Today, I’ll be answering this question: How do you know that you are living in denial as an excessive daydreamer? One aspect people struggle with is being honest with oneself. Being honest with oneself means seeing something for what it is and acknowledging that this thing is affecting your life. For example, this relationship is not working, daydreaming is taking up my time, or this addiction is ruining my life. Denial is not looking at the facts but rather trying to brush something aside. So, what are some signs that you are probably living in denial as a daydreamer, whether you’re an excessive one or just a normal daydreamer who occasionally spends time daydreaming?

The first sign is minimizing the effect. Daydreaming may take up 4 or 5 hours of your day, or even just 1 hour or 30 minutes. You might think it’s just a part of your routine and life, and you can’t seem to stop it. Even if you don’t want to stop, it’s important to acknowledge that daydreaming is affecting your life because time spent in an imaginary world is time lost in the real world.

Justifying the behavior is another sign. Instead of finding ways to address daydreaming, you justify it by saying things like, “I daydream because my exam was hard” or “I daydream because I was fired.” Instead of looking for ways to manage daydreaming, you’re justifying why you need it in your life.

Ignoring feedback is a sign of denial. When you receive advice or feedback about the negative effects of daydreaming on your life, you might dismiss it, thinking that it doesn’t apply to you. Rather than reflecting on your own experiences, you push feedback away, which indicates denial.

Blaming others is another common sign. If you blame your daydreaming on someone else, like your parents or external circumstances, and not on your own actions and choices, you are likely in denial.

Not seeking help is the final aspect. You may be aware that help is available, but you choose to ignore it and leave your daydreaming unaddressed. Even when you know it’s affecting your life, refusing to seek help is a sign of denial.

Understanding these signs of denial can help you challenge yourself and overcome excessive daydreaming or simply be more honest with yourself. It’s not an attack on you but a way to become aware of your behavior and make positive changes.

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😊.