A wandering mind is often seen as a harmless part of everyday life. Many people escape into their thoughts while exercising, commuting, or listening to music. For some, however, these imagined worlds become far more than a temporary distraction.
Mental health researchers are increasingly examining a phenomenon known as maladaptive daydreaming, a condition in which fantasy becomes so immersive and time-consuming that it begins to interfere with daily life.
A new review published in the International Journal of Psychology is adding weight to the argument that the issue deserves far greater clinical attention, reports PsyPost.
An overlooked experience
The study was led by Eli Somer of the University of Haifa, the psychologist who first introduced the concept more than two decades ago.
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Since then, growing numbers of people have shared experiences of becoming deeply absorbed in fictional scenarios, often spending hours engaged in detailed inner narratives.
Despite increasing awareness among researchers, maladaptive daydreaming remains absent from major psychiatric diagnostic manuals. Critics have long questioned whether it represents a distinct condition or simply overlaps with existing disorders.
The latest findings may help answer that question.
A pattern emerges
Rather than focusing on a single study, the researchers examined evidence collected across 40 separate investigations involving nearly 25,000 participants.
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Their goal was to determine whether maladaptive daydreaming consistently appeared alongside established forms of psychological distress.
The results revealed a remarkably consistent pattern. Individuals reporting severe daydreaming tendencies were significantly more likely to experience symptoms linked to depression, anxiety, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, dissociation, and trauma-related difficulties.
Researchers also found recurring connections to loneliness, low self-confidence, emotional regulation problems, and excessive internet use. Together, these findings suggest the phenomenon may affect far more than a person's imagination.
Growing calls for recognition
One of the most important questions remains unanswered: does excessive daydreaming contribute to mental health problems, or do existing psychological struggles drive people toward fantasy as a coping mechanism?
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The researchers say current evidence cannot establish cause and effect because most available studies rely on self-reported data collected at a single point in time. Even so, the consistency of the findings across thousands of participants is prompting renewed discussion among experts.
As interest in the condition continues to grow, researchers believe future long-term studies could help determine whether maladaptive daydreaming should eventually be recognized as a distinct mental health disorder.
Such recognition could improve awareness, reduce stigma, and help affected individuals access more targeted support.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.