Does Maladaptive Daydreaming Run In Families?

[TizTaz5]

Hello everyone. I have had MDD ever since about age 6 or 7, and I am now 37. I will share more of my story later. I just had twins 10 weeks ago, so my time is limited. My biggest issue is concern that my kids will also develop it. Does anyone know if MDD is genetic? Or is it more of a learned behavior? Just curious to see what is known about this aspect of MDD or what others on here have experienced. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[Paula]

As far as I know (though I will admit that I do not know terribly much), there has not been enough research on the topic to determine the genetic factors at play. I do know that a parent having a psychological disorder is typically thought to increase the child's susceptibility to having a mental disorder, but that genes are but a small factor in determining whether or not one develops a mental illness. The environment also plays a role; abuse, trauma, exposure to toxins, and an unhealthy lifestyle (diet and exercise) can increase the risk, if only marginally, whilst a supportive social surrounding (including family and friends), a clean environment, and a healthy lifestyle can decrease the risk.

My mother seems to daydream, but she believes that such things really happened and will act as though they did; she has been speculated to have some form of schizophrenia. The Broad Autism Phenotype may also be present in this side of the family (as well as, to a lesser extent, with my father's side of the family).

Here are some speculated causes from this website: "For some, it was because of a traumatic experience that caused them to want to hide away from the world by retreating to a safer realm of their own minds. For others, it was merely an over-active imagination that was accented by introverted qualities that caused these excessive fantasies. For others, it wasn’t necessarily a traumatic experience, but rather a lack of control in their environment that made them want to create something that they could control. But Maladaptive Daydreaming doesn’t always manifest in the early years of childhood, there are Maladaptive Daydreamers who say they began daydreaming in the middle of their adult lives. Reasons for this range from all of the above to simple boredom with their real lives." http://wildminds.ning.com/profiles/blogs/official-maladaptive

Congratulations on your twins; may they grow up to be happy and healthy, and may you find peace in whatever the future holds.

[Aquarius]

My dad's brother had hysteria or so they say, and my dad when he fell ill too had hysteria, coupled with depression. I often noticed him daydreaming when ill, but it wasn't maladaptive daydreaming. I suspected that my brother may be an MDDer, but may not so anymore.

But here's what I believe: MDD is not a disease. It's neither a learned behavior, we have members here who have had wonderful childhoods, loving parents and no history of trauma, yet are MDDers. By the time your twins grow up , their generation will be far more accepting of the different kind of people that they can be and are around.

What's more is that they will have a loving mom who will be able to talk to them about MDD, not because they too have it. But because they should know about it.

[SwanInTheWater]

I have not noticed anyone in my family like this at all, although when my older brother was a pre teen I caught him mumbling to himself often, but he stopped doing that many years ago, so it could have been something else. (He's 23 now)

I think MDD is more of a quality, just the way I am affected by ASMR which isn't a negative thing and therefore shouldn't be called a disease.

I think the problem we have with MDD is that sometimes we over indulge, the same way we might eat too many cookies or have too much wine. And that is when it starts to seem like a negative thing.

Everything in moderation! 

[S K]

It could be genetic though that's unlikely. More likely is that if an environment is created that forces them to retreat the real world and if they see someone with it they may mimic/learn that behaviour.it may be what is now considered a social aspect of genes- socializing behaviours(like obesity)making it seem genetic.

[Alta Morden]

I have no idea of the general truth, but both of my sisters DD and I suspect my brother and mother did as well.  Possibly even Dad.  I remember one day looking out the window at my sister swinging and swinging and Dad commented "She's daydreaming".  My oldest niece also clearly DDs.

[The1andonlyAbber]

I think for me it was both genetics and environment. I wasn't born with MD, but I was born with an extremely overactive imagination. When I was 6 we moved to a new town. I had hardly any new friends (and I hardly ever got to see them). My parents also started arguing a lot after the move. When I was about 7 I found out about something that was going on in my extended family (it's personal so I won't say what it is); I never had any support from my extended family due to the fact that my parents basically chose to completely avoid them (the worst part is it was probably for the best). I lived in a depressing, lonely, and rather odd environment, so when I was 8 I decided to use my imagination to create a world where I was constantly surrounded by friends and things were relatively normal. My life is better now, but at this point I can't stop.

[The1andonlyAbber]

I think you having MD will make them more likely to have it, but as long as they're comfortable with their environment they'll be fine. Most importantly, take them seriously if they say they are being bullied (I forgot to mention that being bullied made my MD a LOT worse).

When you talk to them about MD, make sure to tell them that imagining things at their age is okay, though. I'm assuming you'll tell them about it when they're young, and it wouldn't be good if they mistook normal childhood games for signs of a mental problem.