Does Your Imagination Feel More Like Reality? Science Has An Answer For It

Often, we underestimate the way our brain works and daydreaming has long been seen as a major sign of creativity. Many artists have used their imagination to bring their work to life. However, science offers a different perspective.Coined in 2002 Dr. Eliezer Somer, those who experience “maladaptive daydreaming” often fantasize about celebrities, historical figures or idealized versions of themselves. Their imaginations are more elaborate, diverse, and complex as compared to other daydreamers. A 2012 Consciousness and Cognition study found that maladaptive daydreamers spend, on average, 57 percent of their waking hours daydreaming far more than their counterparts.Dr Somer explains: "The greatest difference is the maladaptive daydreamers reported that the activity interfered with their daily life. They also reported higher rates of attention-deficit and obsessive compulsive symptoms, and more than 80% used kinesthetic activity or movement when daydreaming, such as rocking, pacing or spinning"He further noted that while everyone experiences moments of mind-wandering, it usually does not interfere with daily life. But maladaptive daydreaming does interfere in regular life. The condition has not been classified as a mental illness and there is no treatment for it yet.What Do People Say?Many Reddit users have shared their experiences with maladaptive daydreaming, often asking questions such as: “Is it normal to daydream for such long hours?” While some responses described daydreaming as a form of dissociation when bored, others relied on music or movies to fuel fantasies of being a “better version” of themselves, often struggling to return to reality.Common Symptoms Of Maladaptive DaydreamingHere are some early signs of maladaptive daydreaming to keep an eye out for: Compulsive need to daydreamAvoiding social interaction and activitiesAn inability to perform work or other daily tasksExtreme feelings of shame or guiltFeeling a compulsive need to daydream that you can't controlMaking a conscious effort to stop or lessen daydreaming episodes.Intense and extremely vivid daydreamsComplex and elaborate daydreams, often with many people involvedDaydreams accompanied by repetitive movements such as pacingProlonged daydreams that may last hours at a timeA feeling of disconnect or dissociation from people and reality during the episode.What Does Science Say?Researchers do not classify maladaptive daydreaming as a mental illness, since it lacks physical symptoms. However, it clearly interferes with daily functioning, with many individuals preferring to daydream over real-life activities.Rachel Bennett, a member of Dr. Somer’s online community, shared she usually dreams up new episodes of her favorite Japanese animé characters and TV shows. She’s also created four families of fictional characters which have grown with her over the years.“I’d much rather stay home and daydream than go out,” she said.What Causes Maladaptive Daydreaming?Dr. Somer noted that about one-quarter of maladaptive daydreamers are trauma survivors who use daydreaming as an escape. Many report family members with similar tendencies, as well as being shy or socially isolated.Meanwhile, a Harvard Medical study found that 80 percent of maladaptive daydreamers have ADHD, followed by anxiety disorders, depression, and OCD. Researchers believe daydreaming often acts as a coping mechanism for pent-up emotions that cannot be expressed in real life, so they are released through imagination instead. How Do You Cope With Maladaptive Daydreaming?Experts emphasize that maladaptive daydreaming is not an extreme condition requiring formal diagnosis, but many people have shared strategies that help:Exercise: One forum user reported swimming daily, gradually reaching 2,000 meters, which acted as meditation and grounded them in reality.Remove triggers: Avoid activities that spark daydreaming episodes.Practice mindfulness: Stay present and aware of thoughts.Limit music use: Music is a common trigger.Scheduled daydreaming: Set aside specific times with a timer, then consciously exit the session.Seek professional help: Therapies such as CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based stress reduction have shown benefits.Stay busy: Engage in tasks to prevent wandering thoughts.Improve sleep quality.Make daydreams less appealing: Reduce instant gratification.Self-development and creativity: Channel imagination into productive outlets.Journaling: Record thoughts daily or weekly.Practice self-acceptance.Find group support.

Does Your Imagination Feel More Like Reality? Science Has An Answer For It

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Does Your Imagination Feel More Like Reality? Science Has An Answer For It

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