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Maladaptive Daydreaming: where wild minds come to rest

Guidelines

So I have been thinking about how to live with MDD, instead of trying to get rid of it. This has really eased up a lot of the stress I have over this particular part of my life. So, here is what I have come up with so far. 1. My relationship with God comes first. I don't want my daydreaming to run my life instead of God. 2. Real people come before imaginary people. I don't want to lose my grip on the relationships I have in real life. 3. Make sure my responsibilities are taken care of. I don't want to be homeless because I was daydreaming and didn't pay my mortgage. That is all I have come up with so far and, maybe, that is enough, I will have to see if any other issues come up. Trying to balance this is challenging, but allowing daydreaming to be a part of my life feels easier than trying not to do it. I have been doing battle with this for over thirty years, so to wrap my mind around coming along side this is a big change.

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Comment by sasi on December 14, 2011 at 1:56am: I think you have got things nicely in perspective.Like Roxanne I mix my dd with my daily activities.Sometimes it actually helps pass the time while exercising etc.Sometimes though it can get too all consuming.

On point number 3.I force myself to do all the boring practical things as soon as they are presented to me otherwise the risk of them/me drifting off is too high.

I have also had this for many years and feel that's it's such an integral part of me it would actually change me if I stopped it(not sure if I could anyway).

Comment by roxanne on December 12, 2011 at 7:04am: My time limit, as you suggested, has more to do with getting other things done, with or without help from my "friends."

Comment by Amy Buttz on December 11, 2011 at 5:29pm: Thanks for the suggestions, Ihaveitall. My number 2 guideline definetly includes the things you refered to, "normal" recreational activities. As far as the limiting goes, to be honest, I don't know how to do that. When something triggers the daydreaming, I can't shut it off. It would take a lot to over ride the stories in my head. If I told myself, two hours a day and used them up and then something triggered my daydreaming, I would feel guilty and like I failed. I don't know how to make a time limit work with that. Is this something you do? How does that work for you?

Comment by Ihaveitall on December 11, 2011 at 9:20am: I think you are right on target. It is a gift afterall unless it goes to the extreme. If you truly are able to put your list of 3 before DDing you will eliminate the guilt. I would add in there a 4th one. 4) Spend at least half of all other free time engaging in "normal" recreational activities, ie friends, movies, family, etc and limit the amount of DDing to X hours per day. Go for it! You can do it!

Comment by roxanne on December 9, 2011 at 8:42am: I think that is a pretty good summary of how I have done it for a very long time. I slip up on all 3 from time to time, but those are pretty much my priorities.

The other thing I do is intersect them. This helps get a whole lot of things done that wouldn't get done otherwise. I am off to gym right now with my DD friends. Bye.