LMAO thanks man. That’s kinda validating :’D

It’s impossible for me to daydream in a conversation with someone, and hard but not impossible to daydream in public settings. I’ve never had a stranger or acquaintance “catch me” daydreaming so to speak. My physical symptoms are almost nothing so I’d just look like anyone else staring off into space (other ppl with MADD may whisper to themselves, pace, require music, etc.)

It is very easy to daydream— this is something everyone does with very few exceptions. Everyone can daydream voluntarily just by imagining any scene. However, Maladaptive daydreaming is when your brain starts daydreaming to escape reality. For me, what varies is how enjoyable daydreaming is— some times I want to daydream but it just aint Hittin’, and sometimes I rly don’t want to daydream but I keep slipping. With therapy and meds, I’ve been very good at snapping myself out of daydreams and keeping myself out when I need to, for the most part. It’s rare for me to not realize I’m daydreaming any more than 10 mins in nowadays, opposed to high school when I could spend four hours straight daydreaming and not notice until I realize it’s dark outside.

I developed MADD around 9 years old during summer vacation from under stimulation and neglect since my mom was single and worked full time. Mind you, I had no clue that that playing with ur stuffed animals for entire days on end was Bad, and no one noticed. It peaked in high school when my home life became, ah, traumatizing without going into detail. Daydreamed any available moment and almost didn’t graduate. No one noticed, including myself. I just thought I was “a creative” and just a lesser capable human being lol.

MADD isn’t actually in the DSM as of yet, and has only been named and formally researched for a decade or so— barely anything compared to many other disorders. I specifically remember trying to research maladaptive daydreaming when I was like 13, but it was so under researched that I didn’t relate to it. Googled it again after graduating and noticing I was getting stuck in daydreams, and whaddya know looks like I have a mental illness after all!

You seem super interested in this. Would you like me to link you some research articles about it?

Yes, I’ve been drawing since I was about 11! Not disguised at all! Here’s my art page. I used to pursue art as a career, but decided psychology was a better choice of major. I’ve kept it as a hobby, but I haven’t been active posting or making art in a while, I’ve been so busy. My proudest piece is prob that surgery oil painting. I started taking meds around that MS paint cat meme drawing, so you can sorta see how my ability to convey space/depth develops.