Overcoming Maladaptive Daydreaming - Wild Minds network2024-03-28T18:56:30Zhttps://wildminds.ning.com/forum/topics/overcoming-maladaptive-daydreaming?feed=yes&xn_auth=noEven when MD catches us and w…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-08-24:4661400:Comment:2392912016-08-24T08:21:53.157ZUlaan Gomhttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/UlaanGom
<p>Even when MD catches us and we feel that we've been too immersed in daydreaming and have already lost too much energy, we should not give up the fight against the addiction. I feel like viewing MD as an addiction has helped me possibly uncover some reasons behind the specific struggles I'm facing. When researching other addictions, I realized that drugs and other addictive substances release an unnaturally high amount of pleasure and love chemicals in the brain, making it harder for people…</p>
<p>Even when MD catches us and we feel that we've been too immersed in daydreaming and have already lost too much energy, we should not give up the fight against the addiction. I feel like viewing MD as an addiction has helped me possibly uncover some reasons behind the specific struggles I'm facing. When researching other addictions, I realized that drugs and other addictive substances release an unnaturally high amount of pleasure and love chemicals in the brain, making it harder for people to experience happiness and form strong emotional connections with others in real life. At least for me, I know that I sometimes (like I'm currently feeling) feel numb and depressed after a large daydream binge. The symptoms seem very similar to other addictions, and by understanding that I'm addicted to the pleasure that's released in my brain when I daydream certain scenarios, I can develop some more concrete reasons to try my hardest to quit MD.</p> That's an interesting idea, I…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-08-18:4661400:Comment:2382522016-08-18T01:39:32.945ZUlaan Gomhttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/UlaanGom
<p>That's an interesting idea, I'm actually going to try that out right now and see how it goes!<br/> <br/> <cite>Yolandi Wells said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://wildminds.ning.com/forum/topics/overcoming-maladaptive-daydreaming?id=4661400%3ATopic%3A233434&page=3#4661400Comment238432"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">Have any of you guys tried dding about things that you are struggling with like looking after yourselfs, cleaning or studying?</div>
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<p>That's an interesting idea, I'm actually going to try that out right now and see how it goes!<br/> <br/> <cite>Yolandi Wells said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://wildminds.ning.com/forum/topics/overcoming-maladaptive-daydreaming?id=4661400%3ATopic%3A233434&page=3#4661400Comment238432"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">Have any of you guys tried dding about things that you are struggling with like looking after yourselfs, cleaning or studying?</div>
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</blockquote> Have any of you guys tried dd…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-08-13:4661400:Comment:2384322016-08-13T14:28:10.430ZYolandi Wellshttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/YolandiWells
Have any of you guys tried dding about things that you are struggling with like looking after yourselfs, cleaning or studying?
Have any of you guys tried dding about things that you are struggling with like looking after yourselfs, cleaning or studying? Maybe that would explain why…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-07-26:4661400:Comment:2375092016-07-26T03:31:44.318ZUlaan Gomhttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/UlaanGom
<p>Maybe that would explain why I always seem to daydream uncontrollably after messing up somehow or making an embarrassing mistake. If that's the case, then maybe we need to focus more on accepting ourselves for who we are. For me, some of the main aspects of myself that I have trouble overcoming are those that might disappoint or look uncool to others. I need to stop focusing my life around getting the approval of others and instead consciously accept those "unwanted" aspects of myself. I…</p>
<p>Maybe that would explain why I always seem to daydream uncontrollably after messing up somehow or making an embarrassing mistake. If that's the case, then maybe we need to focus more on accepting ourselves for who we are. For me, some of the main aspects of myself that I have trouble overcoming are those that might disappoint or look uncool to others. I need to stop focusing my life around getting the approval of others and instead consciously accept those "unwanted" aspects of myself. I also need to take risks and feel free to express myself even if doing so might spark the disapproval of others.<br/> <br/> <cite>Stasia OBrien said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://wildminds.ning.com/forum/topics/overcoming-maladaptive-daydreaming?id=4661400%3ATopic%3A233434&page=2#4661400Comment236735"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Actually, I have read that our MDD isn't about WHAT we are daydreaming about...its about US. So, its US that we don't like and are trying to avoid. We want to be someone else b/c we don't like who we are. It makes perfect sense to me and I am hopeful that I can figure out how to overcome this.</p>
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</blockquote> Actually, I have read that ou…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-07-24:4661400:Comment:2367352016-07-24T03:09:09.281ZStasia OBrienhttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/StasiaOBrien
<p>Actually, I have read that our MDD isn't about WHAT we are daydreaming about...its about US. So, its US that we don't like and are trying to avoid. We want to be someone else b/c we don't like who we are. It makes perfect sense to me and I am hopeful that I can figure out how to overcome this.</p>
<p>Actually, I have read that our MDD isn't about WHAT we are daydreaming about...its about US. So, its US that we don't like and are trying to avoid. We want to be someone else b/c we don't like who we are. It makes perfect sense to me and I am hopeful that I can figure out how to overcome this.</p> Maybe there's an underlying d…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-07-23:4661400:Comment:2370402016-07-23T20:08:43.027ZUlaan Gomhttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/UlaanGom
<p>Maybe there's an underlying discontent in our lives. I've experienced the same thing where I've daydreamed so long for something but then when I get it in real life, I discover that it's not at all what I had wanted. I really need to dedicate the moments of my life when I'm not daydreaming to develop purpose and meaning in my life. One way I can do this is by helping others and making the world a better place. I can start off by being kinder to my family and friends, and expand out from…</p>
<p>Maybe there's an underlying discontent in our lives. I've experienced the same thing where I've daydreamed so long for something but then when I get it in real life, I discover that it's not at all what I had wanted. I really need to dedicate the moments of my life when I'm not daydreaming to develop purpose and meaning in my life. One way I can do this is by helping others and making the world a better place. I can start off by being kinder to my family and friends, and expand out from there.<br/> <br/> <cite>Yolandi Wells said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://wildminds.ning.com/forum/topics/overcoming-maladaptive-daydreaming?commentId=4661400%3AComment%3A235195#4661400Comment236601"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">My MDD isn't as bad as it use to be. I mostly DD about proving myself to a guy so that he would like me. In the end we end up in a relationship. In reality I don't want to be in a relationship. I enjoy my solitude way too much. Its kind of contradictory to reality. MDD always makes me stress and it makes me unhappy. If I don't want it in reality then why do I DD about it?</div>
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</blockquote> My MDD isn't as bad as it use…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-07-20:4661400:Comment:2366032016-07-20T17:35:38.749ZYolandi Wellshttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/YolandiWells
My MDD isn't as bad as it use to be. I mostly DD about proving myself to a guy so that he would like me. In the end we end up in a relationship. In reality I don't want to be in a relationship. I enjoy my solitude way too much. Its kind of contradictory to reality. MDD always makes me stress and it makes me unhappy. If I don't want it in reality then why do I DD about it?
My MDD isn't as bad as it use to be. I mostly DD about proving myself to a guy so that he would like me. In the end we end up in a relationship. In reality I don't want to be in a relationship. I enjoy my solitude way too much. Its kind of contradictory to reality. MDD always makes me stress and it makes me unhappy. If I don't want it in reality then why do I DD about it? My MDD isn't as bad as it use…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-07-20:4661400:Comment:2366022016-07-20T17:35:22.168ZYolandi Wellshttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/YolandiWells
My MDD isn't as bad as it use to be. I mostly DD about proving myself to a guy so that he would like me. In the end we end up in a relationship. In reality I don't want to be in a relationship. I enjoy my solitude way too much. Its kind of contradictory to reality. MDD always makes me stress and it makes me unhappy. If I don't want it in reality then why do I DD about it?
My MDD isn't as bad as it use to be. I mostly DD about proving myself to a guy so that he would like me. In the end we end up in a relationship. In reality I don't want to be in a relationship. I enjoy my solitude way too much. Its kind of contradictory to reality. MDD always makes me stress and it makes me unhappy. If I don't want it in reality then why do I DD about it? My MDD isn't as bad as it use…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-07-20:4661400:Comment:2366012016-07-20T17:33:18.583ZYolandi Wellshttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/YolandiWells
My MDD isn't as bad as it use to be. I mostly DD about proving myself to a guy so that he would like me. In the end we end up in a relationship. In reality I don't want to be in a relationship. I enjoy my solitude way too much. Its kind of contradictory to reality. MDD always makes me stress and it makes me unhappy. If I don't want it in reality then why do I DD about it?
My MDD isn't as bad as it use to be. I mostly DD about proving myself to a guy so that he would like me. In the end we end up in a relationship. In reality I don't want to be in a relationship. I enjoy my solitude way too much. Its kind of contradictory to reality. MDD always makes me stress and it makes me unhappy. If I don't want it in reality then why do I DD about it? Snazzy, one thing I love abou…tag:wildminds.ning.com,2016-07-18:4661400:Comment:2351952016-07-18T04:35:16.781ZUlaan Gomhttps://wildminds.ning.com/profile/UlaanGom
<p>Snazzy, one thing I love about this site is that a lot of us share similar experiences of problems that aren't really that common outside this community. I always feel like reading other peoples' posts and hearing their stories really helps me deal with my own MDD and brings me closer to overcoming it. I would say my desire to gain social approval from others is the main problem and driving force behind my MDD. Deep down, I know there are some aspects about myself that I haven't learned to…</p>
<p>Snazzy, one thing I love about this site is that a lot of us share similar experiences of problems that aren't really that common outside this community. I always feel like reading other peoples' posts and hearing their stories really helps me deal with my own MDD and brings me closer to overcoming it. I would say my desire to gain social approval from others is the main problem and driving force behind my MDD. Deep down, I know there are some aspects about myself that I haven't learned to fully accept yet. I know that if I start becoming mindful of myself though, I definitely can work towards cultivating self-love and self-acceptance. If you're comfortable definitely feel free to share your story, and don't worry how it'll sound to others, because I'm sure it'll be helpful any way you phrase it. I'm confident that if enough of us come together and share our advice and experiences, we can find new and more effective ways of dealing with and eventually overcoming MDD!<br/> <br/> <cite>snazzy said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://wildminds.ning.com/forum/topics/overcoming-maladaptive-daydreaming?id=4661400%3ATopic%3A233434&page=2#4661400Comment234617"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">Ulaan,<br/> Thank you for all your posts, really everyone has had great advice here! I have not completely conquered MDD but I have learned to control it by all the ways mentioned in this post. I was flipping out when you mentioned you've felt those moments of being in a Matrix! I've never heard anyone else express that! Also most posts I've read so far, most daydreams are made up characters and stories. As I read your experience, however, I was glad to find I'm not the only one...when I was younger I made up stories and characters, but as I got older my daydreams leaned more toward the "audience of approval" as you said. I was never able to really put that into words. When I first read that, I had to read it again...and all your experience is exactly like mine, it's kind of a trip. I actually forgot about this site until yesterday was going through my spam looking for email and saw this. I have so much I want to share with everyone here but it such a long story. Maybe I will think about how to construct it so it's helpful and not a bunch of jabber lol I love writing so I have to be careful. I was nervous about reaching out on this site, but this has inspired me to share my experience. I will follow up with my story, in the mean time...if anyone feels like they want to send a private message I'm ok with that. I will reject no one on here :)</div>
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