For most teenagers, daydreaming is a natural part of cognitive development—a tool for rehearsing social interactions, sparking creativity, or finding a momentary mental break from schoolwork. However, for a growing number of adolescents, these inner worlds transition from a helpful resource into a compulsive, time-consuming burden. This phenomenon, known asMaladaptive Daydreaming (MD), is increasingly recognized by clinicians as a distinct syndrome characterized by excessive, vivid fantasizing that causes significant functional impairment (Somer et al., 2025).
Defining The Maladaptive Threshold
Unlike “normative” mind-wandering, MD is defined by its intensity and the presence of compulsive urges. Teens with MD often spend hours—sometimes more than half of their waking day—immersed in elaborate, soap-opera-like narratives (Soffer-Dudek & Somer, 2018). These fantasies are frequently accompanied by physical behaviors known as psychomotor stereotypies, such as pacing, rocking, or mouthing dialogues (Somer et al., 2025).
While these fantasies can provide a “secure base” or temporary emotional relief, they often interfere with critical developmental milestones. For adolescents, this might manifest as:
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Academic Decline: Inability to focus on lectures or study due to intrusive “daydream cravings.”
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Social Isolation: Preferring the company of idealized internal characters over real-life peers (Sándor et al., 2021).
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Emotional Dysregulation: A vicious cycle where daydreaming is used to cope with loneliness or shame, only to exacerbate those feelings when the teen “wakes up” to their unfulfilled reality (Somer et al., 2025).
The Adolescent Vulnerability: Comorbidity and Risk
Adolescence is a period of heightened neuroplasticity and emotional sensitivity, making it a “perfect storm” for MD to take root. Research suggests that MD rarely exists in isolation; it is highly comorbid with ADHD, anxiety, and depression (Somer et al., 2025). In fact, some studies show that MD scores are positively related to obsessive-compulsive symptoms, suggesting a shared mechanism of repetitive, intrusive thought (Mariani et al., 2021).
Furthermore, MD is increasingly viewed through the lens of behavioral addiction. Much like gaming or social media addiction, MD triggers reward pathways that make the internal world feel more rewarding than the external one (Pietkiewicz et al., 2018). For a teen struggling with social anxiety or academic pressure, the “success” and “belonging” found within a daydream provide an immediate dopamine hit that real life cannot currently match.
Impact On Quality Of Life
The consequences of MD in youth are not just academic. A significant correlation exists between MD and difficulties in emotion regulation (Mariani et al., 2021). Because these teens rely on fantasy to “process” their world, they may fail to develop the necessary coping mechanisms to handle real-world stress. This can lead to a state of “Double Consciousness,” where the individual is aware of reality but feels an agonizing pull toward their internal world (Soffer-Dudek & Somer, 2018).
Moving Toward Treatment
As MD is not yet formally listed in the DSM-5, many teens suffer in silence, fearing that their behavior is a sign of psychosis. It is crucial to note that, unlike those with psychotic disorders, individuals with MD maintain a clear distinction between fantasy and reality (Somer et al., 2025).
Emerging therapeutic approaches focus on:
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Using formulation models to identify triggers—like specific music or loneliness—that initiate a daydreaming episode (Lucas & Bone, 2025).
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Response Prevention: Techniques designed to help teens “intercept” the urge to daydream before immersion occurs (Soffer-Dudek & Somer, 2018).
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Mindfulness: Training the brain to remain grounded in the “here and now” to reduce the frequency of dissociative absorption.
Conclusion
Maladaptive Daydreaming in teens is more than just “having a big imagination.” It is a complex dissociative and addictive response to internal or external distress. By recognizing MD as a formal syndrome, clinicians and parents can better support adolescents in bridging the gap between their vivid inner lives and the reality they must navigate to grow.
References
Lucas, A., & Bone, A. (2025). Introducing a psychological formulation model of maladaptive daydreaming. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 18. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1754470x24000424
Mariani, R., Musetti, A., Di Monte, C., Danskin, K., Franceschini, C., & Christian, C. (2021). Maladaptive Daydreaming in Relation to Linguistic Features and Attachment Style. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 386. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010386
Pietkiewicz, I. J., Nęcki, S., Bańbura, A., & Tomalski, R. (2018). Maladaptive daydreaming as a new form of behavioral addiction. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 7(3), 838–843. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.95
Sándor, A., Bugán, A., Nagy, A., Bogdán, L. S., & Molnár, J. (2021). Attachment characteristics and emotion regulation difficulties among maladaptive and normal daydreamers. Current Psychology, 42(19), 1617–1634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01546-5
Soffer-Dudek, N., & Somer, E. (2018). Trapped in a Daydream: Daily Elevations in Maladaptive Daydreaming Are Associated With Daily Psychopathological Symptoms. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 194. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00194
Somer, E., Somer, L., & Jopp, S. D. (2025). Maladaptive daydreaming should be included as a dissociative disorder in psychiatric manuals: position paper. The British Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2024.34