What Is Maladaptive Daydreaming?

Maladaptive daydreaming, also called dezadaptacyjne marzycielstwo, is when someone can spend many hours absorbed in very vivid, detailed fantasies.

They may imagine whole worlds, characters, and stories with many plotlines. Daydreaming can become compulsive and happen at the expense of real relationships, work, school, or other responsibilities.

Although researchers are studying it more closely and have proposed diagnostic criteria, it is not yet officially recognized as a separate disorder in the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.