Today, I’ll explain why stress can trigger Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder (MDD). Some daydreamers have noticed that whenever they experience stress, they tend to escape into an imaginary world for an extended period. Stress serves as a trigger because when you’re stressed, you feel uncomfortable, and the discomfort prompts a desire to escape, especially if you’re not accustomed to facing life’s stresses head-on. People often attempt to avoid stress by overindulging in various activities, and in your case, it’s excessive daydreaming.

Stress triggers this response because you seek to evade the discomfort it brings into your life. When you’re not accustomed to dealing with stress head-on, you may turn to daydreaming as a means of temporary relief and refuge. Although it provides only temporary comfort, it feels enjoyable and allows you to momentarily escape the stress.

However, this avoidance strategy doesn’t mean that it’s a sustainable or effective solution. It’s essential to address stress in your real life rather than running from it because stress doesn’t disappear on its own. It must be confronted and managed. When you engage in daydreaming, you’re essentially avoiding the stress, but it will still be waiting for you when you return from your daydream. The underlying stress might be hiding in your subconscious mind, and it will resurface when you come back to reality.

Over time, if these stresses continue to accumulate, they can manifest as physical symptoms, such as lowered immunity or autoimmune diseases. Avoiding stress can also lead to sleep disturbances and uncontrolled, prolonged daydreaming. To effectively manage stress and its impact on MDD, it’s crucial to address the root causes of your stress, which could be related to past trauma, childhood neglect, or other unresolved issues. Seek help to manage and process these stressors rather than escaping into an imaginary world.

In summary, while stress can trigger MDD, it’s essential to focus on dealing with stress in your real life rather than seeking temporary relief in daydreaming. By addressing and managing your stressors, you can reduce the need to escape into an imaginary world.

Note from the Author

If you’re ready and you’d like my help with overcoming and managing maladaptive daydreaming without spending years in therapy, then you can book a FREE BREAKTHROUGH CALL with me HERE. Happy healing 💙💙. Feel free to share and comment! Use this information with caution, it comes from my own thoughts & bias, experiences and research😊.