Key points

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a compulsive behavior that disrupts functioning and causes serious distress.

Yet few clinicians understand MD and it is not a recognized condition in the DSM.

Research has found an overlap between MD, ADHD, and autism, both in symptoms and comorbidity.

Individuals who struggle with MD deserve clinical attention.

About 12 years ago, the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" depicted the push-pull between accepting disappointing real-life experiences and conflating them into imaginary ones. And a 2017 YouTube analysis , currently touting 743,000 views, dives right into the core issue: maladaptive daydreaming—a growing research area since 2002 , when the term was first coined by psychologist Eli Somer.

What Is Maladaptive Daydreaming?

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