What is Maladaptive Daydreaming?

This video describes maladaptive daydreaming. The term “maladaptive daydreaming” was originally coined by a professor named Eli Somer in a 2002 paper. Daydreaming is relatively common - over 95% of people daydream on a daily basis - but not all daydreaming is maladaptive. The common type of daydreaming deals with reviewing interactions and planning. Maladaptive daydreaming is quite different. We see certain characteristics that have been associated with that term that deviate quite a bit from what we think of as normal daydreaming. For example, vivid daydreams, difficulty sleeping, a strong desire to daydream, an extended duration of the daydream, and long daydreams. Sometimes during these maladaptive daydreams there are various facial expressions, talking, and repetitive movement. This concept has been described as addictive and eliciting strong emotions. Often maladaptive daydreams are described as rewarding, which is consistent with the addictive property that's been observed. Maladaptive daydreams have been associated with dissociation, which is a symptom we oftentimes see when people have experienced early childhood trauma. However, studies have found that there doesn't seem to be a particularly strong link between trauma and maladaptive daydreaming. Maladaptive daydreaming is not a mental health disorder, however, there has been research showing it may be comorbid with several mental health disorders including ADHD, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.