It is a popular belief that people can sometimes fall into a daydream amid a productive day. As a matter of fact, almost all adults have a tendency to daydream at least once daily. However, when it happens more often or in an abnormal recurrence, it is already referred to as maladaptive daydreaming. Consequently, this can have negative effects on a day-to-day basis, particularly in terms of productivity and efficiency.
The occurrence of maladaptive daydreaming may differ in each person on the basis of severity and symptoms. Although it was described in the past that daydreaming can only happen due to different traumatic events or past abuses, it is now being accepted to be triggered by various causes.
Managing Maladaptive Daydreaming
This condition has no treatment yet, but if you are suffering from the symptoms of maladaptive daydreaming disorder, perhaps you can apply several methods to address these symptoms. Here are a few of the most popular techniques to combat unproductivity due to maladaptive daydreaming.
1. Inform family or friends.
You can always ask the assistance of your friends or family whenever you fall victim into this type of disorder. They can alert you the moment they notice some patterns related to daydreaming. This will be an effective method to battle this type of condition.
2. Set up an alarm clock.
If ever you live alone in your house, you can set your alarms. You can use your mobile devices to give you a warning in case you get inside your daydreaming session. Simply choose an interval that you think will be effective on snapping you out of that instance.
3. Get enough sleep.
Being tired can trigger the instance of getting into a daydream. You can combat this by getting quality sleep. Try to have a room conducive enough for sleeping so that you can reach the maximum time of eight hours a day.
4. Put some caffeine into it.
Lectures and meetings are the best time that you fall into a daydream. The environment can be so conducive for this disorder. So try to snap out of it by drinking a dose of coffee or tea. This will enable you to increase your metabolism to keep you awake and prevent the occurrence of daydreaming.
5. Try to know the triggers.
You should be aware of the triggers that will cause your daydreams. Sometimes you can daydream simply by listening to music or browsing the Web. Things like these can be prevented if you know how the disorder is triggered.
6. Address the issues causing it.
Daydreaming as a way to escape or create imaginary friends is simply a symptom that points to more complex problems. You should try to address these issues and enable to make your life fuller so that you can avoid the need to daydream.
Maladaptive daydreaming disorders should be addressed to avoid costly consequences. However, no official treatment can be used to combat this type of disorder. Rarely, there are medications such as antidepressants or anti-psychotics that could help to fight the symptoms. Just make sure you consult a doctor before taking any form of medication. Remember that self-medication can have negative side-effects or even death, so don’t be careless enough to deal with this all by yourself.