Daydreaming
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Zoning out
Easily distracted
Spacing out
Mind wandering
Trouble focusing
Lack of concentration
Lost track of time
Dream-like state while awake
Involuntary zoning out
Can't stay focused at work
My mind went blank
About the Symptom
Feeling like you are in a dream or like things are not real can be derealization or depersonalization. It can be caused by many different medical or psychiatric conditions.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you feel dream-like even when awake?
Reviewed By:
Charles Carlson, DO, MS (Psychiatry)
Dr. Carlson graduated from Touro University in Nevada with a degree in osteopathic medicine. He then trained as a resident in Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals where he was also a chief resident and completed a fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry. After training, he started practicing in | Addiction Psychiatry at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he also teaches Psychiatry residents.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Content updated on Jan 29, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Try Free Symptom QuizHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Daydreaming quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- After waking up still feels like I'm in a dream
- I woke up but still feel like I'm in a dream
- Feel like in a dream even after waking up
- Dream-like experience even when awake
- Feel like living in a dream
Find Similar Symptoms
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FAQs
Q.
Lost in Your Head? Why Your Brain is Maladaptive Daydreaming: Medical Steps
A.
Feeling lost in your head with vivid, hard-to-control fantasies that eat up hours and interfere with life can be maladaptive daydreaming, which often overlaps with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or trauma and can improve with CBT, trauma-focused therapy when needed, ADHD treatment, and daily strategies like mindfulness, sleep optimization, trigger control, and scheduling limited fantasy time. There are several factors to consider, including when it becomes a medical concern, how it differs from psychosis, which evaluations to request from a primary care clinician, how meds for coexisting conditions may help, when to use a symptom check, and red flags that need urgent care; see complete guidance below.
References:
* Somer E, Somer L, Ravid S, Somer Y. The Clinical Characteristics and Diagnostic Criteria of Maladaptive Daydreaming. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2021 Jul 1;209(7):523-530. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001336. PMID: 33764955.
* Somer E, Somer L, Ravid S. Maladaptive Daydreaming: Evidence for an Addiction-Like Disorder. J Behav Addict. 2021 Jun;10(2):477-486. doi: 10.1556/2006.2021.00028. Epub 2021 Jun 28. PMID: 34180479.
* Bigelsen J, Somer E. Maladaptive Daydreaming: A Qualitative Study of Phenomenology and Treatment. Front Psychiatry. 2017 Aug 16;8:143. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00143. PMID: 28861069; PMCID: PMC5562867.
* Somer E, Soffer-Dudek N. An Internet-based intervention for maladaptive daydreaming: A proof-of-concept study. Front Psychol. 2023 Apr 14;14:1164893. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1164893. PMID: 37125345; PMCID: PMC10141692.
* Somer E, Soffer-Dudek N, Ross CA. Maladaptive daydreaming, vivid dreaming, and sleep problems: Evidence for a comorbidity. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022 May 1;18(5):1379-1386. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9902. PMID: 34964724; PMCID: PMC9059738.
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