I want a diagnosis

[Roseanne Sinclair]

I’m fifteen, and have been daydreaming excessively for as long as I can remember. I used to daydream as a relaxation technique, but now do it because I enjoy it, and feel empty without a more creative “alternivitve universe.” Within the past four years, my daydreams have become increasingly vivid. Before I mainly daydreamed before bed (it would take me hours to fall asleep), but now I do it during the day too—about 60 percent of my waking time, like the informal diagnosis suggests. I’ve heard that many md’ers have an attention deficit disorder, but I don’t think I fit the bill for that. I can focus on my daydreams for hours, and with a little bit of reluctance, school related work, for just as long. I have always been a focused person, and can complete tasks without getting distracted, or procrastinating. I’ve never struggled academically, and I can follow complex conversations. I take breaks to daydream while working, but I feel I am in control, and conscious about when I take these breaks. However, if I didn’t take these breaks at all, I don’t think I could function. Could I still have ADD or ADHD? Do you think maladaptive daydreaming is a symptom of a disorder, or a stand-alone disorder. I’ve suspected I have GAD (in addition to feeling anxious I’ve had some physical symptoms like trouble breathing, tension headaches and stress-induced hives), but have felt much less anxious for the past year. I have bulimic tendencies, though I don’t know if that’s relevant. I don’t feel like telling my parents about my maladaptive daydreaming, because I find it embarrassing, and I’m not sure I’m interested in treatment; I’m curious about some sort of diagnosis, but wouldn’t do much with it at this point in my life (at the same time, I can’t see myself daydreaming at this level when I’m an adult, so I may have to do something eventually). Anyone have insight about what disorder I could have (in addition to maladaptive daydreaming), or have similar symptoms and a diagnosis? Is it possible I just have mdd? Sorry this is long winded...

[Paul Rapp]

It sounds like you have some complex issues going on that go well beyond MDD. If you want a diagnosis I don't think that the members here are really qualified to do that. You would be better served to seek a professional in the psychology field. Treatment for MD really should not be your priority, as it sounds like the daydreaming is actually helping you to deal with the other issues. If you suspect you have GAD then that is what you should be looking into treating, not MDD. 

[Fishno7]

I can relate a bit; I too, have no issue on focusing complex conversations or schoolwork, so it is not necessary for md'ers to have attention deficit disorder. However, as you might also have noticed, other than mdd there are many other things going around you, and these things only apply to individual. There are members also suffer from schizophrenia, depression or other mental illnesses in addition to md, and it is also hard to tell whether md is the result or the cause of these mental illnesses for each individual. If you want to seek a diagnosis, find a professional; just to be in mind that you probably need to prioritize which issue you want to due with first as your issues look complex.

[S.A.]

My issue turned out to be ADHD-Inattentive. Anxiety disorder, depression, and a long list of other problems with diagnoses clouded the underlying reason. Almost everybody with ADHD develops General Anxiety disorder, to greater or lesser degree.

Like Paul said above, though, people over the internet can't diagnose someone. Not even a professional could diagnose you over the internet -- it needs to be in person.