My whole life, this was my biggest secret. I knew if I ever tried to explain this to people, they'd think I was crazy. In my late 20s, there were a few years when it died down, but then I went through major trauma and it came back full force. I fell right back into it being major parts of my day/existence. But at one point, I lost a few months to it....I just couldn't break away from it or wake up out of it. And I didn't want to, but I hadn't gotten any work done that I needed to, and my life was seriously affected by it. I couldn't explain it to anyone in my life. I couldn't tell anyone. How can you? So I thought I had to try looking into it. I found maladaptive daydreaming and I was floored. I never, ever thought I'd find that it was an actual thing that others experience/have. It was so validating, thank you so much Dr
I can’t tell you how happy I was to find out I was not the only one in the world who does this. I’m sixty years old and have done this as long as I can remember. Just a couple of weeks ago I began to google about it.
At first, whenever i read about daydreaming they kept saying how creative it is and bla bla bla which made me think i am gifted or sth and i thought i'd be successful and smart and one day i'd create sth new or write a novel. But as i digged deeper, i could definitely tell it's a problem not a gift and not normal.It's consuming my life. Many thanks for for ur research efforts, Dr. Eli. You helped me and a lot of people feel heard and not feel crazy.
I didn't know it had been recognized! The first time I heard about it was in 2019 when I decided to search for any conditions on daydreaming since I thought what I had wasn't supposed to be normal, it was when I started noticing people around me didn't have it as well. I started daydreaming in my early childhood, growing up as an only child, without any friends at all and lacking parental attention, and also as an undiagnosed autistic person, so my imagination became my life and only support. I'm really glad to see more people discovering this, I recently told my psychologist as well and she didn't know about it, so there is still a long way when it comes to awareness.
I started excesively daydreaming when I was about 7, after my parents' divorce and moving houses. I felt neglected so I'd just imagine I was some other kid put in all sorts of bad situations, but eventually receiving the support and pity of those around. I think it's so easy for children to start developing this habit since they're so imaginative.
Wow Im sorry that ur trauma led to MD. Like im really sorry coz the thought of an innocent child suffering to the point of trying to alleviate their own suffering is just sad. No kid should suffer to that degree
@@danielcunningham5940 Thanks Daniel. To be honest I have to credit my strong belief in Jehovah God and a lot of prayers. When involved in daydreaming, I can see how I was wasting my life away. Life is meant to be lived not wasted. Hope you are able to one day turn your daydreaming into a reality😉
@@Stefy-daydreamer You can, simply write exactly what you see in your fantasy. After you write down your fantasy, go back and make sure it makes sense from a reader's prospective. Proofread it or hire someone who will, then self published your novels. As a result of writing novels, many hollywood producer's have contacted me. I'm currently speaking with a few right now. I know this sounds like I'm making it up but it's true🙂 Turn lemon into lemonade.😊
I am a MDD, it appears early in my childhood, it was really different from imaging a life like beeing a fee or a princess like I and all children do during childhood. No, it was a very intense and irrisitible idea that emerge intensly you don't know from when it come but you feel attractivly the need to respond at this idea,. When I was kid it was some scene from movies that create my first dreams, I felt the need to reproduce the scene but in a better way. at age 7 it was once in three month, at age 9 once a month, at age 12 it was every weeks and after 14 I needed to daydream every day. At first I could resit to it so I didn't daydream during school or homework. I told myself "you'll could dream when your work will be done". It was a motivational source of work. But then at 15 I start to be depressed, I felt alone and sad and those thougts invaded me every second of my day. Now I'm 25, I can daydream all my day during vacation but thanksfully I try to keep busy to not do it. But the compulsive need to daydream is still here with me every second every day and every weeks. I m also a young medicine resident since few months so I work a lot and I feel very very unpleasant to be disturbed by these thoughts throughout my day, it distracts me a lot and it feels very inappropriate. And when I do research work for my job I can't concentrate because I daydream so I procrastinate. It is annoying but I like doing it everynight. I'm addicted, I can't stop doing it and I love how I feel when I do it. I always told myself that the thought of needing to daydream is an obsession and daydream is a compulsion.
Dr. Somer and Jayne, thank you both so much for presenting this information. I came across Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD) recently in my research of my daughter (age 7) diagnosis with Primary (non-autistic) Complex Motor Stereotypies (CMS). With researching on her diagnosis (CMS, that is) being limited, often parents and children are left to online support groups. Via support networks on Facebook, persons with CMS frequently report Intense Imagery Movements (IIM). Since many with CMS are children and unable to verbalize/express their imagery in detail, the group relies on the input from the adult members (who can describe IIM more accurately). My daughter has exhibited CMS movements since she was 6 months old and has recently been able to describe her “intense imagery” to me and it sounds exactly like MD (with the limited life experiences that an adult with MD might incorporate into their imagery/daydream, she often utilizes pictures in books, You tube shows, movies, musics, etc. as her “imagery facilitators”). In reading Dr. Somer’s research articles and listening to your talks, it seems as though IIM and MD are one in the same. Kinesiology is often described with MD, but in essence, this seems like the classic exhibition of CMS. CMS is categorized as a Movement Disorder. Persons with IIM say that their imagery goes hand in hand with their CMS “movements”, as in the case too with my daughter. Are you all aware of the research and online forums relating to CMS/IIM. Do you and Dr. Harvey Singer at Johns Hopkins (USA) ever collaborate on research trials? Do you have any input on the similarities/ differences between IIM vs MD? In my year of information gathering on CMS/IIM, the medical world is unaware, especially in Pediatrics. Many in the groups children with CMS/IIM are often misdiagnosed with ADHD, tic disorders and autism (b/c autistic "stimming" like almost identical to complex stereotypies). Often children are subjected to MRI's and EEG's. Medications are prescribed for ADHD and anxiety/depression with the root of the diagnosis is often missed. I'm beyond thrilled that you all have tapped into this research and I hope that global research is increased. -Michele
When I was a child, and carrying into adulthood until my early 20s I would roll on the floor, a forward roll, and I would associate it with imagining things. Always very positive things. I would imagine something I want to achieve in future. I would imagine having a good job, or living somewhere I wanted to live etc... Usually I would do it while listening music. I knew this was strange and so I always hid it. But did it for a long time. Then as I have got older I no longer do that but I still associate movement of my body with imagining positive things. Usually it means twisting around but while standing up, while listening music. I can also lose hours sometimes to imagining things, things that have no real relevance to my life. But something that interests me. So I can spend hours imagining myself arguing and debating with somebody about politics. It can be triggered by reading something etc... Sometimes it goes on so long that I consider it a problem, in that I don't get work done. But if I am distracted by other activity or I am with other people then I will not do it. I have never suffered serious depression and my life is fairly good. I did have stressful experiences as a child however relating to my parents being addicts. And I definitely have done this since being a child. It is very interesting to come across this information.
I'm so grateful to you and definitely those six patients who opened themselves up🙏🙏. I came across your video in 2019.I had depression, anxiety along with maladaptive daydreaming. I consulted with a psychiatrist for depression. Fortunately anti depressants have helped me to come out of daydreaming. 🙏
Thanks for the informative video, I am 59 been suffering from this for a long time, I had a hard childhood, I was able later in life to have some control over MD, but 2 years ago my husband died and then C19, O also suffered from Depression I have recently been put on lexapro, I am also hoping this helps, we shall see...Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much for your research Dr. Somer. I have been suffering from maladaptive daydreams since I can remember and like many others I never understood what was wrong with me. I cant describe how thankful I was after I found articles about your work. You are truly a hero to me.
I am a maladaptive daydreamer. I started daydreaming when I was in 3rd grade and it continued until I was in 12th grade. I graduated high school last year. I have a hard time trying to stop my dreams and I am constantly daydreaming it's affecting me a lot. I can't talk to anyone about this because people think I am crazy but I'm glad I'm not the only one who experiences this. If anyone can help me please do like give me any advice that would be very helpful
This is my world so often that it is very much a part of my "reality",which is ironic since there is so little that is actually 'real' about any of it.
Good day Doctor, what can prove that MD is a recognized psychological phenomenon? Actually, we would like to conduct a case study on this condition, however, for our research professor to approve our proposal, he wants us to provide a strong ground that this condition is not just a armchair speculation, I really want to do a study about MD, but our professor have no knowledge about this, which is why he hesitates to approve our proposal. I am hoping for your response, Doctor.
Do you know if anyone has ever tried to look at this from a parapsychological viewpoint? I.e., what if we got a bunch of us to try to enter the same alternative reality at precisely the same time? This could hurt getting the medical community to take it seriously, but it would be an interesting experiment. Aidan
Creo que tengo ensoñación excesiva desde los 13 años hoy tengo 46. Me encantaría aporgar con algún estudio, pero no sé el idioma, en Chile no he encontrado profesionales que sepan del tema
Thank you for this video. I do have a question: In your research does the length of time spent in a Daydream vary? Meaning I don’t spend hours at a time but I can lose 15-20 minute increments in a daydream throughout the day. Is this something you have noticed in your studies?
I realize Prof. Somer is mainly concerned with the pathological aspect of MDD and is trying very hard to get it in the DSM. My MDD is maladaptive, but I also have the complete opposite effect where I believe if I could learn to control it and use the immersive effect in a 100% manner, I could enhance my Chemistry research , I am a Ph.D. physical organic chemist/enzymologist and formulation scientist. However as yet I have not been successful in enhancing the positive properties of MDD Aidan
Hello, I'm a life long sufferer of MDD, please could I ask a question. Recently I am suffering with a different sort of intrusive thoughts (related to feeling worthless and self harm). I see these thoughts as being different to my day dreams but I wondered if you have noticed any link or association between MDD and intrusive thoughts? Thank you
My whole life, this was my biggest secret. I knew if I ever tried to explain this to people, they'd think I was crazy. In my late 20s, there were a few years when it died down, but then I went through major trauma and it came back full force. I fell right back into it being major parts of my day/existence. But at one point, I lost a few months to it....I just couldn't break away from it or wake up out of it. And I didn't want to, but I hadn't gotten any work done that I needed to, and my life was seriously affected by it. I couldn't explain it to anyone in my life. I couldn't tell anyone. How can you? So I thought I had to try looking into it. I found maladaptive daydreaming and I was floored. I never, ever thought I'd find that it was an actual thing that others experience/have. It was so validating, thank you so much Dr
Me too.
I can’t tell you how happy I was to find out I was not the only one in the world who does this. I’m sixty years old and have done this as long as I can remember. Just a couple of weeks ago I began to google about it.
At first, whenever i read about daydreaming they kept saying how creative it is and bla bla bla which made me think i am gifted or sth and i thought i'd be successful and smart and one day i'd create sth new or write a novel.
But as i digged deeper, i could definitely tell it's a problem not a gift and not normal.It's consuming my life.
Many thanks for for ur research efforts, Dr. Eli. You helped me and a lot of people feel heard and not feel crazy.
Thank you for putting this here. I had this all my life. No one knows about it. I thought I was crazy. I’m in tears. This made me feel less alone.
I didn't know it had been recognized! The first time I heard about it was in 2019 when I decided to search for any conditions on daydreaming since I thought what I had wasn't supposed to be normal, it was when I started noticing people around me didn't have it as well. I started daydreaming in my early childhood, growing up as an only child, without any friends at all and lacking parental attention, and also as an undiagnosed autistic person, so my imagination became my life and only support. I'm really glad to see more people discovering this, I recently told my psychologist as well and she didn't know about it, so there is still a long way when it comes to awareness.
I started excesively daydreaming when I was about 7, after my parents' divorce and moving houses. I felt neglected so I'd just imagine I was some other kid put in all sorts of bad situations, but eventually receiving the support and pity of those around.
I think it's so easy for children to start developing this habit since they're so imaginative.
Wow Im sorry that ur trauma led to MD. Like im really sorry coz the thought of an innocent child suffering to the point of trying to alleviate their own suffering is just sad. No kid should suffer to that degree
@@siluwilu1923 You're sweet, but don't worry, it was a long time ago.
I turned my fantasies into a career. I am a published author and screenplay writer. I refuse to allow this disorder to waste my life away.
I am proud of you. I wish I could have done such thing - made lemonaid out of what life had thrown at me.
@@danielcunningham5940 Thanks Daniel. To be honest I have to credit my strong belief in Jehovah God and a lot of prayers. When involved in daydreaming, I can see how I was wasting my life away. Life is meant to be lived not wasted. Hope you are able to one day turn your daydreaming into a reality😉
Thats awesome!! I would like to do the same
@@Stefy-daydreamer You can, simply write exactly what you see in your fantasy. After you write down your fantasy, go back and make sure it makes sense from a reader's prospective. Proofread it or hire someone who will, then self published your novels.
As a result of writing novels, many hollywood producer's have contacted me. I'm currently speaking with a few right now. I know this sounds like I'm making it up but it's true🙂
Turn lemon into lemonade.😊
Thank you doctor for your contribution to maladaptive dreaming topic!
I am a MDD, it appears early in my childhood, it was really different from imaging a life like beeing a fee or a princess like I and all children do during childhood. No, it was a very intense and irrisitible idea that emerge intensly you don't know from when it come but you feel attractivly the need to respond at this idea,. When I was kid it was some scene from movies that create my first dreams, I felt the need to reproduce the scene but in a better way. at age 7 it was once in three month, at age 9 once a month, at age 12 it was every weeks and after 14 I needed to daydream every day. At first I could resit to it so I didn't daydream during school or homework. I told myself "you'll could dream when your work will be done". It was a motivational source of work. But then at 15 I start to be depressed, I felt alone and sad and those thougts invaded me every second of my day.
Now I'm 25, I can daydream all my day during vacation but thanksfully I try to keep busy to not do it. But the compulsive need to daydream is still here with me every second every day and every weeks. I m also a young medicine resident since few months so I work a lot and I feel very very unpleasant to be disturbed by these thoughts throughout my day, it distracts me a lot and it feels very inappropriate. And when I do research work for my job I can't concentrate because I daydream so I procrastinate.
It is annoying but I like doing it everynight. I'm addicted, I can't stop doing it and I love how I feel when I do it. I always told myself that the thought of needing to daydream is an obsession and daydream is a compulsion.
Dr. Somer and Jayne, thank you both so much for presenting this information. I came across Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD) recently in my research of my daughter (age 7) diagnosis with Primary (non-autistic) Complex Motor Stereotypies (CMS). With researching on her diagnosis (CMS, that is) being limited, often parents and children are left to online support groups. Via support networks on Facebook, persons with CMS frequently report Intense Imagery Movements (IIM). Since many with CMS are children and unable to verbalize/express their imagery in detail, the group relies on the input from the adult members (who can describe IIM more accurately). My daughter has exhibited CMS movements since she was 6 months old and has recently been able to describe her “intense imagery” to me and it sounds exactly like MD (with the limited life experiences that an adult with MD might incorporate into their imagery/daydream, she often utilizes pictures in books, You tube shows, movies, musics, etc. as her “imagery facilitators”). In reading Dr. Somer’s research articles and listening to your talks, it seems as though IIM and MD are one in the same. Kinesiology is often described with MD, but in essence, this seems like the classic exhibition of CMS. CMS is categorized as a Movement Disorder. Persons with IIM say that their imagery goes hand in hand with their CMS “movements”, as in the case too with my daughter. Are you all aware of the research and online forums relating to CMS/IIM. Do you and Dr. Harvey Singer at Johns Hopkins (USA) ever collaborate on research trials? Do you have any input on the similarities/ differences between IIM vs MD? In my year of information gathering on CMS/IIM, the medical world is unaware, especially in Pediatrics. Many in the groups children with CMS/IIM are often misdiagnosed with ADHD, tic disorders and autism (b/c autistic "stimming" like almost identical to complex stereotypies). Often children are subjected to MRI's and EEG's. Medications are prescribed for ADHD and anxiety/depression with the root of the diagnosis is often missed. I'm beyond thrilled that you all have tapped into this research and I hope that global research is increased.
-Michele
Dear Professor It would be great if you could put subtitles in many languages.
This is a great idea but I do not have the time for this. Perhaps you could add Turkish subtitles?
When I was a child, and carrying into adulthood until my early 20s I would roll on the floor, a forward roll, and I would associate it with imagining things. Always very positive things. I would imagine something I want to achieve in future. I would imagine having a good job, or living somewhere I wanted to live etc... Usually I would do it while listening music. I knew this was strange and so I always hid it. But did it for a long time. Then as I have got older I no longer do that but I still associate movement of my body with imagining positive things. Usually it means twisting around but while standing up, while listening music. I can also lose hours sometimes to imagining things, things that have no real relevance to my life. But something that interests me. So I can spend hours imagining myself arguing and debating with somebody about politics. It can be triggered by reading something etc... Sometimes it goes on so long that I consider it a problem, in that I don't get work done. But if I am distracted by other activity or I am with other people then I will not do it.
I have never suffered serious depression and my life is fairly good. I did have stressful experiences as a child however relating to my parents being addicts. And I definitely have done this since being a child.
It is very interesting to come across this information.
I'm so grateful to you and definitely those six patients who opened themselves up🙏🙏. I came across your video in 2019.I had depression, anxiety along with maladaptive daydreaming. I consulted with a psychiatrist for depression. Fortunately anti depressants have helped me to come out of daydreaming. 🙏
Thank you so much for giving me answers to this mental health secret that I have worried about my whole life.
Thanks for the informative video, I am 59 been suffering from this for a long time, I had a hard childhood, I was able later in life to have some control over MD, but 2 years ago my husband died and then C19, O also suffered from Depression I have recently been put on lexapro, I am also hoping this helps, we shall see...Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much for your research Dr. Somer. I have been suffering from maladaptive daydreams since I can remember and like many others I never understood what was wrong with me. I cant describe how thankful I was after I found articles about your work. You are truly a hero to me.
I am a maladaptive daydreamer. I started daydreaming when I was in 3rd grade and it continued until I was in 12th grade. I graduated high school last year. I have a hard time trying to stop my dreams and I am constantly daydreaming it's affecting me a lot. I can't talk to anyone about this because people think I am crazy but I'm glad I'm not the only one who experiences this. If anyone can help me please do like give me any advice that would be very helpful
I must say that afer md episode, I find it hard to focus and concentrate in meaning processing thoughts and find it hard to listen to people
Same I feel a little disoriented
This is my world so often that it is very much a part of my "reality",which is ironic since there is so little that is actually 'real' about any of it.
Thank you
Good day Doctor, what can prove that MD is a recognized psychological phenomenon?
Actually, we would like to conduct a case study on this condition, however, for our research professor to approve our proposal, he wants us to provide a strong ground that this condition is not just a armchair speculation, I really want to do a study about MD, but our professor have no knowledge about this, which is why he hesitates to approve our proposal.
I am hoping for your response, Doctor.
THANK YOU
Do you know if anyone has ever tried to look at this from a parapsychological viewpoint?
I.e., what if we got a bunch of us to try to enter the same alternative reality at precisely the same time?
This could hurt getting the medical community to take it seriously, but it would be an interesting experiment.
Aidan
Creo que tengo ensoñación excesiva desde los 13 años hoy tengo 46. Me encantaría aporgar con algún estudio, pero no sé el idioma, en Chile no he encontrado profesionales que sepan del tema
Hello my fellow maladaptive daydreamers!!
Hello, sir. At around 8:05, you said "kinesthesia and need for music", can you elaborate a bit more into this?
Many individuals with MD report a need for music and movement to enhance their experience.
@@SomerClinic Thanks for your prompt explanation :)
Thank you for this video. I do have a question:
In your research does the length of time spent in a Daydream vary? Meaning I don’t spend hours at a time but I can lose 15-20 minute increments in a daydream throughout the day. Is this something you have noticed in your studies?
Yes, this is common. You may have MD only if your daydreaming creates distress or impairs some important area of functioning.
I realize Prof. Somer is mainly concerned with the pathological aspect of MDD and is trying very hard to get it in the DSM.
My MDD is maladaptive, but I also have the complete opposite effect where I believe if I could learn to control it and use the immersive effect in a 100% manner, I could enhance my Chemistry research ,
I am a Ph.D. physical organic chemist/enzymologist and formulation scientist.
However as yet I have not been successful in enhancing the positive properties of MDD
Aidan
Hello, I'm a life long sufferer of MDD, please could I ask a question.
Recently I am suffering with a different sort of intrusive thoughts (related to feeling worthless and self harm). I see these thoughts as being different to my day dreams but I wondered if you have noticed any link or association between MDD and intrusive thoughts? Thank you
Our research shows evidence that MD could be related to OCD.
Doc.Eli why you choose to study and reaseach Maladaptive Dreaming?
I answer your question in this interview :-)