- [Amanda] Hey, Psych2Go family,
and welcome back to another video.
Before we start, we wanted to give a huge thanks
for all of the love and support that you've given us.
Psych2Go's aim is to make psychology
more accessible to everyone, so let's begin.
While daydreaming is a fun little pastime for most people,
some individuals experience frequent and intrusive daydreams
that can interfere with their daily lives.
Do you possibly find yourself daydreaming so much
that it begins to negatively interfere with your life?
This excessive type of daydreaming
is a central theme of maladaptive dreaming.
A type of daydreaming that greatly disturbs
everyday functioning and quality of life.
Please take note that maladaptive daydreaming,
also known as MD, is not classified as a mental disorder in
the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders".
There has been limited research done on MD
compared to other more well-known disorders.
This video is not intended to point
to a certifiable diagnosis of MD,
so please do not try to diagnose yourself or others.
With that said, here are five signs
of maladaptive daydreaming.
One, you get so caught up in daydreaming
that you forget where you are.
If you find yourself confused
about where you are or what you're doing
because you've been daydreaming excessively,
it could be negatively impacting
your work and personal life.
Two, you feel distressed about the amount of time
you spend daydreaming.
Patients who reported excessive maladaptive daydreaming
were also reportedly distressed from the amount of time
they devoted to daydreaming.
For example, one woman struggling with MD
reported walking in circles while shaking a string
in her hand for several hours out of the day.
She enjoyed doing that but was also conflicted
from the amount of time she spent daydreaming.
She had other obligations she couldn't attend
because she was wound up
spending all of her time daydreaming instead.
Three, you would rather daydream than talk to people.
Do you find yourself preferring to daydream
over other social activities or hobbies?
If so, you may be experiencing
a symptom of maladaptive dreaming.
This was identified as a common symptom
among people who struggle with MD.
Four, maladaptive dreaming
changes your perception of the world.
People who report MD express that their senses
are heightened when they daydream.
They might feel tactile sensations
or hear audible sounds or visually be able to see
the things they're daydreaming about.
It's at a level that's much more intense
and stimulating than a normal everyday daydream.
In one case, a person reported
a heightened presence in their dreams.
In another case, another person said they felt
fewer sensations of pain because they were fantasizing
about their idealized self.
And number five, you cannot control your daydreaming.
Some people experience challenges
in trying to limit the time they devote to daydreaming.
If someone is unable to regulate their daydreaming
into a proper check and balance,
this may be an underlying sign of a bigger problem.
Maladaptive daydreaming is a slippery slope
and is something that can greatly interfere
with one's daily life, causing ample confusion,
distress and a decline in social interactions.
If you're curious to learn more
about maladaptive daydreaming,
check out our video, What is Maladaptive Daydreaming?
The link is in the description below.
Have you recognized any of these MD signs
within your own life?
Or do you know someone else
who might exhibit these excessive daydreaming traits?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Also, like and share this video
with those who might be interested.
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As always, thanks for watching.