Description: Learn about the role childhood, adolescence and trauma play in the development of maladaptive daydreaming—a look at the developmental roots of the disorder.

Related

• Maladaptive daydreaming - causes, symptoms and help

• Neurobiology of maladaptive daydreaming: What the brain does in daydreams (21)

• Daydreaming as a coping strategy: From a helpful mechanism to a problematic habit (20)

• Diagnostics: The Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS), other tests and further research (6)

• Maladaptive daydreaming: Who is affected? Facts and figures on prevalence (5)

Teaser (Lead)

Maladaptive daydreaming rarely begins in adulthood. The rampant fantasy worlds are often rooted in childhood or adolescence. But why are young people particularly susceptible? And what role do early attachment experiences, trauma or the normal development of the imagination play? This article sheds light on the developmental aspects of the disorder - from childhood to young adulthood.

Developmental aspects of maladaptive daydreaming: from childhood to adulthood

First, read the detailed main article [Understanding, treating and overcoming maladaptive daydreaming]

or

The overview "Maladaptive Daydreaming -- Causes, Symptoms and Help". This article focuses on the developmental causes and processes.

1. beginning in childhood: the cradle of fantasy

For the vast majority of those affected, maladaptive daydreaming begins in childhood or early adolescence¹. During this phase, fantasy development is particularly pronounced, which is actually a healthy process.

Typical triggers in childhood:

• Loneliness or social isolation

• Boredom and lack of stimulation

• Emotional neglect

• High sensitivity and withdrawal tendencies

• First traumas or stressful life events

In this phase, daydreaming often serves as a coping mechanism, offering comfort, distraction, and a sense of control in a world perceived as overwhelming.

2. adolescence: reinforcement and ritualisation

In adolescence, many triggering factors intensify. Puberty is characterised by:

• Identity search and role confusion

• Social pressure and performance requirements

• Emotional instability

• Increasing self-reflection

At the same time, the brain is remarkably plastic in this phase and seeks out intense emotional and cognitive stimuli. Daydreaming can now take on a life of its own, turning from an occasional escape into an automated ritual.

3 The role of trauma and attachment patterns

Developmental trauma:

Early traumatic experiences - whether emotional, physical or sexualised - are a key risk factor. Daydreaming becomes a dissociative strategy here, enabling an escape from unbearable reality into a safe, controllable inner world.

Insecure attachment:

Children with insecure attachment patterns (anxious, avoidant, disorganised) often learn that their needs are not reliably met in the real world. The fantasised world becomes a haven—a function that a caregiver should actually fulfil.

4 Developmental tasks and daydreaming: a vicious circle

Maladaptive daydreaming often hinders the accomplishment of critical developmental tasks:

By avoiding these tasks, the dependence on the daydream world is further reinforced, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.

5 The transition to adulthood: chronification

If daydreaming remains unrecognised, it often becomes chronic in young adulthood. What began as a coping strategy now becomes the main obstacle to a fulfilling life.

Many of those affected only realise in their twenties or thirties that their daydreaming is not "normal" – namely, when the demands of life (work, family) are no longer compatible with the amount of time spent on fantasy.

6 Protective factors: What protects?

Not everyone who daydreams in childhood develops a maladaptive form of it. Protective factors are:

• Stable, secure attachment to at least one attachment figure

• Social integration and friendships

• Recognition in the real world (e.g. through hobbies, sport)

• Recognising and directing the imagination in creative directions early on

• Psychoelasticity¹³ (resilience)

7 Conclusions for prevention and early help

Knowledge of the developmental aspects is crucial for prevention and early help.

For parents and carers:

• Encourage imagination, but set limits: appreciate creativity, but be cautious of excessive reality deprivation.

• Enable social participation: Counteract loneliness.

• Offer emotional security: A safe harbour in reality reduces the impulse to escape.

For therapy:

• Resource-orientation: Using the intense power of imagination as a strength.

• Trauma-informed work: Treat underlying traumas.

• Catching up on developmental tasks: Training social and emotional skills.

FAQ

Can maladaptive daydreaming only begin in adulthood?

Yes, but less frequently. There is often a history of pronounced daydreaming in adolescence, which "escalates" in adulthood due to severe stress or renewed traumatisation.

Is all intense daydreaming in childhood a cause for concern?

No. Imagination and daydreaming are essential components of healthy development. It is only when it leads to distress, social withdrawal or significant losses in coping with everyday life that we speak of a maladaptive form.

Can positive childhoods also lead to maladaptive daydreaming?

Yes, although it is less frequent, it is possible. Even with a positive attachment, factors such as high sensitivity, boredom or bullying at school can be triggers.

What can you do if you notice the first signs in your child?

Take the child seriously, show affection, and look for triggers (such as school, friends, or boredom). If worries persist, seek professional counselling.

Is it still possible to "catch" the disorder in adolescence?

Absolutely. Adolescence is a phase of remarkable plasticity. Through therapy, social integration and the strengthening of reality references, development can be steered in an adaptive direction.

Maladaptive daydreaming is often a sign that something is out of balance in an early phase of life. The good news is that what has developed can also be changed again.