pathology. Also, there are those who self-report experiencing maladaptive daydreaming and embrace the experience as a positive one adding to their creativity.

Maladaptive daydreaming is different from normal daydreaming. Typically, a normal daydream is spontaneous, lasts for a short period of time and is the result of mind wandering. Normal daydreaming is fantasy related. A person experiencing normal daydreaming usually is accomplishing something amazing or experiencing something extraordinary. On the other hand, maladaptive daydreaming is a daydream on steroids. A person with maladaptive daydreaming will spend many hours a day daydreaming and creating an alternative and complex fantasy world. According to Dr. Somer, a person who experiences maladaptive daydreaming can create an alternative world with an alternative family and have the same daydream for years. A maladaptive daydream is detailed and elaborate. It can have different characters and story plots. The characters can have real lives and the daydreamer will become emotionally attached to these characters even when they acknowledge that they are not real. It is important to note that the person who experiences maladaptive daydreaming is fully aware that the day-dream characters are not real and can differentiate between what is real and unreal. The person suffering from maladaptive daydreaming might have started by enjoying their complex daydreams, but soon find that it has become an addiction and is no longer volitional. The created world becomes much more satisfying than the real world.

According to Somer maladaptive daydreaming is an exercise in compensation. Extremely shy and introverted or socially anxious people will find great solace in imagining themselves hanging out with famous people or being extremely famous. Abuse survivors are often super hero’s rescuing others. They dream of an idealized self in a world that caters to them. Somer states the ability to daydream with such detail is not the problem. He states that they are “Born with a special capacity to visualize very vividly… and this is “sort of a gift.” The problem occurs when the person finds themselves living in two worlds and they find it hard to engage in the real world. The daydreaming is so excessive it begins to interfere negatively with their life. The fantasy world begins to take over their lives and causes problems such as the following:

1. Interferes with the real world
A person experiencing maladaptive daydreaming will isolate themselves in order to engage in their fantasy life. Somer states that they spend about 60 percent of their waking time fully immersed in their fantasy world. They are able to engage fully with the characters they have created and exhibit emotions evoked by these characters. Maladaptive daydreaming is almost always accompanied by repetitive body motions such as pacing and rocking. These behaviors ultimately interfere with work, relationships, and general activities. The daydreaming is so excessive that they have no time to live their life.

2. The daydreams occur involuntarily
Maladaptive daydreamers report that the daydreams become involuntary and are highly immersive and repetitive. They can experience the perseveration seen in people with obsessive-compulsive disorders. During monotonous tasks, they may constantly shift inward involuntarily.

3. Difficulty disengaging from the daydream
Maladaptive daydreamers have trouble shifting their attention back to the real world. They can become fully immersed in the world they have created. Their daydreaming experiences are lifelike. They are able to enter a different time and place. They are able to have adventures and relationships with the characters they have created. Imagine how difficult it must be to part with a world that has been created solely to cater to your own desires.

4. Addictive
Many Maladaptive daydreamers report that they are not able to stop their intense daydreaming. They become addicted to the world they have created. They will continue to isolate themselves in order to live in their fantasy world even to the detriment of their real lives. They will spend the entire day alone getting pleasure from their immersive vivid daydreaming.

Somer’s long-term goal is to have maladaptive daydreaming formally recognized as a psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by clinicians all over the world to diagnose and treat mental health patients.

This article is not meant to diagnose or be a guide for self-diagnosis. The purpose of this article is to educate readers on maladaptive daydreaming.

The thoughts expressed in this blog post are my own and are not meant to create a therapeutic relationship with the reader. This blog does not replace or substitute the help of a mental health professional. Please note, I am unable to answer your specific mental health questions as I am not fully aware of all of the circumstances.

Kindly,
Dr. Perry

Copy of Dr. Eric Perry

“I help ambitious and high achieving individuals manifest a life of success and fulfillment in order to achieve the life they truly desire.”

Dr. Eric Perry | drericperry.com

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65 responses to How Creative Are Your Dreams?

    • MakeItUltra™ says:
      Author

      Thank you! It is extremely interesting to me and I wanted to share it with all of you✨

      Liked by 3 people

    • MakeItUltra™ says:
      Author

      Hi Samantha , yes it’s like that movie. I love the old version with Danny Kaye✨

      Liked by 3 people

  4. Izrael says:

    Interesting read. Perhaps more research can determine the complexity of the condition and truly know if it can be classified as mental illness.

    Liked by 7 people

    • MakeItUltra™ says:
      Author

      Hi Izrael, indeed. Dr. Somer as well as other researchers believe it is a disorder and are trying to gather up the evidence to present their case. Will be interesting to see the outcome. Thank you so much for your comment ✨

      Liked by 2 people

  5. The Hood Group says:

    I have never heard of this but it does sound like it might meet criteria for recognition by the DSM-5. Are there any recent studies of which you are aware? Any data on the percentage of the population engaging in it? Super interesting.

    Liked by 6 people

    • MakeItUltra™ says:
      Author

      I believe the most recent studies are from May 2016. It is often a self reported activity so its difficult to truly gauge what percentage of the population engages in this activity. I must emphasize it is different from regular daydreaming. Individuals who experience maladaptive daydreams spend hours away from others while engaged in their fantasy worlds. It truly is fascinating

      Liked by 2 people

  6. MakeItUltra™ says:
    Author

    That’s amazing. Thank you for sharing this !It truly does appear to be a gift and only arises to the level of disorder when it causes distress in their daily lives. ✨

    Liked by 2 people

  8. thethingswehideinside says:

    I can definitely relate to an extent when I’m thinking about the future or some appointment or different things like that I said and they go into this overdrive daydreaming home meant where I can picture myself there and everything that is going to happen but they’re going to say and how everything will be OK at this particular situation and then real life happens the situation comes and it’s nothing like my daydream and I am depressed for days and I keep trying to stop doing that but I can’t I think it’s a coping mechanism him from like you have mentioned childhood trauma of where you want everything to be OK but it’s not

    Liked by 5 people

  9. granny1947 says:

    For a moment there, I thought, oh hell I have a mental disorder.
    Then I read further.
    My daydreams do not affect my daily life.
    I DO imagine what I would do if I won the lottery but it is not all consuming.
    An interesting read.

    Liked by 7 people

    • fromsinnertosaintblog says:

      I did the same thing, then read on and realized I can break away. but I have gotten a lot of great ideas based on my imaginary fabulous life.

      Liked by 3 people

  11. Amuseinked says:

    Hello! Thank you so much for writing this. I had no clue this was a thing. But having suffered from depression, I did use to retract into a bubble of my own for long hours as a defence mechanism to protect myself from the painful realities of life. I finally have a term for it. I’m doing better now but am really grateful for this post as it puts a lot of things in perspective in retrospect. Thank you once again.

    Liked by 7 people

    • MakeItUltra™ says:
      Author

      Hi, thank you so much for sharing and I am really glad this was of some help! I appreciate your feedback and comment. Have a wonderful day ✨

      Liked by 2 people

  12. Liz says:

    I can relate to this post, something I did quite a lot as a coping mechanism, one time. But not to the extent of cutting off family life. I found it an interesting post.

    Liked by 5 people

  13. MakeItUltra™ says:
    Author

    Hi Laura thank you for taking the time to visit mine 😀 have a wonderful day and thank you for your comment ✨

    Liked by 2 people

  14. iamthe150 says:

    It sounds similar to schizophrenia. Imaginary characters and emotionally attached. Would those patients harm themselves unconsciously while wandering in their daydream?

    Liked by 5 people

    • MakeItUltra™ says:
      Author

      Hi, actually one key point is that individuals with maladaptive daydreaming are able to distinguish between real and imaginary. They are aware that they have an imaginary world. As far as I know there are no cases of self harm while they are in their fantasy world. Thank you so much for your comment✨

      Liked by 3 people

  19. Cynthia Lynn says:

    There was a bridge over a small creek where I would stand in the middle of and wait for the time to meet with my psychiatrist. I would look over at the scene below and imagine a colony of people lived there. I would imagine the pebbles to be boulders and the twigs to be giant logs. I would be so immersed in this daydream I wouldn’t hear my name called. Soon, it was at parks where weeds grew wild or any place I could take my imagination away from the present. Thirty-five years later and I sill do this in creek beds or landscaped yards. Interesting it has a name Maladaptive that fits quite well with the other prefex titles I bear.

    Liked by 8 people

  21. whatsmymuse says:

    I do this every day. I have my own world filled with characters and plots. I have been doing it since childhood. My day dreams are an escape sometimes but I do them most of the time automatically. I loved this article because it’s so true. My daydreams save my sanity at times. Thanks so much for sharing this information with everyone.

    Liked by 7 people

  23. P A Brown says:

    This is fascinating! Thank you for posting this – I didn’t know it was a “thing” and helps me understand another little puzzle piece of my own behaviour. This type of daydreaming was my coping mechanism for narcissistic abuse as a child – I was given a walkman (remember those?!) and I would disappear into my own world for hours whilst listening to music. I kept doing it to a lesser extent until this past year – now that I have begun to understand, heal and find healthier coping mechanisms for stress I no longer need the music or the escape from life. Isn’t the mind truly amazing?

    Liked by 6 people

  24. Classically Ivy says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this. I have daydreamed a lot since I was a child, and though I often do so now as an adult (particularly when I am stressed out), I do not allow it to interfere with my daily life. A very insightful article, which makes me feel like I am not alone in my experience. Best wishes.

    Liked by 6 people

  25. ishabardia says:

    It is actually a very helpful article and I can obviously relate to it. I had always thought that I am engaging in natural daydreaming but now I know the difference. It’s has been a good eye opener I would say. Thank you for sharing this blog.

    Liked by 4 people

  30. hoplite39 says:

    I do engage in complex daydreams and even have techniques to enhance the experience. Personally, I see it as no worse than watching a movie or playing a video game where I am effectively experiencing some one else’s fantasy. Daydreaming can be very useful to pass the time, especially when commuting.

    Liked by 5 people

    • raindrop says:

      I have a good friend who does the same. She does this as she goes to sleep rather than reading a book. I think it sounds really cool – I guess the maladaptive part comes only if you get the symptoms described – like being unable to control it/stop etc. A bit like eating I guess. It’s not like eating is bad in itself, but you can develop disorders around the eating.

      Liked by 3 people

  32. Leon Garber says:

    I thought that your article was excellent, and agree with labeling this state as a disorder; pathological behavior exists on a continuum with normal levels on the healthier side of the spectrum. Many behaviors can become addictive and pathological, and should be treated as such when taken to their extremes.

    As a kid, I struggled mightily with this disorder; it would’ve been nice if someone labeled it as such.

    Liked by 4 people

  33. carol hopkins says:

    Wow! This is so interesting. I honestly did not know this was a thing, but if there is any validity to it that would explain why certain people I know seem to be living in another world – perhaps they are.

    Liked by 3 people

  34. beyondimagination25 says:

    It’s very thoughtful and thanks a lot for sharing this information about Maladaptive Daydreaming.

    Liked by 4 people

  36. jhnnbrts says:

    Very interesting post! I did not know that there was actually a terminology to describe that phenomenon. I have seen this behaviour in other people. Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 3 people

  37. Alive And Well says:

    GASP!! You have described a habit that I am trying hard to shed! I didn’t know it had a name. Now that I have a name for it, I have knowledge over it.

    Liked by 3 people

  38. Swati Saini says:

    Useful information. I too practice this day dreaming thing (but to a limited extent of course!). Didn’t know that it can be a disorder in certain cases. Useful information Dr. Perry

    Liked by 2 people

  40. gracybella says:

    So this thing has a name?! Great information! I do this a whole lot, but I’ve been working on living more on the outside than on the inside! Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 2 people

  43. kohleyes321 says:

    Great post. I walk with my fantasy cloud over head, guilty. But sometimes it gives you great push and strength to deal the real world. Love to read more abut the research. 😊

    Liked by 3 people

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