Maladaptive Daydreaming

Key Takeaways

• Maladaptive daydreaming is a compulsive form of fantasizing that can impair daily functioning, yet the condition is not currently officially recognized in diagnostic manuals.

• The disorder commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions and is most commonly associated with trauma, emotional dysregulation, and psychological distress.

• Although no formal treatment exists, psychotherapy (particularly cognitive behavioral therapy) may help to reduce symptoms and improve functioning.

Understanding Maladaptive Daydreaming

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is an emerging psychiatric disorder that is not currently recognized by existing diagnostic guides. This means that despite calls for medicalization, the condition does not appear in either the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) or the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11). ^[1]

The proposed mental health disorder is characterized by compulsive absorption in complex, emotionally rich daydreams that are often highly unrealistic and starkly contrast with the individual’s real life. Many people with MD report that they enter maladaptive daydreaming episodes intentionally.^[1][2]

Episodes of maladaptive daydreaming are frequently accompanied by exposure to emotionally or visually immersive music and repetitive, habitual movements or facial expressions. This could include the physical enactment of imagined storylines through gestures or body positioning, and mouthing or whispering that reflects engagement with internal fantasy content.^[1][2]

Maladaptive daydreams are different from typical daydreams in that they often last for hours and tend to evolve over long periods. In other words, individuals with MD experience strong urges to elaborate on the unfolding storyline of their fantasies, much like the urge to keep watching a television series after a cliffhanger.^[2]

While daydreaming in vivid detail for hours a day may sound enjoyable, the reality is that excessively indulging in fantasies leads to clinical dysfunction, where relational, professional, or academic responsibilities are neglected in favor of escapist tendencies. For this reason, studies have referred to the unofficial disorder as a behavioral addiction that leads to distress.^[1][2]

How Common Is It?

As maladaptive daydreaming is not officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder, large-scale reviews investigating its prevalence are limited. However, a 2022 study with just over 1000 Jewish-Israeli participants found that the condition affected 1 in 40 people, suggesting that MD is a significant mental health concern.^[2]

Who Does Maladaptive Daydreaming Affect?

In light of the fact that research on maladaptive daydreaming is limited, it is not yet clear which demographic group is primarily affected by the condition. However, the creation of DSM-like criteria has allowed researchers to collect early population-level data, with results showing that of the approximately 2.5% of people living with MD, the highest rates are among younger adults.^[3]

Additionally, individuals who experience maladaptive daydreaming often meet the criteria for three or four other psychiatric conditions. With this in mind, individuals with more than three mental health conditions are also at an increased risk for developing MD, particularly those with the following symptoms or disorders:^[1]

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• Dissociation.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

• General psychopathology.

• Psychotic symptoms.

• Autism spectrum disorder.

• Traumatic experiences.

• Suicide ideation.

Symptoms Of Maladaptive Daydreaming

Research proposes that daydreaming becomes maladaptive when it takes up an excessive amount of time each day, disrupts short and long-term goals, leads to feelings of guilt or shame, and results in clinically significant distress or impairment in social and occupational functioning.^[1][2]

Physical Symptoms

The physical symptoms of maladaptive daydreaming are often triggered or intensified by evocative music, and include:^[1][2][3]

• Habitual body movements (eg, pacing in circles, rocking, or rhythmic hand movements), or the physical enactment of imagined storylines through gestures and body positioning.

• Repetitive facial expressions and mouthing or whispering dialogue in a manner that reflects engagement with an internal daydream narrative.

• An altered sense of embodiment (feeling partially detached from one’s physical surroundings while moving).

• Somatic symptoms associated with psychological stress, such as tension, restlessness, or agitation.

Psychological Symptoms

• Compulsive urges to daydream whenever possible, and irritation when prevented.

• Intrusive fantasies and concentration difficulties, including scattered thinking.

• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop daydreaming.

• Feelings of shame, guilt, or self-criticism following daydreaming episodes.

• High levels of psychological distress and reduced daily functioning.

• Dysfunctional personality traits and patterns that interfere with relationships.

• Persistent, overwhelming emotions and difficulty regulating feelings.

• Ongoing feelings of loneliness and social withdrawal.

• Excessive or pathological celebrity or fantasy-related attachment.

• Problematic or excessive internet use.

• Low self-esteem and reduced belief in one’s ability to cope or succeed.

• Frequently making mistakes due to automatic or absent-minded behavior.

• Reduced awareness of surroundings while daydreaming (dissociation).

Causes

While the exact cause of maladaptive daydreaming is unknown, a recent review investigating 40 previous studies indicates a strong link between the proposed disorder and those who already live with three or four other psychiatric conditions. These primarily include:^[1]

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• OCD.

• ADHD.

• Autism spectrum disorder.

Furthermore, according to a 2025 paper, the following factors could influence the onset of maladaptive daydreaming:^[3]

• Genetic influences.

• Difficulties in emotional regulation.

• Personality traits (particularly narcissism).

• Children with stereotypical movement disorders may experience vivid mental images that can develop into MD later in life.

• Past trauma, stressful relationships, challenging life experiences, social anxiety, shame, and secrecy.

Diagnosis

Despite emerging research and calls for maladaptive daydreaming to be medicalized by both experts and the MD community, the disorder remains unrecognized as a psychiatric condition and is not yet listed under any category in either the DSM-5 or ICD-11, meaning it has no official diagnostic criteria.

While some experts believe that maladaptive daydreaming could be a case of mental health labels being applied too broadly, numerous studies show that the condition is linked to several psychiatric disorders and also shares similarities with some addictive conditions.^[1]

In fact, there is an abundance of evidence highlighting significant impairment among individuals with MD, with a 2025 Cambridge study proposing that maladaptive daydreaming could fit into several DSM-5 categories, including:^[1][3]

• Dissociative disorders.

• Behavioral addiction.

• OCD-spectrum disorder.

• A subtype of ADHD.

Maladaptive Daydreaming Test

The Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16) is a 16-item self-report questionnaire designed to evaluate how frequently an individual engages in consuming daydreams and how severely this disrupts daily functioning. Studies suggest that the MDS-16 can either reveal a maladaptive daydreaming disorder or determine the absence of it, as opposed to results existing on a spectrum.^[2]

How Maladaptive Daydreaming Is Treated

Because maladaptive daydreaming is not yet officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder by the world’s most widely recognized diagnostic manuals, there are currently no approved treatments for the condition. For this reason, it is not surprising that emerging research has shown higher rates of loneliness and distress in individuals with MD, and experts continue to investigate the condition in an effort to identify effective treatment.^[1][2]

That said, maladaptive daydreaming is not untreatable, with many psychiatric clinicians addressing the disorder by applying approaches used for related psychological conditions. The gold standard intervention for most mental health disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and several psychologists are employing the modality to treat individuals with MD, although other types of therapy may also be of benefit.

CBT, which is widely used for related conditions such as OCD, anxiety, depression, and dissociative disorders, can assist individuals who struggle with MD to understand the thoughts and emotions that underlie intentional engagement in excessive daydreaming - and to develop strategies to manage it.

Daily Management

As maladaptive daydreaming is a mental health condition, it is not advisable to manage it without professional support. However, social support is an important aspect of mental health, and there are several online communities for individuals with MD.^[1][2]

The Reddit community (subreddit r/MaladaptiveDreaming) already had nearly 73,000 members in early 2022, and the group remains active today. This forum offers resources on MD, including both scientific research and community tips.^[2]

How To Stop Maladaptive Daydreaming

Maladaptive daydreaming is not merely a bad habit but a powerful compulsion, with some experts referring to the proposed disorder as a behavioral addiction. Yet research has not yet revealed how to stop maladaptive daydreaming, and the following tips (recommended by a member of the Reddit MD community) should only be used alongside therapy:

• The first step in overcoming MD is to clearly define specific goals with a realistic timeline for reducing maladaptive daydreaming and tracking patterns to monitor progress.

• As you embark on the journey to a healthier state of mind, know that experiencing feelings of loss and nostalgia for daydreaming is normal, and allow yourself to grieve.

• Ask yourself questions to identify personal triggers and underlying psychological needs (such as control or escapism) to better understand the behavior and meet those needs more healthily.

• Use meditation to observe thoughts and emotions,  and cognitive reframing to challenge distortions, and separate cravings from the self.

• Employ grounding techniques, including sensory exercises, structured activities, and physical movement, to remain present and manage urges.

• Replace daydreaming with mentally engaging alternatives and prepare contingency plans for high-risk situations.

• Seek support from trusted individuals and online MD communities, practice self-compassion, and accept setbacks as part of gradual, sustainable change.

Final Thoughts

Despite classification debates, MD has empirical support, distinct clinical features, and a debilitating impact on life. While there is no official treatment for this currently undiagnosable disorder, individuals affected by maladaptive daydreaming can use therapy and mindfulness techniques to reduce distress and regain meaningful engagement in daily life.