I thought this was normal

[Lex]

I've always had an overactive imagination - to this extent - but didn't realise until recently that this was not the 'norm'.

All throughout my childhood my imagination was encouraged by everyone - my mother, the media, etc - which was great and I loved (and still do) my imagination; I can escape away into it. I never talked about my fake worlds though, not because I was ashamed of it, just felt a bit awkward and like there was no point if everyone did it.

A few years ago I moved from my mum's house to my dad's and have noticed just how introverted and reclusive I've become. I suppose my mum was used to it, but my dad can't quite understand it and takes it personally (not to delve into this).

Did anyone else think their MDD was something everyone did?

[Chandra D Lewis]

As I don't really remember not DDing to the extent I do, if I did I was very young. Other than that, knew it was abnormal.

[Rashomon Effect]

northern gal, everybody daydreams. Everybody daydreams a lot.

That is what so many folks who identify as MD don't seem to realize. Now, I've had this discussion/argument before and I already know all the responses of MDers. In the end, they don't want help. They just want to believe what they believe.

If a MDer goes to the doctor and tells the doctor about their excessive daydreaming, then the doctor says, "Well, do something, be active," the MDer will come here and berate the ignorant doctor and all the other MDers will reply to their post with, "That stupid doctor, he doesn't understand." But, if a MDer makes a blog post saying, "One of the ways I overcame MD is by staying active," All the other MDers say, "WOW, that is so awesome, I will try that right away."   LOL

[northern gal]

I've taken several psychological evaluations, even recently, and mainly because of college or job applications....not for therapy or to get diagnosed, etc....I have never tested positive for depression, ADD, ADHD, social anxiety,  and every other psychological disorder...therefore, just based on my own experience, I do not think that I dd because of some other problem in my life.  I dd when my life is going great, not so great, when I have a lot of friends, when I have a boyfriend, when I was married and when I'm single, when my job does not involve contact with other people as well as when it involves a lot of contact with other people....it's part of me and I don't consider it as something that is covering for other issues in my life.

[ElizabethRose]

I think I started realizing around age 12-14 that nobody else ever talked about daydreaming a lot and pacing and stuff so I began to realize what I was doing was not the norm...prior to that I didn't think about it much or I just assumed it was normal.

[Jennifer]

Agreeing with many comments below mine, I've always just thought of it as something I did. Sure, I would wonder sometimes if anyone else really did do it. Especially the whole 'acting it out' part of it. Even now, I'm surprised that anyone else even does THAT. O.o But, yes...To an extent, I've always thought everyone, especially kids had imaginary friends. But it turns out that my case is more than just pretend friends.

[Rashomon Effect]

Maladaptive Daydreaming is a normal thing for the brain to do when there is some other problem.

Such as, depression, social anxiety, procrastination, ADD, PTSD, dissociation, boredom, etc, or a combination of several problems.

It really does more harm than good to view MDD as a disorder of its own.

But, people don't like to hear that. They like to think their daydreams are better than other people's and that other people are not capable of daydreaming the way they do. A lot of people who identify as MD don't want help. They believe they have a special gift.

I have volunteered helping other people for more than thirty years. People with all types of problems; mental, emotional, economic. I care about the people and they are special. I don't glamorize their conditions. 

[Amoka]

I never noticed. To me, it was as normal as breathing. I didn't even give it the time of day to think that I just had an active imagination. 

[Wish Upon A Wish]

I personally never actually thought about it. It was just one of those things I did, so I didn't ever even assume others did or didn't do it.