The constant desire to slip into daydreams, it seems, is contributing to difficulties in concentration and focus and this group may require different forms of treatment from other people with ADHD. For most maladaptive dreamers, this behaviour is the best way to cope with psychological and emotional factors like anxiety and depression.". Its like watching Netflix, she says. Those are normal human capacities that carry important evolutionary roles. Each guide and article includes a comprehensive bibliography with full citations and links to the original sources. Ive only told three people and they had similar reactions: they looked as if they wanted to laugh, Karina Lopez tells me. View Source We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. And I can't even describe how many there are, because they're too numerous to count.". Somer recognised their reports as a form of dissociation that had not been described in the scientific literature before, and so, coining the term maladaptive dreaming, he wrote a paper describing the phenomenon for the Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. Almost 77 percent of the participants had both maladaptive daydreaming and ADHD. It has to have a sizeable body of research behind it, be well distinguished from other disorders and have symptoms severe enough to cause impairment or distress. Maladaptive daydreaming, or daydreaming disorder, is a condition that causes people to voluntarily spend more time daydreaming than engaged in: relationships work duties (2020). Fourteen years ago realising that you are in love with a figment of your imagination would have resulted in a course of antipsychotic drugs typical of those used to treat schizophrenic hallucinations. Its voluntary its not intrusive, says Somer. Maladaptive daydreaming usually occurs as a coping mechanism in response to trauma, abuse or loneliness. Answers are required not only for treatment, but also to bring peace of mind to those who believe maladaptive daydreaming is a life sentence of isolation. A doctor may use other tools to evaluate whether you have symptoms of: There is no evidence that maladaptive dreaming can lead to another condition, but it can impact your overall quality of life. Maladaptive daydreamers engage in elaborate fantasy worlds for hours on end at the expense of important life goals and functioning. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information Experts have found links between maladaptive daydreaming and ADHD. There is little research to confirm why maladaptive daydreaming happens, and experts continue to investigate links to past experiences and other conditions.