My name is Paul, and I am a Maladaptive Daydreamer.

I have only recently discovered that this thing that I have been doing for most of my life has a name. When I first learned about MD from another web forum it sounded like me, and so I looked it up. My experience matched the description very well, from the long story arcs, characters, and triggers based on books, movies, TV and music, to the associated physical motions.

My most "maladaptive" period was in my earlier years, peaking from maybe third grade to early high school. In my later teens and into adulthood I integrated it better into my life and adapted it better to reality, but I have never entirely stopped doing it. Today I am 61 years old and still often escape into fantasy, but I try to control it better and don't let it dominate my life. Even the physical manifestations are still there to some degree and I often need to consciously suppress them. 

For my profile I selected a photo of me in that childhood period when my daydreaming was at its most intense, and most "maladaptive". So, at least for now, that little daydreamer can be my face on here.

I am happy to be hear and learn more about myself and how others have dealt with this issue and, perhaps, I can be of help to others also dealing with it.