Do I have Maladaptive Daydreaming?

[nihapara]

I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression, and suffer from social anxiety as well, in the past few years. I came across maladaptive daydreaming, when I was searching for anything that resembled this curious habit I had just acquired - pacing around my room while listening to my iPod, and imagining bright conversations with people I might never really talk to (either because of social anxiety, or they just weren't around). It was/is extremely addicting. I could BE the best I can, and people could see it. I was not misunderstood, I was happy, I was popular. I could say I spend at least an hour each day simply imagining conversation in my head. I realize this isn't exactly as severe as many describe their fantasies, but many of these individuals have been through horrible things in life - such as trauma or abuse. I, fortunately, have never been a victim of that, and I so I do not understand why I should have Depression, or obsessive daydreaming - or anxiety. It is probably due to stress, but the whole thing still doesn't make sense. Sometimes, I just imagine having a conversation with "no one in particular" - just as if I have an audience. I in fact, go into my restroom, and daydream some time (usually I am pacing or, dancing, or something like that), and my parents have noticed that that's really odd. Also, even though I wake up many mornings at about 4 to do school work, I end up daydreaming for atleast an hour.

Sorry for this huge block of text, that mostly sounds like a rant. :)

But thanks for reading. Please share anything you want to. And thanks again :)

[Paracosm]

I was never abused and I've never gone through any trauma, and yet I still developed Maladaptive Daydreaming. I was, however, rather neglected and deprived as a little girl, and my daydreaming became my way of coping.

I can relate to what you said about having a conversation with no one in particular—I do the same thing sometimes. Usually I'm in my "world", but other times I find myself talking like I'm giving a presentation or advice to nobody in particular.

This is how I would describe my MD experience (it tends to vary per person):

1. My daydreams are an escape from reality. They are preferred to reality and even replace it.
2. Daydreaming is like an addiction to me. I can't stop. I would say I spend about 50% - 90% of my time daydreaming.
3. I like to act out my daydreams, and I'll actually express the emotions I'm feeling in my daydreams (laughing, crying, etc).
4. I have an emotional attachment to my imaginary friends. They are like real people to me and I can go to them when I'm feeling down.
5. I can daydream in almost any environment, although I prefer to be alone so I can act out my daydreams. If I can't be alone, I'll zone out to daydream, which can look weird to anyone who's watching.
6. My daydreams are distressing because they interfere with my life. My imaginary relationships cause me to neglect real relationships and having such an amazing life in my head make me neglect my real life.
7. I often feel urges to daydream, which I can't relieve until I can act out my daydreams. Sometimes I have to go over the same situation or say the same sentence over and over again until it feels just right.
8. Music, TV, and books are major triggers for me, although almost anything that inspires me is a trigger. It can be as simple as something someone says, and off I go.
9. My excessive daydreaming is not caused by a lack of self-control or a lack of focus. It's a coping mechanism: my way of detaching from the things that would otherwise overwhelm me.

[Rashomon Effect]

MD is not an officially recognized condition. Currently, people  just make it whatever they want it to be. Some folks are studying excessive daydreaming and may come up with a method of screening for it.

The following is a link to a current study:

http://wildminds.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-md-study-seeks-partici...

[Wish Upon A Wish]

It's not necessarily caused by anything - I daydreamed a bit when I was younger, and around y8/9 it got worse, and worse, and then after the quakes (which weren't traumatic, just a pain in the arse) it got a bunch worse and it still seems to be getting worse.

Also, something I saw the other day, I can't remember the exact wording, but basically, it says that 'depression is a mental disorder. It doesn't care who I am, wealthy/poor I am, how my education has been, what colour my bloody skin is, it's a disorder, and it doesn't discriminate'

So yeah, not everyone gets depression for any particular reason. Just thought I'd add that.