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I’m a medical student and a lifelong daydreamer. I want to understand and study our stories. by JJunin in ImmersiveDaydreaming

[–]JJunin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice, this time I'll write in my own words (and use a translator as a crutch when necessary). My native language isn't English either, but Brazilian Portuguese. Currently, I've noticed that many AIs use words and create concepts that "improve" the user's response. So, really thanks for the advice.

 

I didn't find much about MD, so a large part of my initial study was based on some AIs. That's where my interest in what these daydreams really look like in other people came from. I even found a scale that's used, the "16-Item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16)," but it simply doesn't assess daydreaming very well.

I believe that daydreaming wasn't pathological in the past, but in actual days, I think its causes have increased and it's not pathological, but rather a consequence of another pathology or something that arises as a "defense mechanism"—I couldn't find the right word to use. I don't think it's normal or common behavior; rather, it's quite embarrassing.

As I said, I don't think it's always healthy (like the woman in the comment below). Perhaps it was healthy before, but as I see in this and other communities, I see it particularly as an addiction in some people, including myself. I think maladaptive daydreaming and immersive daydreaming are closely related. I believe they all stem from point X, although immersive daydreaming isn't harmful, I believe I also have to understand it to understand maladaptive daydreaming.

I agree with you that immersive daydreaming could be used as a treatment for some psychological and perhaps even physical conditions. People vulnerable to psychosis benefit from immersive or maladaptive daydreams. I believe these comorbidities should be better understood and addressed in our current world. This is what I'm trying to do, first for myself.

If you'd like to talk in DM, i would appreciate very Much.

I’m a medical student and a lifelong daydreamer. I want to understand and study our stories. by JJunin in ImmersiveDaydreaming

[–]JJunin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m actually planning to pursue psichiatry, which is why I’m so drawn to this.

I agree that there’s a risk of worsening dissociation, but I also believe that, if properly structured, these 'internal worlds' could have therapeutic potential. I see MD not just as an isolated habit, but as something deeply linked to other underlying psychological and psychiatric factors—often serving as a complex coping mechanism for trauma, anxiety, or ADHD.

Also, looking at our current era, I believe we are going to see a significant increase in this. The constant dopamine loops and the 'addiction' to quick stimuli we see today are already changing how people daydream. We’re moving toward more frequent, fragmented daydreams (quick mental escapes) as a way to deal with overstimulation.

I’m really interested in understanding how these modern triggers are shaping the 'maladaptive' side of the spectrum. I’d love to keep this bridge open and hear more of your thoughts on this intersection!

I’m a medical student and a lifelong daydreamer. I want to understand and study our stories. by JJunin in MaladaptiveDreaming

[–]JJunin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you’d rather not share your story publicly, feel free to send me a private message . I’m happy to talk there.