Excessive or maladaptive dreaming disorder

Excessive dreaming disorder defines a peculiar syndrome. The person who suffers from it spends much of their time immersed in their fantasies. and completely disconnected from reality. Although all of us daydream, there are those who do it excessively; so much so that he is confined in an isolated universe, where he neglects his food, his responsibilities and relationships.

When we talk about syndromes, more than one reader may raise the alarm when they suspect that we are beginning to see pathological behaviors in (apparently) normal situations. In this sense, let us first clarify that All behavior will begin to be analyzed from a clinical point of view at the moment when a certain type of acts or reactions interfere with the person’s normal life.

Daydreaming therefore does not pose any problem: as long as we carry out a fully functional day to day life. 95% of the population does it. What’s more, we all fantasize, and by fantasizing we activate countless brain areas that enhance our mental agility. Thus, structures such as the prefrontal cortex, the limbic system or various cortical areas related to sensory information help us reflect on certain areas of our life, fuel new projects and improve our mood.

They are specific moments in the day that act almost like a mental “reset”, like a momentary refuge where you can find well-being. However, the real problem comes when we prefer these private corners to real life. In fact, It is important to know that behind excessive dreaming disorder there are usually other underlying and associated disorders, such as various traumas, obsessive-compulsive disorders, underlying conflicts…

Let’s look at all the data below.

Excessive or maladaptive dreaming disorder: characteristics

Excessive dreaming disorder does not appear (yet) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). It is expected to appear in future editions as more research and therapeutic approaches emerge. It was in fact in 2002 when psychiatrist Eliezer Somer, from the University of Haifa in Israel, spoke about it to give it a name and describe the associated symptoms.

It would be the following:

These patients are dreamers; dreamers capable of creating their own characters to immerse themselves in complex, detailed and very vivid stories for them. Those fantasies interfere with their real life. Any daily stimulus can be a trigger to create a new story, a new internal narrative to immerse themselves in without taking into account what they are doing at that moment. They neglect responsibilities, including food and hygiene. They have difficulty sleeping at night.When they daydream, they usually make repetitive or stereotyped movements.including facial expressions. They usually talk or during these private fantasies, murmur quietly, acting out their own daydream.These fantasies can last for hours but stopping them, having to return to reality, gives them high anxiety, similar to any addiction.

What’s behind excessive dreaming disorder?

As we have pointed out, this disorder is still in the description and analysis phase. However, there are many psychiatrists and psychologists who treat these patients daily in their consultations. We can also see how articles are published frequently to update data and therapeutic approaches, therefore, This disorder is increasingly defined and the information we have is validated by professional practice.

It is important to point out the latter for a specific reason. Something that has been proven is that excessive dreaming disorder almost never comes alone.. As we indicated at the beginning, it is usually accompanied by other disorders or underlying problems. They would be the following.

People who have suffered abuse or who have experienced other types of traumatic acts at some point in their lives.Patients with depression may also show disorders due to excessive daydreaming. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is also related. Borderline personality disorder or associative disorders are other common realities. Likewise, it has also been observed that people with Autism Spectrum Disorder also They are prone to these types of situations.

Treatment for excessive dreaming disorder

Something that the professional who must work with a patient with excessive daydreaming will take into account is know precisely the cause that may underlie this behavior. The therapeutic strategy, therefore, will not be the same in a person with depression as in someone with obsessive-compulsive behaviors. That is the challenge and that is the starting point from which to start one approach or another.

Likewise, it is interesting to know that the psychiatrist Eliazer Somer developed a scale with which to diagnose this type of clinical condition. The “Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS)” has 14 scales with which to define this disorder.which has served until now to differentiate it from other conditions such as schizophrenia or psychosis.

On the other hand, High efficacy has been demonstrated in the treatment of this disorder using the EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) psychotherapeutic technique.). This is an interesting approach with which to resolve emotional difficulties caused by traumatic events. It was created in 1987, by Francine Shapiro.

In addition, Cognitive-behavioral psychology is also effective in this type of psychological realities, there where the professional will have the following therapeutic objectives:

Connect the person with reality. Promote regulated activities and time control. Identify stimuli that generate daydreaming. Improve attention. Improve healthy lifestyle habits. Promote interests that integrate the patient into daily dynamics.

To conclude, it is important to know when certain behaviors take us away from our responsibilities and the opportunity to enjoy a full, happy and responsible life. Excessive daydreaming can sometimes be that “drug” with which we isolate ourselves from a personal reality that hurts us or for which we cannot find meaning.

You might be interested…