Symptoms Of Maladaptive Daydreaming

Overwhelming Desire To Continue Daydreaming

Due to the vivid and oftentimes pleasurable nature of maladaptive daydreaming, daydreamers may experience an overwhelming Desire to continue daydreaming. This desire persists even as real-world responsibilities begin to falter. Researchers believe this overwhelming desire to continue daydreaming is an addiction to a fantasy world controlled and manipulated by the dreamer. Maladaptive daydreamers have a strong tie to the daydreams because it allows them to have control over their outcomes and render pleasurable results to the lives of their fantasy characters. The downside of this is maladaptive daydreamers forgo real-world responsibilities and connections to satisfy their needs for fantasy interactions. When roused from daydreams, maladaptive daydreamers may become irritable and overcome with an urge to go back to the daydream as soon as possible, even if doing so means neglecting certain day to day functions.