A psychologist explains how “waking dreaming”, a beneficial ability to fight against boredom, can sometimes prove to be excessive and become a pathological disorder, which is called “compulsive daydreaming”.
- According to estimates by Giulia Poerio, 2.5% of adults experience daydreams that can be considered excessive.
- It is important to note that these daydreams and other immersive mental activities are not problematic by definition.
- What makes daydreaming “compulsive” is when it becomes difficult to control, when the time devoted to it becomes so large that it begins to intrude on real life, interfering with relationships and concrete goals. of life.
“Daydreaming” is what researchers define as thoughts that are unrelated to what you are doing in real time. They take up a good portion of your waking life – on average about 30% of your time. The psychology researcher at the University of Sussex, Giulia Poerioreturns to this concept in an item for The Conversation.
The benefits of daydreaming
According to her, the waking dream, or daydream, “is part of our ordinary, everyday conscious experience. It could even be a default mode of functioning of our brain which we come back to, especially when doing tasks that don’t require a lot of brain power, thinking – simple, automatic like hanging out the laundry, etc.” This daily daydream can be a great way to deal with boredom, be a source of pleasure, and can also stimulate creativity, as well as help us solve problems, plan or remedy loneliness, according to some studies.
However, this beneficial ability can turn out to be excessive and become a potential disorder, known as “compulsive daydreaming” or “maladaptive daydreaming” (maladaptive daydreamingin English), although this disorder remains debated by researchers. “The people concerned experience episodes of daydreaming so numerous and pervasive that they interfere with their daily life. They impair attention span (for example when reading a text), influence memory, etc.explains Giulia Poerio.
Why are some daydreams considered compulsive?
Unlike typical daydreams which can be fleeting (a few seconds), compulsive dreamers can spend several hours at a stretch in a single daydream. According to one study, they spend on average almost half of their waking hours immersed in imaginary worlds that they have gradually built. “These invented worlds are often rich and complex, with multi-layered plots and storylines that evolve over years. These alternate worlds are alive and can be rewarding for the one who develops them… But the need to pursue this fantasy can become compulsive, at the possible risk to lead to addiction”, adds the researcher. In this case, when the desire to return to this virtual universe is not satisfied, it turns into frustration.
“Giving so much importance (even in some cases extreme priority) to alternate and imagined realities at the expense of physical and social needs can create problems at work, at school and in maintaining close relationships. Many people with maladaptive daydreaming report experiencing psychological distress, difficulty sleeping and a sense of shame,” continues Giulia Poerio.
Compulsive daydreaming: what causes this phenomenon?
Researchers suspect that people experiencing these compulsive daydreams have a innate aptitude for immersive fantasies. Many discover this ability early in childhood, realizing that these fantasies can be used to regulate distress. By creating a comfortable inner world, they are able to escape reality.
“Some, but not all, maladaptive dreamers can use this medium as a coping strategy. For example, this activity can provide a distraction from an unpleasant reality, which can help cope with trauma, difficult life events, or social isolation. But this can lead to a vicious circle – resorting to it to deal with negative emotions fueling the need to immerse oneself in it”underlines the researcher in psychology.
The links between compulsive daydreaming and OCD
This practice can then become an addictive behavior that fuels the problems it was meant to alleviate. This may be the reason why compulsive daydreaming tends to occur alongside other disorderssuch as ADHD, anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
“There also seems to be a possible link between OCD and compulsive daydreaming. One study found that more than half of participants suffering from their too-frequent waking dreams also showed signs of OCD. This may suggest the existence of common mechanisms between these types of disorders, including intrusive thoughts, dissociation and lack of cognitive control.says Giulia Poerio.
“Although compulsive daydreaming is receiving increasing attention online and in social media, it is not yet officially recognized as a disorder in psychiatric diagnostic manuals”, regrets the researcher. This means that many healthcare professionals may not recognize it, leading to misdiagnoses or dismissal of symptoms, as well as failure to seek treatments. “With the consequent risk of more distress, isolation and shame for the people concerned. Thus, many are those who turn to online forums to get the support and recognition from their peersa practice that has its own risks”laments Giulia Poerio.
