ATTENTION, ATTENTION PLEASE - VERY IMPORNATNT INFORMATION

[Leonardo A]

 

People, please look for help immediately. There is not such thing as the one you are talking about.

You are wasting precious time of your life.

 

What you are describing is the symptoms of Racing Thoughts which is at the same time a symptom Bipolar Disorder I for those who have hypomania.

 

I tell you that because I also visited this blog  when I ws desperate, about a year ago. I remeber that I thought that my thoughts could be ADHD. But I have being treated with mood stabilizers that helped me to get back to reality.

 

Lithium for me was the best medication I have ever taken for this Racing Thoughts, I was so concentrated, with peace, my mind was normal, I could read without I having thoughts coming to my mind. It was wonderful.

 

Please stop thinking that you have a rare mental illness, and start helping both yourself and those who are in the same situation. Reseacrh and seek a psychiatrist's help.

 

Good Luck

 

 

 

 

[Wish Upon A Wish]

Racing thoughts sounds, to me, different to MD. with Racing thoughts,  one keeps switching what they're thinking, keeps changing the topic of their thoughts.

"racing thoughts are described by an individual who has had an episode as an event where the mind uncontrollably brings up random thoughts and memories and switches between them very quickly. Sometimes they are related, as one thought leads to another; other times they are completely random. A person suffering from an episode of racing thoughts has no control over his or her train of thought and it stops them from focusing on one topic or prevents sleeping

This isn't MD. with MD, we have a fantasy life, in our heads, and we control what happens. RT is completely random and completely uncontrolled.

I understand, though, how one would think that.

[BilboBaggins]

See, I think I have symptoms of Boderline Personality Disorder. And I'm only 18 so I only just would maybe be diagnosed with something as serious as Bipolar. However, I can say with quite confidence that I do not have bipolar, it seems far more extreme than what I experience. The "racing thoughts" seem similar at times, but excessive daydreaming is far different than rapid thought process. It's too detailed and constant. While I have qualms of addressing things as "disorders", (I hate that word and how quick people are to use it) nothing I have ever read has seemed to detail excessive daydreaming in such a way that seems congrious with what we experience, except for MD, as daydreaming is the primary symptom, opposed to a lesser one..

[Rashomon Effect]

I recommend that anyone experiencing MD,  possible racing thoughts, bipolar or whatever, to speak with a mental health care professional.  I think it is impossible to accurately self diagnose. Research helps a person understand what they are going through and I think helps them communicate these things to a doctor. No one should simply take the word of one doctor or therapist. Psychiatrist are not always easy to deal with, but they are capable of understanding your situation.  Be informed and be persistent. Don't try to face, diagnose, treat, this or any illness on your own.

I feel this site helps people with their research and understanding.

[roxanne]

Psychiatrists know so little about this syndrome that they will invariably define it as something else.  Cynthia's study is the most comprehensive research we have out there.  You will find your best help right here.  If you can find a mental health professional who will listen to you, read Cynthia's study, look at what Cordellia has written & spend some time here getting a feel of it, then they might be helpful.  I am a long-time mental health professional myself.  If they don't pay attention to you & learn from C & C, then I wouldn't waste my time & money.

[Jared]

You could not be more wrong.

Sayeth Wikipedia:

Generally, racing thoughts are described by an individual who has had an episode as an event where the mind uncontrollably brings up random thoughts and memories and switches between them very quickly. Sometimes they are related, as one thought leads to another; other times they are completely random. A person suffering from an episode of racing thoughts has no control over his or her train of thought and it stops them from focusing on one topic or prevents sleeping.

Maladaptive Daydreamers have lots of control over their thoughts.

[Wish Upon A Wish]

If you look up at my answer, I had the xactsame quote haha. I just didn't tell that it was from Wiki. Also, love the 'sayeth' haha

Jared said:

You could not be more wrong.

Sayeth Wikipedia:

Generally, racing thoughts are described by an individual who has had an episode as an event where the mind uncontrollably brings up random thoughts and memories and switches between them very quickly. Sometimes they are related, as one thought leads to another; other times they are completely random. A person suffering from an episode of racing thoughts has no control over his or her train of thought and it stops them from focusing on one topic or prevents sleeping.

Maladaptive Daydreamers have lots of control over their thoughts.

[Ellen]

There are actually several psychological conditions that cause symptoms similar to MD.  In the past several months, I have been researching Asperger's Syndrome and Schizoid Personality Disorder, both of which can involved excessive daydreaming and fantasizing.   It think it is extremely easy to misdiagnose yourself as having MD when you actually have another condition that is causing your MD symptoms.  

It's likely that some people on this forum have another condition, like Bipolar, Asperger's, or Schizoid, that can explain their symptoms.  But for some people, excessive daydreaming is the main symptom, possible their only symptom.  I don't think it is wise to rule out the existence of MD just because some MDers' symptoms can be explained by alternative diagnoses.

One problem in the discussion of misdiagnosis is that you can't really argue that someone has/doesn't have MD because there are no diagnostic guidelines for it.  Hopefully forums like this will lead to a better understanding of MD-type symptoms, which will help psychologists identify what MD is and what it isn't, differentiating between it and other conditions, reducing the number of mis-self-diagnoses.

[Pseudo Life]

I think obsessing over anything for 24 hours is an indicator that someone should seek help.  Not sure that many here are at that point.  For me it is a hobby, a way to release stress, and what the heck, be a drama queen.  Self-help groups always need to be careful in diagnosing each other and for the potential of creating an environment where the bigger your problem the more important you are and the more attention you get and you get in a spiral.  15 years ago I participated in a group to support 'multiples' - now called DID - use to be MPD.   It became incredibly complicated and manupulative.  Because I didn't know what was wrong with me, it appealed to my need for understanding, but not in a healthy way.  Everyone was on the DID bandwagon, including many therapists. (including mine).  Between the group and a therapist who was sure I was MPD, I spent very many miserable years.

If you went to a therapist for MD, what would you expect to do?  Would you want the therapist to ask you details about our daydreams.  And if you couldn't remember the daydreams, tell you to work harder.  Or you have to work harder at daydreaming to get better. 

I don't check every day. But I think this is a pretty balanced group. However, in spite of my experience with one therapist, I would highly recommend that you NOT self-diagnose.  Borderline Personality Disorder is not better than being Bi-Polar.  Bi-Polar comes in lots of different types.  Get help for those.  Medication helps.  

Don't give up your dreams because of daydreaming.

[Straighter100]

LITHIUM!?!?!??!?! OMFG! CONSUMING THAT STUFF IS BAD!!!! THEY MAKE BATTERIES OUT OF THOSE!!!!

[Beef]

What people are describing her is absolutely nothing like racing thought

[truthandbeauty]

Lithium??  PULL-LEEZE.

[Pseudo Life]

I am diagnosed Bipolar - and  am on medications.  I see a psychiatrist every 3 weeks.  I have been depressed or 150% (manic) my whole life.  I've been diagnosed with depression, generalized anxiety disorder, dissociative identy disorder, and when I landed on Bipolar six years ago,  I felt so grateful.  Doesn't mean everything is wonderful, but with good meds, self-help strategy, aswareness of triggers, and knowing when things are too askewed, I pay attention.  I see my compulsive fantasing as a controllable compulsive symptom of by Bipolar.  My psych knows I do, he has approved, I don't get into the details.  

Get a good doctor.  especially if you are young and unsure.  You need to not be labeled by someone into something  and then try to fit the label.   I spent ten years labeled with DID, Multiple personality disorder, which is a long story.  A therapist can be destructive - especially if you are like me looking for some answer to  a lifetime of ups and downs and pain.  

I am not losing my life to Maladaptive Dreaming or whatever they want to call it.  But if you are, do see a doctor. If he doesn't believe that you have this major symptom or disorder that is eating up your life, go see someone else.  Doctors are not Gods.