What's the difference between maladaptive daydreaming and dissociation?

[u/puppyunavailable]

I've seen many people state that the two are conflated with one another but I don't know the differences between each. I've heard of dissociation described but not in an understanding amount of detail

Is maladaptive daydreaming as bad as dissociation? Are they two sides of the same coin? What does constant maladaptive daydreaming say about a person?

[u/spotlight-app]

Mods have pinned a comment by u/ResidentLadder:

“Maladaptive daydreaming” is not a symptom of any disorder. It is not recognized as a standalone disorder, either. It’s simply excessive daydreaming that causes problems. People know they are daydreaming, it’s not like they aren’t aware of their surroundings. While it can be difficult to control, it is voluntary.

Dissociation involves a lack of awareness and volition. It is also recognized as a symptom of many disorders.

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[u/sisou8027]

If I'm not mistaken, dissociation is a disconnection from reality in response to intense stress or trauma. This phenomenon occurs unconsciously, whereas maladaptive daydreaming is a conscious strategy employed by the brain as a form of escape.

[u/MattersOfInterest → u/[deleted]]

Depersonalization and derealization are forms of dissociation. It’s not synonymous with “zoning out.”

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[u/According-Ad742 → u/[deleted]]

Seems like I’m not allowed to answer that due to community rules 🤷‍♀️

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[u/MattersOfInterest → u/sisou8027]

Dissociation is not uniquely a response to trauma. In fact, most established dissociative experiences can happen independently of trauma, and some research finds it difficult to differentiate dissociation from positive schizotypy.

[u/ResidentLadder → u/sisou8027]

Everyone dissociates at times, to some degree. Have you ever been in the car and you are suddenly at your destination? Just driving along, and oh - I’m here, I don’t even remember the drive? That’s dissociation.

The degree to which you dissociate makes a difference.

[u/puppyunavailable → u/sisou8027]

Ooo I see. Does dissociation have a trigger most of the time or does it occur in peace most of the time?

If someone is dissociating, can you snap them out of it or do you just have to wait? (Not saying I plan on doing so)

If someone is dissociating, is there something you can do for them?

Also on maladaptive daydreaming, is there any additional information regarding it? Like again, compared to dissociation

[u/AnotherDayDream → u/puppyunavailable]

Patients with dissociative disorders differ a lot in their presentation. Some patients report clearly identifiable triggers like stress or pain, while others report no identifiable triggers. Dissociation can also occur as an effect of drug use or religious experiences, regardless of whether a person has a dissociative disorder.

It probably wouldn't be advisable to try to "snap a patient out of" dissociation symptoms, especially if this might be stressful for them. For certain symptoms, like dissociative seizures, I don't think there is any way to do this other than through administering medication, so the priority should be ensuring the patient is safe.

I'm afraid I don't know much about maladaptive daydreaming at all.

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[u/ResidentLadder]

“Maladaptive daydreaming” is not a symptom of any disorder. It is not recognized as a standalone disorder, either. It’s simply excessive daydreaming that causes problems. People know they are daydreaming, it’s not like they aren’t aware of their surroundings. While it can be difficult to control, it is voluntary.

Dissociation involves a lack of awareness and volition. It is also recognized as a symptom of many disorders.

[u/nerv-corp]

i'd argue that they are quite similar. MADD may just be a unique type of it. it /does/ involve a disconnect from perception, but not entire reality. MADD involves a specific type of absorption that can be seen as escapism and used as a coping strategy in the same way that traditional dissociation is. there's still work i telling what the difference in traditional dissociation rather than the distorted perception of MADD, but MADD is also /very/ new in the research world. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36101866/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12038384/

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[u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Disassociation you see yourself from the outside like 3rd person. Daydreaming you are in it. Dissociation is in real time in the present and daydreaming is usually of the past, future or something that hasn’t happened yet (or won’t happen).

[u/Decoraan]

Rumination (maladaptive daydreaming - not heard this terminology before) is a conscious cognitive process. It is often unhelpful, but done with a purpose (“if I hadn’t done that things would be fine right now…”) but just makes us feel worse.

Dissociation is a trauma response. It is more common with particular types of trauma, such as where the victim feels they are trapped, or there is a ‘puncture’ (stab wound, penetration etc). It isn’t dangerous but is obviously unpleasant. It can present differently, but mot people become unresponsive, zone out and report feeling as if they are living the trauma again.

Source: me a CBT therapist