An Unhealthy Addiction?

[Ziggy Valentine]

I sometimes find myself putting off school work or dreading going to work because all I want to do is cuddle up in bed and daydream. Even when I'm falling asleep, I go into my "other" life and I'm in bed with my "husband" and he's holding me. Sometimes I think it's unhealthy because like I said, I procrastinate and hate going to work because I can't spend time in my "other" world if I'm doing school work or at work.

I remember when I was in Elementary school and high school, I wouldn't get my work done in class because I would just sit there and daydream. And I wouldn't do homework because I would spend my time in bed daydreaming. And I would sometimes stay out of school just because I wanted to stay in my "other" world.

I love my "other" world but I hope my real life gets better and almost as great as my "other" life so I won't need it anymore and actually focus on reality. I think I would accomplish my goals (like losing weight, graduating college, getting into recording engineering, moving out of Tennessee, getting married, and having kids), I would be happy with my real life and wouldn't need this "other" world anymore.

I have to work an 9 hour shift in 9 hours and I don't want to go to sleep because I want to daydream. It's unhealthy!

[Snapplez]

It's scary to realize how WE ALL HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS and yet it's not a recognized disorder. We feel the same way, we say the same things, and we experience similar unifying themes. I could not agree more with your blog and the comments below.

[Annie]

One thing I do whenever I start to fall behind in school or work because of daydreaming is look up good time management and study skills. If I make a sort of outline of my schedule:like write down everything in it, such as work hours, lunch time, breaks etc,,,,,I find my day is sort of planned out for. Try to make a to do list once you have that done, now its time to actually do the things on that list.

So, get a cup of Joe and do them. Take breaks every 15 minutes and do something stimulating such as getting up to walk or talking to a fried, watch some tv, stretch....etc It actually works sometimes.

Now Im not saying this has actaully helped me 100% as sometimes I do tend to fall back into my Daydreaming patterns but it helps at least 30-50% which could help you pass that class or keep your job. Just google "Study skills" or "Time management" tips.

Wish you the best of luck =)

[LJ]

I have missed so much because of dding.  This time if the year makes it even worse.  I get irritable when I can't dd.  Visits from family, cooking and just general socializing for the holidays force make it difficult to get any time in at all.  Just before I fall asleep I have to spend at least an hour with my "other" husband and family. 

[Jordan]

when first started researching this i took all the tests for traditional addcitions and replaced certain words like "cocaine" with "daydreaming" and every test i took said i had an addiction.....not the traditional kind but im an addict for daydreaming...

[greyartist]

It is unhealthy, and very "maladaptive" ;) It makes us just a shell of our true selves, existing here but"living" somewhere else. I have been almost late for work many times from laying in bed DDing for "just a few more minutes".

 "I would be happy with my real life and wouldn't need this "other" world anymore."

 Unfortunately even if you get everything you want and are happy with your real life, that is no guarantee the MD would go away. My life is full and I should be happy, I don't NEED the fantasy world. But it won't go away. It is more like a prison.