Discussion Excessive Maladaptive Daydreaming

[Gloomic]

Maladaptive dreaming occurred to me naturally since being a small child. I do it every single day for a collective total of several hours with breaks in between. It triggers with music. I never had a name for my daydreams until now, I didn't even realize it was a known coping mechanism, I just knew that it helped me escape from the painful reality.
Lately it has been excessive, to the point where I'm missing deadlines for college assignments that I can't make up. I need to focus my time studying, but getting out of the dream depletes my motivation and increases my numbing sadness of being in this mundane world that I can't focus on the assignments at all. I sit there re-reading the same passage or a creative thought can't pop into my brain.
Maladaptive daydreaming usually comes with repetitive motions, so when I do it for more hours than usual, I start to feel some aching in my body too. Nothing problematic, just another symptom.
I've made new cuts on my wrist as punishment for the assignments I'm not studying for and didn't do because I definitely should know better than to waste my days like this.
If anyone has some tips for it to be less time consuming or wants to share their experience with maladaptive daydreaming, go ahead.

 

[Forveleth]

Welcome to SaSu! Sorry life has brought you here. I am a lifelong maladaptive daydreamer.

Maladaptive daydreaming is an avoidant behavioral problem. Most people daydream instead of doing what needs to be done. You need to figure out why you are avoiding things? Do you feel overwhelmed? Do tiu not find then interesting? Are you afraid you will fail classes even after tiu study? It can also be a form of escapism to get away with feelings you do not want to deal with.

So, the best thing to do is air and ask yourself what us the true reason for daydreaming so much and address it.

Also, you should not be punishing yourself by cutting when you daydream too much. Being angry at yourself over undesired behaviors just adda fuel to the fire. Acknowledge the behavior you do not like and work to change it.