cause of MDD

[dina abebe]

I think the cause of MDD is the need to control things. In real life, you cant control anything. But in your dreams, you can be all that you want to be. And nothing is in your way.

[Lindy Lea Lawrence Wilson]

New York Dancer, I completely believe all of what you said. Thanks

[The1andonlyAbber]

New York dancer is right. My daydreams pretty much involve ALL of those things, now that I think about it. Escapism--my imaginary world is a series of planets light years from Earth. Control--I'm the queen of those planets, everything is almost exactly the way I want it, and everyone has to do what I say. Everything else--my imaginary characters are practically my second family and give me advice about the real world.

[dina abebe]

haha.. thanks for the comment new york dancer. It all makes sense. But i still think the need for control plays a major role here. Most people are not living the life they wish to live. Including me, that is. And this is sort of like a get away thing. I don't use it for entertainment. Its like an addiction.

[New York dancer]

Your forgetting the Escape element which is huge, and probably the top dog. Here's a list (more or less) of all the elements I encounter very often whenever I hear what MD people have to say. 

1. Escapism
2. Need to control
3. Internal support system
4. Problem solving 
5. Safety net

Remember not everyone daydreams the same way or with the same content. Similar maybe. We all daydream in a way that matters to us individually. The scale is large and wide. It's important to see the big picture as well as the pieces that bring it all together.

Escapism: I consider this as the absolute number one reason behind MD. I think this just because it comes across both happy and unhappy daydreamers alike. Both want to escape and for all types of reasons. Whenever its to get lost in a fantasy world for story development on a writing project or to daydream to avoid a real life horrible job. Whatever the reason, the main objective is to escape internally from the external world.

Need to control: Yes, this is important for the reasons you addressed but not all fantasies revolve around controlling anything. I heard people talk about all kinds of daydreams. Some of them like to daydream just to relax (escapism). Example: If a guy decides to daydream about a white unicorns running across a field that doesn't revolve around controlling. He does this because it's calming and makes him happy. Maybe someone wants to fantasize about a rabbit bird because they think it would be super cool to see. People do this kind of thing. I don't, but some do. I for one, don't dream about a life I wish to have because I'm too busy actually living it. I love my fulfilled life. I do daydream about other characters in other lives as a source of entertainment but I don't want to live their lives. Not at all.

Internal support system: This is very common. People create internal characters to support them emotionally for what they lack in real life. This is especially true for introverts and people who struggle to connect with others. These characters can directly or indirectly give them a basic support in ways such as, unconditional love, attention, devotion, consistency, acceptance, friendship...etc. I have done this with my characters too in the past. I don't interact with them in my fantasy's but having them gives me a feeling of consistency at difficult times.

Problem solving: Some people have trouble addressing their issues with others so they internally problem solve. These people can take real life issues and give them to their internal characters. This s a way they can get an answer from their internal support system. These people can also take real life issues and imagine them in different ways in order to figure them out. This is very effective tool if you can apply it and not just daydream about it.

Safety net: Often this is where heavy daydreamers go when they are super troubled or suffering with intense heartache. The safety net is that internal universe which makes a person feel safe. The world of imagination where you can hide out because you are finally safe from the dangers of the outside. Traumatic and life changing events can bring you here and internally nurture you in a safe imaginative way.  The safety net is not so much about being in control, it's more about being completely inside yourself like a cocoon. It's about being safe and feeling safe from harm.   

Hope that all makes sense. I tried to get specific and not write too much like I normally do. LOL

[dina abebe]

Other factors like what? For me personally, i feel like dreaming when there is something going on in my life that i am passionate about and really want it to go my way but i cant. The only way i can have it the way i want it is in my dreams. That is what triggers it for me. And sometimes, i do it when am stressed so i can get away from my thoughts. 

[New York dancer]

Partly yes, that is a piece of the equation. But it isn't the sole cause, there are other factors involved.