Dissociative Identity Disorder

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[@yvonnemunongo1486]

Day dreaming is my defense mechanism. Every thing that is overwhelming me I just travel to dreamland and am happy.but it keeps me from studying and connecting with the present.i need solutions

[@soulassassin0g]

I have this problem. Sometimes when I talk to people, after I'm done talking to them and it's their turn to talk, I get quiet and start daydreaming. It's hard to have a fulfilling conversation with another person without spacing out.

[@erinbierly2766]

I always say I'm going to "Carolina in my mind" lol.

[@sarahinata1089]

Samee

[@miloradvlaovic]

Olanzapine

[@OmgRazan]

I had this problem and didn't get rid of it until i turned 23 I didn't do anything it stopped by itself when life got better and I finally accepted myself. The mdd stopped by itself.

[@mupzii2838]

Maladaptive daydreaming is NOT dissociative identity disorder. They are very separate. Please distinguish between the two. This video is supposedly about dissociative identity disorder but it has maladaptive daydreaming in the title and that is problematic.

[@feralnonsense]

thank you for commenting this. I was so confused. I know a lot about DID (as I follow a lot of DID channels on youtube) but this was INCREDIBLY CONFUSING and felt invalidating to DID. ..

[@theinfiniteglow7268]

I think she had gotten confused. She said in a newer video actually about DID that she had mislabeled and apologized about the mislabeling of this one

[@feralnonsense]

@@theinfiniteglow7268 thank you for letting me know. Yeah i was a bit confused and frustrated... nice to know shes correcting it. Ideally she should take this video down to fully repair that (cause i found it and got confused), but thats up to her.

[@theinfiniteglow7268]

@@feralnonsense no problem! I understand, but also uploading anything on KZbin more than 10 seconds is usually an utter pain. I don't think that's why she hasn't done it though. Might just not have the time to remake the same thing and correct it?

[@Peem_pom]

I was wondering the same thing. Theyre quite different!

[@iqrakarim6525]

I am an extreme MDD. Any time I'm not being watched I daydream. If a song starts to play, I'll imagine myself in the video. At other times I would imagine myself in situations and have conversations with people. I do laugh and cry and do all sorts of weird shit like I'm actually in that moment but at the same time I'm fully aware that it's not real and I can snap out of it whenever I have to/ want to. And while I'm doing this I don't want to stop. It's usually situation that I wish happened. The reason in worried is that any time I don't have a distraction I'm daydreaming and I can go on for hours. I thinks that's not good and I need to stop. I don't know what to do, for a moment I thought I was schizophrenic.

[@theresatuia2384]

@sym SAME I'm 17 and am really scared it'll continue when I get older. My biggest fear is that when I become elderly I'll just completely lose it. It terrifies me. Like what if I decide to have a family of my own? Will I be daydreamimg and like my life in 'daydream world' instead of in reality with my family...

[@mirtheverjans2139]

I have the exact same problem wtf

[@TheSmallLamp]

Omg how much I relate to this is actually scary

[@bendover-bz4bc]

Problem with me is that i do dreaming of all luxury lifestyle. I even have some big plan to work on but instead of doing work i just keep procrastinating and dream about that lifestyle . I have dreamed so much that i feel like i have already gotten successful and i am already rich but in reality i am broke af and just keep dreaming of my luxury lifestyle all day long. This is scary cos i don't want to stop it. I feel like i am in a my own comfort zone bubble where i am safe and everything is going according to me so why not. I don't know what would i do if my plan never works out , all those dreams will be shattered into pieces and i might end up into depression. Or i am into depression already . i don't know. I seriously need to stop this somehow because i have already started to judge people based on their wealth so if anyone is millionaire i would count them as brokeass cos in my dream the protagonist character of me is a billionaire but as i said already i am broke af and not even earning a penny right now. The good thing is i haven't lost my sanity yet . I can feel what's up with my mind and body. I just need someone to talk to. Maybe loneliness is one of reasons to convert people into daydreamers . Idk . Sorry for so long comment.

[@robynnicole5000]

- it’s scary how much I relate to this I’m only 13 but like I can’t stop it I do it all the time in class like for example I start to think of myself being friends with Emma chamberlain or whatever I listen to a song I imagine myself in it

[@perfumaphilia3246]

Since I was a kid, I have fantasized and envisioned my "ideal self" in different scenarios. Obviously, the details of these fantasies change as I get older, but the overall themes remains the same: I am central to the fantasy. I am at my most fit and most attractive and wearing whatever I look best/feel more comfortable in. I am fully engaged with the people around me and they are fully engaged with me. I'm usually performing somehow, either musically, athletically, academically, sexually etc. and receiving a lot of praise and admiration for it. Other fantasies include me traveling, completing tasks, or experiencing things in very idealistic ways, in very idealistic surroundings. They usually involve me having a lot of money and my "dream" house. Can anyone else relate to this? I'm not sure if this qualifies as maladaptive daydreaming.

[@aerialkate]

Perfumaphilia Isn't that just daydreaming though? Yes of-course I can relate to that.

[@peacefulkaley3830]

Perfumaphilia I thought I was alone....

[@jackieostrander7199]

I think it means... just dreaming of a diff life once in a while... is it ok to daydream... yes

[@Sandra-cn4wn]

SAME!

[@cam0987]

Omggg u described it perfectly! Ur not alone

[@briannam.982]

I’ve been daydreaming like this for years, since I was little. I think it’s rly because I feel like my friends don’t actually like me and it’s nice to imagine that I have people that do like me //:

[@misterpopoman9180]

this describes me exactly

[@daniellange4772]

I dont have people that like me. It's me against the world all the time. It sucks but that's just how the world works.

[@briannam.982]

@@daniellange4772 you don’t know that for sure, and it makes things significantly harder for yourself if you go into life thinking everyone hates you. trust me lol

[@KayS471]

I always thought that maladaptive daydreaming and DID were two completely different things, where someone with MDD knows they are fantasizing and is in touch with reality, while someone with DID actually becomes the other personality and has no recollection of what the last personality did when they "switch back."

[@deadpoets164]

you are correct. I have mdd and I have no "alter personalities" nor do I have multiple personality disorder. I know that I am fantasizing and I know that I am not multiple people, ya know?

[@lalanirvana]

Totally. I just got "diagnosed" with DID by a psychiatrist I spent 2 whole hours with. I have a lot of identity issues and yes I daydream a lot but I 1000% do NOT have any alters, "lose time" or believe that I'm anyone but myself. I didn't realise that DID is making a comeback in psychiatry and I'm an open-minded person so I'm starting to believe that people really do suffer from this disorder, but man I think it's so incredibly irresponsible that a psychiatrist can throw a diagnosis of such a complex disorder so easily on people. Everybody experiences dissociation to some level but to say that you can be on the low end of the DID spectrum just because you daydream,,, smh...

[@fuddermucceri1646]

different people have different ways it effects us, my host doesnt remember things when we switch to an alter my host but remembers maladaptive daydreaming and can trigger it herself...

[@twinstar9]

Majority of people with D.I.D. do not think they have it. You may or may not have it but just be aware that it can take years to realize that the diagnosis is actually correct. Then, once you realize you have it, part of you may still not believe it. It is a good idea to keep a journal and to read books about it. It's really interesting, even if you don't have it.

[@deadpoets164]

^ that's understandable. i hope you all find peace and that you are all healthy and as happy as possible.

[@yakkismd5946]

But... I LOVE my universe...

[@yakkismd5946]

Should I STOP dreaming? Become "normal"? Losing all my creativity? Stop asking questions about other universes?? Being full present in this world? Cutting off my hair, wearing ugly tartan shirts, marying a boring woman, building a house, buying dog and cat, working in some stupid office till 63, and then just die after living a "normal", super boring life? *cries*

[@yakkismd5946]

So, after overcoming my emotions, I tried to make a self description about my problems through the day and my "alters". First of all: Sorry for eventual bad English, as this isn't my mother tongue. I am also a massive day dreamer. As in many moments I love to do so because dreaming gives me spirit and creativeness, in most living situations it rather is an obstacle. I am very slow in doing things, especially at work. I drift away, forget what to do, do lots of mistakes, and so on. It is hard to dicribe. But here are my "demons and angels" , as I would call them sometimes: Viola, the beautiful, cute gothic lolita, with animalish makeup, dark clothes, purple-pink-lavender hair. She is sexy, seductive, spiritual, peaceful. Her interest lies in clothing, makeup and styling. She wants to be attractive, but also to attract another person (probably another girl) that expresses the same seducting qualities. (Viola is lesbian/ homoflexible ; age: about 23) The "organizer", a quick-thinking, well-managing person (probably a man), who oversees conflict situations very fast, and generates solutions in no time. His visions and concepts are so concrete and fastly created that other poeple may struggle keeping up. The organizer is impatient, progressive-aggressive, and lifts up his voice quickly. He always feels the time knocking him from behind. He almost has no emotions, but pure rationality. He keeps anyone and anything away from hisself that may be harmful or trigger some weakness. (Sexuality: unknown ; age: about 35) The "child", the little, happy-to-be-alive human being. It is full of love, pure emotions, watches the world with big, interested eyes. You could say its spirit is infinite. It cries a lot, but the reason for that often is happiness and/ or gaining some self exteem because of having made some important experiences. It cares a lot of others and their moods, wants to cuddle a lot and finds it important to be sheltered. (age: about 7) The "depressive/ overwhelmed". He feels worthless. He thinks he couldn't do anything that makes himself, or others, happy. He got the feeling that he needs lots of time for doing almost nothing. Even breathing is a challenge. Anything is to much. "Go away. Don't bother me. I can't do this. I need some room. I can't breathe. Stop controlling/ manipulating me. I do not want this." He feels like living in a box, like having a thick, unbreakable wall between himself and the world. (age : unknown (very old)) The "anti". He feels a lot of disrespect and fear when it comes to world and society topics. In his eyes the world is a dystopia full of crime against human rights, corruption, world control. Humans are turned into robots and must only serve the elite. Also he is bored from "normal" life and very nonconformistic. He isn't satisfied with the live structure most people he knows show to him. The "dreamer/seer/spiritual/warrior". He loves to dream and to meditate. He is rather not into fealing the world the ordinary way. What the normal five sences lack, he seeks in other ways to interact and communicate, such as in psychological and mindful levels. He has got a third eye. In his opinion the human race either has to, or WILL evolve to a higher level of existance. It shall protect the earth, be respectfull to each other and to other species, and exist rather trough only giving and getting pure love and awareness. Making music and drawing mandalas are part of his major passions. I hope this is understandable, and I kinda have nailed it. I am not sure what are my problems. With me there are also lots of traumas, nightmares, psychologists, suspicions of lots of disorders... I just want some help, fitting better into society without losing myself.

[@onidaaitsubasa4177]

Hi Yakkis MD , ooops pushed send button, Your little one sounds a lot like my little one. She is aged 5 and calls herself Nana. She is pretty much a happy child, but she is sensitive and will get sad if something bad happens like if her food or snack falls on the ground. Sometimes she says the most funny and unexpected things. One time a guy with an eye patch asked if he could give me a ride. and she asks me inside my head, if he was a pirate. I just about burst out in laughter. It seems I have to teach her things the same way you would teach any child. She really is a joy to have around.

[@yakkismd5946]

Hello Onida Aitsubasa. Thank you for your response and your open heart to tell this. Aww Nana is cute. Yeah. Our little ones (or "inner childs" ) really are quite similar indeed. I ... "remember" that moment when food falls to the ground. When I was a child, this was absolutely terrible for me, I cried so hard. You could teach Nana, but be carefull and tender. We shouldn't lose our inner childs as they often teach us how to see the world with fantasy, hunger for wisdom and happiness.

[@sononi4798]

Yakkis MD Oh my god, those people are all me! Who are you? Are you me? Only they are aspects of my personality. I don't slip into them and literally think I'm a different person .

[@Myaburks1]

DID is not maladaptive daydreaming

[@MxRoJoel]

Exactly. This is so inaccurate lol.

[@NEFARlOUS]

Oh wow. Why name video Maladaptive Daydreaming when you're talking about DID. They're deadass two different things.

[@cutemess6429]

Don't Mind Me like hon you literally have a copy of the DSM wow

[@cherrielime]

if you think about it she's right for putting them in the same video because the reasons they took hold of the people they hurt are the same. Both are due to trauma and from that you can go one of 2 ways. Then she proceeds to talk about MDD for the rest of the video. Chill fam...it's ok

[@abandonedchanneld8031]

@@cherrielime I have both though...So it doesn't go one of two ways. And treatment is different for both. And from my own experience, I can't speak for everyone, but the way they affect me is different. I'm not seen as a procrastinator because my persecutor alter is aggressive in words but extremely productive, or as lazy because my protector alter had to front to make a business transaction. Most people wouldn't even notice those, but i would have no memory of either event happening. Total time loss. With MaDD I'd have the time loss and possible false memory but I would know I'm in a daydream and the person I'm playing isn't me, it's a made up person of myself in my head, and people would see me as lazy or procrastinative if one was triggered because I would forget what was happening and potentially end up in whatever world was made for hours. I wouldn't physically be active, only mentally in my own little world.

[@cherrielime]

@@abandonedchanneld8031 Yeah and I agreed in my comment with the notion they ARE 2 seperate things with their symptoms BUT WHAT I SAID was that they can stem from similar triggers/traumas that may be why she chose to put them in the same vid. Glad to see we both disagree with the original comment of them being the same thing.

[@abandonedchanneld8031]

@@cherrielime Why I worded it how I did, because I disagreed with certain points you made but not the comment as a whole. The two main points I disagreed with were that the disorders affect people in the same way, and that you 'go one way or the other' which would say you couldn't have both. (Which could very easily have just been one of those misinterpreted what you meant things, and I apologize if that's the case, cause rereading it and things it looks like it was haha, 2 am comments are never a good idea-) Cause the rest, 100%, they are not same thing.

[@Daisy-kg4ho]

I feel like I used my maladaptive daydreaming to cope with reality and now it's become dissociation. Now I'm constantly "disconnected from reality."

[@angelinafrenken3389]

I have this thing , I do this everyday . I listen to music or just sit somewhere and think of stories that are my ideal life . It really helps me deal with stress or other difficult things . I do not really want to leave this place .

[@koonic1747]

Same sis I didn't even know

[@rapunzelmane9592]

These are two different disorders, surely. Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder would be when you are daydreaming most of the day (when you are alone) but are totally in touch with reality (when necessary) and you only have one personality, not multiple.

[@autumn.ilyproj1227]

Rapunzel Mane thank you for clearing this up for me it was getting confusing

[@AH-wp7lw]

Perhaps it begins with one personality created through maladaptive daydreaming, to then form multiple that later loose touch with reality and dissociate into their own separate identities.... Leading to DID. DiD is said that each alter is essentially parts of themselves that never merged to form a secure self identity. This normally begins in early developmental stages of life and is a defense mechanisms against stressors. To me, it seems highly likely that untreated maladaptive daydreaming could lead to DID. In addition, it is also likely that MDD could not worsen and just remain a preference for some people to escape a tedious, boring or unsatisfying life. I believe that Katie chose to merge these too conditions in the one video because of how closely linked they both are.... They both are forms of dissociation, though at opposite ends of the spectrum.

[@loutenant2817]

Yeah, you only have a different personality in your daydream but you're completely aware it's some fake shit that will never happen if it's literally impossible. My current dream is that I'm some badass from TWD lol like "Yeah, fuck all you boring all characters, LOU TENANT is coming to save the day!"

[@WeRNthisToGetHer]

It's on the SPECTRUM as a mild form of dissociation. Some of y'all are so dumb. This IS in the spectrum of DID. Y'all are being so ignorant about what DID is and assuming things you don't know about and making all kinds of ignorant statements about ACTUAL medical facts. Denial is a coping mechanism for ignorant people who don't want to accept a DID diagnoses.

[@fellohumannotalien7749]

People with Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder are aware it's not real but they can't just snap out of it when it's time to go to school/work. It's not only when they are alone they can struggle to listen to a person talk because they are daydreaming.

[@gummybones2046]

There's a lot of misinformation in this video. DID is not going off into a daydream and imagining yourself as people with better lives. In fact DID has little to do with imagination. It's literally going through severe long term abuse as a child, and when you don't have the ability to process said abuse for whatever reason and come to terms with it, your brain to PROTECT you sections off memories of the abuse, emotions of the abuse, unwanted personality traits, etc (Or a more appropriate explanation is fails to integrate these experiences into a unified sense of self because it'd be damaging to the individual to do so). Those parts never integrate with the person's sense of self so instead the person develops multiple senses of self. Then when you add in that your brain puts up amnesia barriers or disconnects you from those experiences to protect you from what they hold, those parts don't see themselves all as the same person, but all as their own individuals. It varies on a spectrum where some people can have fragment alters that are more like single emotions or experiences, or some that are out enough can develop their own full blown personalities and names because they have the chance to respond to situations and become more of their own people. The disorder HAS to form in childhood when the kid does not yet have an integrated sense of self, but the disorder can present itself at any time in someone's life. DID has nothing to do with daydreaming. Yes daydreaming is a form of dissociation but daydreaming/creating alter egos/imagining yourself as different people/roleplaying is NOT remotely the same thing.

[@Warlanda]

+Gummy Bones you're right; my husband was diagnosed with DID in 2014 after 9 months of psychogenic fugue. there is still so much controversy in the psychiatric community about the issue of DID and many practitioners refuse to accept the reality of DID. what has helped greatly are the personal accounts of others with DID.

[@mishim896]

I agree it is not remotely the same and you have given a very informative description here. She did reference daydreaming more than once in relation to the extreme end of the dissociative specrum, DID, not just the MDD so the video was full of misinformation. I have never come across anyone that created some pleasant alternative universe their other parts live in, rather just other parts who are different with different needs. Granted all those I know with DID are in therapy so they are aware of their situation. It seems their systems work best when all their parts are heard and embraced and not rejected, which then helps them move forward in their healing. Sometimes there is a part that fronts that gets them through the working day or parenting. Yet many are not able to manage any of this. Often their lives aren't any easier when a headmate fronts, even if it is necessary. The video made it sound as though the person goes off into another better happier fake world and that's not the case, as you know personally. It is so much more complex and difficult than just losing time in another reality.

[@gemstones2942]

She misinformed two conditions here. MDD is the act of excessive, addictive and dissociative daydreaming, to the point of seriously affecting the person’s life, but it’s completely different to DID on multiple levels. As someone experiences MDD, your frustration I shared. Even in her example of MDD, it wasn’t an accurate one.

[@kirbycobain1845]

this video is honestly really confusing... maladaptive daydreaming and did are completely different things. im honestly really disappointed that you never distinguished between the two. maladaptive daydreaming is exactly what it sounds like: daydreaming. its an excessive amount of daydreaming that can interfere with someones daily life because they spend so much time in that other reality. DID on the other hand, is literally becoming a different person, or alter, and coming back later without realizing what happened. im not the best at explaining things, but honestly i was hoping you knew better. this video is very misinformative.

[@idou]

How do you know this? Are you an expert? Just want to know a little bit more of your sources, before I take a random person's word for it.

[@oopme2934]

Tony Chopper anyone that that MDD knows everything on the web about it

[@dr.jasleenkaur5874]

pingu bingu mdd is at the lower spectrum of did

[@figoilcappero6676]

i agree, mdd and did are two different disorders. If anybody wants to know more about maladaptive dAydreaming this blog madd-information.tumblr.com Is pretty informative, with sources from studies

[@nightelfkid4421]

pingu bingu I think she's talking about when the disorders go hand in hand

[@denisela3403]

Omg. I've been doing this forever. Since like 7. Thought I was the queen of daydreaming. I even do it when driving and shopping. Like I know it's not real, i can switch it in and off like a light switch, but I like to go to that zone because I can be who I want to be and create a whole family and city and neighborhood and career in a matter of secs and live there and then put it on hold for a couple of hours and go right back to where I left off, even though I find myself slipping when i should be focusing on something important. I think I've had 3 episodes of DID tho. Like I'd rather daydream than watch tv.. .. because what I've created in my head is a lot more better and sometimes more funny than tv.🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️ 🙈🙈 I never mentioned it because I thought I was the only one and mental stuff is frowned upon in the blk community and plus pple will be like just stop daydreaming. It's not that easy...... it now just happens without a second thought.... like it just happens automatically....and i get pretty agitated if I can't get my me time. Didn't know it was a thing.

[@stephaniebehan6673]

Just thought I’d let you know you most likely have MDD (Maladaptive DayDreaming Disorder) and not DID, these two disorders are very different from each other and you can’t just have episodes of DID. If you would like to learn more there’s a great KZbin channel that explains all about DID and their systems experiences with it. What you are talking about here is just a severe episode of MDD.

[@Mitsomnia]

I didn't know maladaptive daydreaming was a disorder. I have been doing this since I was probably 10 years old, 11 years. I never thought it was bad. It helps me feel better. It's better than watching TV. So weird... I don't even know if I want to "recover" because it helps me so much.

[@stephaniebehan6673]

Morgan Its technically not, you can’t go to a doctor and be diagnosed with it, there’s a bunch of different videos explaining it better then me though.

[@soshanicey]

I overcame maladaptive daydreaming!!! I did that for years and years, but once I started working with my therapist, the less I did it. Not intentionally. I didn’t intend to stop, I just gradually started doing it less when I improved my mindset. I do daydream still, but actual normal daydreams haha

[@AM-fh7ek]

so shanicey Thats amazing!! 😊 just proves how incredibly powerfull our minds are..

[@srich3399]

congratulations ...i m trying so hard to treat my madd

[@rubydreamt2440]

Same ! I used to have maladaptive daydreaming because of intense bullying but since I went to a therapist I stoped it and have normal daydreaming

[@sausage3298]

I’m so happy for you, trying to deal with it at the minute

[@Hakoona]

Can u give me some advice to deal with it please?

[@Kiba309]

I have MDD but don’t recall experiencing any trauma when I was younger

[@hottoast7880]

I know you said this like 7 months ago but I have some advice if you would like it. I have MaDD too and I used to think that I didn’t experience any trauma as a kid. But one day I realized that I did. Sometimes things happen to us that we don’t consider “trauma” but they have a traumatic effect on our brains. This can happen especially when we are younger. Maybe something happen to you when you were a kid that was “traumatic” but looking back you might not think it was that bad. Sometimes you have to look back at what has happened to you through the eye of a child.

[@KayeRottenbone000]

Vivid imaginations gives you an opportunity to go to another place which you can create yourself. I was really imaginative as a kid, and daydreaming became like an endless routine. It’s so fun and everything because the images are so vivid that you can visually create your own world. However, it’s also extremely shameful. I had to hide in a bathroom or lock myself in my bedroom whenever I had to daydream. But, I wouldn’t immediately say that it is DID. I’m quite aware of the barrier between the reality and my imaginations. I just find daydreaming a relaxing activity to cope with stress, anxiety and depression, and it also helps me stay creative when I’m drawing and painting. It also have helped me maintain my good grades at university despite that I barely study and procrastinate instead by daydreaming. It’s shameful but also a wonderful gift that some people wouldn’t understand.

[@virtualgamers9022]

You have explained me

[@s.1173]

Lol I can relate so much💯

[@pink2nt47]

This video is very confusing and misleading. DID and MDD are two different things. I'm very disappointed. I could be wrong but It seems you changed the title and thumbnail after the video was posted. So the video isn't even about MDD. Please make a new video clarifying. Very disappointing.

[@kylieshreves1701]

Ummm she definitely talks about MDD at 3:40

[@stephaniebehan6673]

kylie boehner it’s not overly accurate though and she compares it DID making it seem like they are similar things.

[@Amir-ali685]

I'm just realizing I have MDD. I always felt I wasnt normal or I over thought everything. Every thought turns to a long day dream, flashbacks on past situations reliving them and changing ending basically rewriting my life in head and I'm not a sad person and i like myself mostly. I would turn down situations to only daydream about what could happen if I did attend them, shutting down real world isolating myself from ppl to enjoy my alone time at times, trouble going to sleep and awake for days at times. Losing track of time, days and even years cause of daydreaming. Going into a daydream at work and see ppl mouth move not hearing a word they say and coming out of a daydream hearing ppl screaming my name... Everything is like a movie trying to rewrite mistakes or just better outcome or made up themes over and over for years. Remembering every little bad or good thing someone told me or reactions and i embarrassedly responded out loud a few times and ppl maybe thought I was crazy. Music, a word, tv, a face, even a smell etc triggered a long daydream. I basically focus on learning myself and problems now..the way I slowed the MDD down was learning most my dreams started in two places two unimportant places nothing special or embarrassing happen there but it was like the gateway to other places...so I dreamed of blowing the place to hell for good(my brain won't allow me to recreate it idk why), now when I think of place it's just a empty place with big hole in the ground. I go there still to think quickly about real problems in real world at moment but not hours like before on past and made up things.

[@ogi1337]

Any diagnosis since this comment?

[@jonv391]

What she described is exactly what happened to me. I had a traumatic and abusive childhood and I developed moderate MDD. When I worked through it, I went from MDing for most of the day to maybe an hour or 2 a day. I'm still improving, but I've come a long way so I'm quite proud of myself. Nobody knows I have this, it can be so unnoticeable. I don't have DID though, nowhere close. I only have the one real identity and one "fake" identity that I've always been fully aware wasn't real. It seems to me like there's a big difference.

[@dafunkyllama]

I think it's so strong and beautiful that so many people have commented their own experiences and struggles that they have had with MDD. I'm so addicted to it now that I can't even go a full minute without it happening and when I try to stop I get anxiety. I know I maladaptive daydream because I'm unfulfilled with my life and I'm afraid of people judging me. I plan on putting all my faith in God because I want to heal myself and anybody who is going through this. We can get through this together by taking it one day at a time. I've realized eliminating all instant gratification and being appreciative of everything has really helped me out. I just need to always love myself and the life I do have and I know it'll all go away one day. I truly hope the best for everybody on their journey and just know your imagination is what makes you special.

[@IDrankTheSeaWater]

I know people who have this. A close friend of mine too. And I was part of a forum for survivors of abuse and many of them had DID or were alters. Also they create what is often called "Alters" in their minds that are like seperate people/personalities. They have their own likes, ages, genders, talents and intelligence. Some can have different disabilities. Like one of the alters may need glasses when the others don't. They are able to show with brain scans the differences of when one alter appears or when it may be what is often called "the core person." The person with this will have memory gaps from when an alter takes over, or they may feel like they are watching it happen but not in control. Alters may contain the memories of certain traumatic events depending on the alter. Like the 3 year old could have the memories of what happened at that age and can if they chose, share the memories with the core person. Sometimes they are not aware of each other. Sometimes they can leave notes for each other and some journal entries may be of different alters. There is often what is known as "the protector." A more aggressive personality that takes its upon themselves to protect everyone and may come out in dangerous situations where they feel threatened. (Just a few more details) You can correct me if I'm wrong! (Loved the vid Kati. I linked it in mine)

[@RhayvenBlood]

Not all protectors come out only during dangerous situations. Perceived dangerous situations, those that are dangerous, etc. But we live our life just the same as everyone else. There's also emotional and sexual protectors. We're not always aggressive, either. If someone is fucking threatening our system, or there's a need for us to fight back, damn right we're going to. But it ain't always like that. -Shadow

[@IDrankTheSeaWater]

I'm sorry if what I said was perceived that way. Its not what I meant. I said they may come out in those situations, but not that they "only" come out in those situations. I'm aware that they have much more to them than that. I knew some on the forum for survivors I was on and they made regular posts about their feelings and lives outside of that aspect. Aggressive doesn't have to mean violent. It can mean just more able to say what needs to be said or do to make things okay. Standing up. Sometimes because someone else in the system is unable to speak up or maybe freezes. Hope that's more clear. Thanks for the reply

[@RhayvenBlood]

It is. Shadow is... He tends to take everything personal and as an attack. Well, when it is not clear of what the intentions and meanings are. Thank you for the follow up explanation, though :) You've always been kind in your explanations. -Mae

[@IDrankTheSeaWater]

RhayvenBlood Hi Mae. Its totally fine. He spoke respectfully in his comment, and if he hadn't of said anything it would never have been clarified. If I were In a position like his, and had understood things that way...I likely would have said something too.

[@IDrankTheSeaWater]

***** Hey Kati. ;) Glad it was explained okay. I didn't hear about the alters in the vid, so I felt strongly about adding. It was a great vid as always. Very loving. I linked it on Tumblr in a post I wrote about DID.

[@lori.anne36]

Thank Kati. I am so glad you are out there. You have helped me realize that I am so not alone. I am in my 40's and never really got the help I needed....until now. Thanks for all you do. Love ya Lorraine g xx

[@whitneysource]

As i work to heal my depression I notice that I am less and less interested in maladaptive daydreaming. it just feels kinda unessesarry to enter into a daydream . I also am able to notice the different things that trigger a daydream. Could this mean that depression is the root of maladaptive daydreaming?

[@lizziemich1914]

My main objection to this video is that often daydreams are not "a perfect life" they are almost always disturbingly dark and violent. This is just wrong.

[@gemstones2942]

That’s not really correct either. Her problem was describing only one kind of daydream. They can e many things. Daydreaming of an idealised self is common, as is daydreaming dark and violent things, as well as daydreaming completely fantasy things. They vary a lot and they’re very detailed and dependant on the person and whatever feelings the person is craving by daydreaming.

[@abandonedchanneld8031]

This is true, I've been through a lot of trauma from my daydreams.

[@catsareetuc7022]

Or maybe we’re just too lonely.

[@WhatIfItWasPurple]

I really enjoy that you say 'we' when talking in the perspective of the patient.

[@dianas.5476]

I have had 2 different day dreams since I was 12 and they are both me but they have different personalities. They both have different back stories and they both have a different personality. One of them is a version of me that I wish I was but it's not like she's perfect either. I take things that happen to me in my life and then think about how she would be. It's really weird and I don't know why I do it, but i do it subconsciously. I've even created people that don't exists in my mind and sometimes I think they're real but I always tell myself they aren't. I don't think it's DID but it's weird and I don't know why I do it.

[@philadelphia8375]

So. Don't now why either. But you're not alone.

[@mist__4974]

Its recreating your past

[@-.-_123]

So many people are doing/have this. I see this everyday.

[@fellohumannotalien7749]

Everyone daydreams but not to the extent of people with Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder. The maker of this video shared a lot of misinformation. Its not something people can snap out of when they need to and it's so excessive that its harmful.

[@fuddermucceri1646]

its not just daydreaming its a whole different world you walk in and feel, completely away from everyone but also with them in this place where everythings peaceful and makes you laugh or smile and its so real! i love being able to do that

[@briarpatch2009]

This doesn't really sound like MPD. I really like most of your vids, but this doesn't really come close to describing severe MPD.

[@onidaaitsubasa4177]

I quite agree. It is nothing like daydreaming. And I know from firsthand experience. I myself daydream sometimes, and sometimes my alters might daydream when they are in control. Being yourself, whoever that might be at the time is not daydreaming it is life. And I think the only way a therapist can have a good treatment is if they realize this. Then they can treat patients better. Alters also hate to be told that they are not real or not people. We are people who for some reason found ourselves sharing a body with other people. Sometimes to help them, sometimes just cause they needed us for some reason they might not have even realized.

[@_--ou9fw]

MDD isn't DID. I have MDD, and the best way to explain it is that I have created an elternate persona who's life I live in daydreams. I know that they are not real and they do not control me in any way, but I still live their life, just while still being aware of my real life.

[@gemstones2942]

Alisha It’s the same - it’s daydreaming. We all daydream. The difference lies in the amount, people with MDD daydream with a frightening amount of detail and intensity, and they will do so for hours every single day, almost as a sort of addictive habit that inhibits their ability to carry out tasks and be productive.

[@Jennypeepee]

Thank you for doing this one, Katie! I have been dealing with this for a really long time, I don't have alters or a "happy place", but in the worst of it I have gone on "auto-pilot" for days without remembering what happens. My dissociation starts with me sinking into myself. Like I'm sinking back into the wall or something. It's a really interesting disorder and people can be affected by it so differently. I was misdiagnosed for awhile with bipolar because I refused to talk about my trauma and it made the dissociation and panic from my ptsd so much worse. Super important to be 100% honest with your treatment team. Even if it is uncomfortable.

[@Myaburks1]

Maladaptive daydream basically daydreaming all day everyday not ever daydream is good some people have completely horrible daydreams that they can't control maladaptive daydreaming and D.I.D is 2 completely different things

[@bishamontenrozy5241]

oh god I had no idea I had this but this goes on everyday and you know what's crazy I wake up from dreams into it (I can am very aware and attentive, I don't 'lose control) but there are HOURS spent thinking about you know.. and I thought I was the only one. Sometimes daydreams make me laugh, cry, ect. Some times without even me realizing initially I encorporate my real life problems into my daydreams and I've recently noticed this and see how when I daydream I do not cencor my thoughts and the reality and hidden motives come for actions I take.This all started 3 years ago when my dad was diagnosed with cancer and things were tough I guess. I'd rather die than even talk about it irl. :)

[@mbuyimali2716]

I'm amazed by how on point the description of this disorder is with my experiences. I've had this dissociation since I was a kid and till now I never knew there was diagnosis for this illness. Thanks for this video Katie. God bless you.

[@PrittyPeas]

I suffer from this! I was recently diagnosed with DID and it's definitely answered a lot of questions I've had about my past. Severe memory loss on a daily basis. Complete change in views. I've donated all my clothing before and bought all new clothing without knowing it. Imagine my confusion the next day. And speaking of...imagine being a girl with multiple girl personalities trying to find something to wear. It's exhausting!

[@pastelpanda7309]

D.I.D is not just wanting to live in another world. due to my trauma I unintentionally created SEPARATE personality states. and some of them are not ones I'd like to "escape" to. like the dangerous thrill seeking sociopath(He seriously gives me a hard time)

[@pastelpanda7309]

+Pasteru Panda It is like having multiple selves if you were different people.

[@back2higherground]

+Pasteru Panda yeah i found this video was really mild and not at all what i was hoping it to be. DID is not daydreaming and doesn't magically disappear when you deal with your traumas. Alternate Ego States that are reluctant to work with the system on the whole, co-consciousness, losing major time, interjects, etc. etc. etc. such a complex issue.

[@gemstones2942]

She’s mistaking DID for MDD, a condition of excessive daydreaming that becomes addictive and seriously affects a person’s life. It does have elements of dissociation - a disconnect with the self, a split - but it’s very different from DID.

[@littlefishiesinthese]

the worst part of MDD for me is when I do it in public and I make some seriously strange facial expressions...

[@abdul2009]

Thank you for making this video! Also, what is currently helping me overcome my maladaptive daydreaming, is practicing being more self aware and also practicing self acceptance, plus having a good posture so I feel more at ease and thus morr confortable in my skin when around others, all helping me express myself more freely and move forward towards events I desire to go to, such as meetups to connect with people.

[@whatdoyousuppose]

She made a very informative video solely on DID as well and clarified that this older video was more about MDD but titled incorrectly. The two disorders aren’t super related but she went more on a tangent on MDD here and related the two a bit too much and apologized for all that in the newer video. Just so you all know!

[@kaimerritt8978]

I have Dissociative Identity Disorder and these are not the same thing. Maladaptive daydreaming is just what it sounds like where as with DID, you have zero recollection of switching into that alter (most of the time.) Although you can cure maladaptive daydreaming, DID can not be cured. Its is much like sitting in the passenger seat of a car. You can see what is happening but you can't control your body.

[@Olivetree80]

This is something that actually helps me, and always has, I don't see a reason to try to change it.

[@shylocie595]

Kati is right. Talk therapy really helps. I was diagnosed with DID 20 years ago. I had no quality of life but after a few years of talk therapy the DID just slowly disappeared! I am happier than I have ever been.

[@lecochonbleu]

I think the huge difference between MDD and DID isn't made as clear as it ought to be in the video. I'm repeating what others have said, but it's important. You can talk about spectra and how one disorder or behaviour is like another disorder or behaviour in a certain way or ways, or how one related to another. But I think it's really important to make clear the huge distinctions - categorical light years away - between these two defined states. To me the context of the video, whether intended or just accidental - somehow.. - can have the effect even of suggesting an agenda. For example, someone who may be pulled into daydreaming significantly, this is really very far from anything like DID, but not being clear on that might open floodgates for enabling some to think one state is comparable in a way to the other. In other words, it might be thought by some that the daydreamer is "on the DID trail or route or somewhere in that ballpark, if nearer the fringes rather than the centre" so to speak. I also think it's dodgy to suggest so strongly (or appear to) about DID arising from daydreaming types of dissociation. I think that's theory, and I don't even think a predominant theory. There are other theories, and this is not known and is likely to be something too complex to be ever known (even where various therapies based upon certain theories would turn out to have good, clear success rates).

[@laurenj432]

I feel like I’ve been maladaptive daydreaming everyday for multiple hours for the past few years but I don’t think I’ve had a specific traumatic event happen to me that would trigger this

[@gorpop789]

I've had exactly what she explained happening to me almost my whole life, I'm 12 btw, but I've never really had that big of a traumatic event happen. I was basically just kinda alone my whole life so I made this whole other reality. Then, I started to use it whenever things would get tough or someone would yell at me. Lately, my life has been very hectic and I've been suffering from a lot of mental illnesses and I feel stuck. It's like everyday I find out something else wrong about myself and I don't know how to fix it. Now it's just become an obsession of mine and it's just consuming my life. Everything I do revolves around this other reality and it feels so real to me. Every few months I switch up the reality and most of the time I base it off movies or shows and add in things I've seen in my real life. I will literally spend my whole day and night just focusing on this reality. I write books about them, I spend hours both maladaptive daydreaming and normal daydreaming everyday and can't stop, I incorporate songs with it, and I've tried to talk to my family about it but they don't understand. I keep telling my mother about it but she just doesn't understand and shuts me down or switches the subject back to her.

[@Nightwatcher20]

I have MDD. Been daydreaming since I could remember (18 now). Never had friends, physically and emotionally bullied, witnessed a family friend's daughter die-- never got any sort of counselling for any of it. I dd literally every waking hour, hence why I don't really sleep or eat and I am rapidly deteriorating in terms of school work. But I never want to stop daydreaming. It's the best part of my life and if I get rid of it... I don't know what I'd do with myself. It's a huge part of me. Nobody's heard about MDD, so they just label me as crazy or schizophrenic and just a waste of time, because I'm not motivated to participate in real life activities. Everyone's just given up on me. In my daydreams, I have friends that don't leave me, I have family that I adore and I even have therapy in my dd's and they always understand what I'm going through. In any case, if I had the choice, I would rather die and live in my daydreams than live in reality a day longer. It's so lonely in this life.

[@amydennis7888]

Kind of annoys me all these people saying they have it in the comments. I have DID and have used maladaptive daydreaming my entire life. It gets to a point where you can't control it; your characters pop up out of nowhere, you don't eat or shower because you're too busy daydreaming, you listen and allow your characters to influence you, and you experience severe withdrawal symptoms when you don't complete the required amount of dissociation for that day. I have strangled, slapped, bruised, cut and attempted to stab myself as my characters. When their wellbeing comes before yours, or their behaviours are more prominent than yours, then I'd recommend seeing somebody. Everybody has a fantasy world they are embarrassed to talk about - it's normal. Losing control is not.

[@cedricburkhart3738]

Amy Dennis Yeah I have a fantasy world. But is it normal to have 100 Or more fantasy worlds? It's not really a peroblum but I definitely have a lot of them.☺ There a lot of fun. What you described sounds really sad.😢

[@jeaniebird999]

Shit... I spend MOST of my day daydreaming. I definitely do it on purpose. I am so stressed and so unhappy with reality that I use fantasizing as a safe escape without negative side effects, like drugs. I don't have anyone or anything else to turn to. Also, I'm completely DONE with doctors, therapists, and MOST IMPORTANTLY... Prescription drugs! I trusted doctors and did EVERYTHING they said, including ECT, for two decades. They ruined my quality of life and NEVER FUCKING EVER helped my depression. In fact, now that I can no longer trust even doctors, my anxiety and mental health is worse. And yet I'm finally drug free and feel wonderful, physically. Fantasy makes time pass quicker and NOT thinking about life, thinking about something else ALTOGETHER, is ALL I can do, since I'm stuck doing it all by myself. If the only help that's out there are doctors and therapists that take more money than they give in help and drugs that ALWAYS cause more problems than you fucking started with, then there's no hope for me.

[@noahzurfluh1288]

Thank you Kati I have this. Now under Medicine for My Anxiety I realize it. That nothing wrong with my my Medicine will heal me from this Maladaptive dreaming. You don’t know how much you helped me with this video. I realize so many things now. I know Now I became this so 8-9 Years old. And every Time I were stressed out I was going into my Dream world. So thankful for that. 🧡🤝💪✌️😎🍀😇🌎🌍🌏☮️🙏

[@juliag4436]

Thank you, Kati, for such a compassionate and comprehensive video! I would like to be a therapist just like you, and spread awareness about mental health issues. Thank you for being my inspiration!

[@laianepeixoto698]

Weird, I daydream since I was younger than 6, and I do not remember passing through any traumatic experience. For sure that affect my life, sometimes is hard to stop and do something productive. But I think I managed to find an equilibrium.

[@lvelystars3882]

I need help please. So, I'm a young 12 year old kid who's scared and worried at the moment about my mental health. I've always been really curious and nosy and my life is greatly impacted because of that. When I was younger, my greatest fear was my parents separating and (because of my curiosity I went on the Internet to understand things so I learned about very dark topics) my mother being in a sexual relationship with someone else or being raped. As I got older a lot of bad things would happen in my family that I'd investigate when I shouldn't have, I had to know everything. This resulted in me being the first one to find out my brother did drugs, my father was sick in the head, and my mom was in a Stockholm syndrome type of relationship with my father. I was 9 when I found all that out, and that's when It happened. At that age, I couldn't believe that my family was that messed up, I would sneak around and get more information but the more I learned the more traumatizing things I saw

[@lvelystars3882]

The fact that everyone in my family acted like everything was normal messed me up more, I became angry and sort of hostile towards my parents for doing things like: having "it" in the same room as me when we went to a hotel room because they thought I was sleeping and I had to listen to them as I cried silently because telling them I was actually awake would make everything extremely awkward. All this sort of trauma and being so informed or being so "experienced" with such weird sexual stuff as a kid really messed me up. I then got into Melanie Martinez (her music sounds childish but talks about dark themes), at the time I was really depressed because of everything that was going on in my head and I gripped onto music to get me through it. I then tried to escape what was going on through my life through music and tv shows to distract myself. At that time everything going on in my family sort of blew over and nothing really traumatic ever happened.

[@lvelystars3882]

+Løvely Stars Since I gripped onto these shows and fandoms so much during that time they also are part of my messed up side of my mind. I think I'm crazy? Whenever I see posters or pictures of characters from shows where the eyes are facing my direction it feels like they're real to me and I sort of talk to them? Not directly but as if I was talking to myself and wanted someone else to hear. I know this sounds weird and honestly just typing this is scaring me. I spend hours during the weekend with my eyes closed laying in bed imagining these alter ego's of myself in different universes doing cool things with people in my actual life. I also show signs of social anxiety and I try to tell my parents that I need help but they think I'm overreacting but I fit every symptom for it and it's getting worse. I know I need help, I'm scared that I'm crazy and I want to get help but my parents would never let me get therapy because they'd think I'm just overreacting.

[@lvelystars3882]

+Løvely Stars I'm genuinely concerned I have this disorder and I don't know if I can really come to terms with myself that I need to stop this daydreaming. It's just so much better than my real life and I can't let go or stop.

[@OkamiSamaa]

Hi Lovely Stars :) I'm 22 and a female from England. I am not a healthcare professional, but I can't ignore your comments, you're asking for help and I would like to help in any way I can. It sounds like you've been exposed to things that we as a society try to protect young ones from - mature content. It's debated as to whether hiding these things from children to protect their innocence is a good thing or not - sex is natural, perhaps hiding it can traumatise a person if, like you, they find it by accident without having it explained to them in a controlled environment. Seeing or experiencing these things upfront without knowing what they are, can be shocking, scary, disgusting or even traumatising. It sounds like this, amongst other points have traumatised you. Do not feel guilty or ashamed or scared - you're already actually way ahead of many people who experience trauma - because you recognise the points at which you were traumatised, and you recognise the issues that are directly related to your trauma. You are even well on your way to researching and identifying your issues - and that's a GOOD thing! One thing I should mention is, do not try to self diagnose. Instead, you MUST see a healthcare professional for these issues! Does your country offer free healthcare, like mine? If money and travelling to the doctor is the issue, you may need to speak to your parents again about it (though I would definitely encourage doing so anyway) - if not, perhaps there is a way that you can ring your doctor and ask for a home visit? Remember, it's your right to see a healthcare professional, and it's also absolutely your right to confidentiality. The brain is an organ and it can get sick just like a heart, or a lung can, and it's also imperative that you receive treatment, just like a heart, or a lung. You don't have to tell your parents WHY you would like to speak to the doctor, you just gotta tell them that you want to speak to the doctor. Don't let them get in the way of your recovery. It's important you do NOT try to self diagnose. I would suggest, that you sit down together with your parents, and explain to them that you are struggling, and that it's really beginning to impact on your day to day life. Your parents simply don't understand, or give you credit for how these things have impacted you, so you need to help them understand that they need to take you seriously. Again - if left untreated mental health problems do not just "go away". If they are having issues with understanding you, maybe finding a video such as this one to show to your parents would help them to see that you are asking for help, and they need to take you seriously. You can even show them this comment, if you feel like it. If you have someone you trust, perhaps a different family member you can tell, or a teacher, then do that! If you want to just talk, I'm happy to do so (this is an open extended hand to anybody else reading this who just needs an ear but please bear in mind that I am NOT a healthcare professional.) you can find me on twitter @ogwolfattack. I wish you all the best, Kami.

[@thewrathofbombast]

Sounds like you learned about this things at a time where you were not mature enough to process them. 9 is very very young. Also, when we are young we tend to idealize adult relationships. Once you become an adult you become a little bit more understanding about certain things (for example, humans make mistakes and sometimes they make them knowingly and not even themselves can explain why they made them).

[@onidaaitsubasa4177]

To call it a daydream isn't exactly accurate and a bot misleading, only those who have DID can understand what it is like. Some sufferers of DID actually do live more than one life, how they find the time to make 2 complete lives I really don't know. Some might even have 2 families or be married to 2 different people and not even know it. A daydream implies that it is all made up but it is not made up, it is a real life and is usually just as real to the alter and the people that know them. It is more like handing over the reigns to someone else that happens to have a timeshare in your body. A person with DID might even have memories from the alters and vice versa, or they might have a fuzzy memory, or not have any memory or be aware of the others. Then each personality will think they are alone and the main personality in that body. Some people with DID ate able to talk to the others with internal dialogs and sometimes it will slip and the personality that is out at the time conversing out loud instead. Sometimes an alter might appear to fulfill some deep subconscious need or desire. An emotional trauma such as a bad fight might trigger an additional personality to emerge. The inability to have children due to physical problems might lead to a child alter emerging. And it is possible to argue, or agree , or form strong family like relations with your alters, especially if you can converse with them. Some are more of main personalities and can control or monitor the activities of the others. some are non main personalities and only have as much control as the main personalities allow.

[@nadinehurley]

Onida Aitsubasa maladaptive daydreaming and did are two different things. She's not conflating the two but describing them on a spectrum of dissociation.

[@piyuu3814]

At first i thought that it was just normal until i spend a day only to daydream. There are times that i spend my whole dayoff daydreaming. I was addicted to it. However i started daydreaming about detailed scenario of my death many times. After getting back to my real self i felt scared and searched it up. I discovered MDD and read a lot of similar stories. However i refuse to take any actions. I can't live without my alternate universe, i just can't. My daydreams kept me feel alive. Without i don't think i would make this far.

[@dewisupriyati6792]

As someone who daydreams (and still daydreams) I’ve come to the realization that MDD isn’t a mental disorder, you could get addicted to daydreaming and that in itself could cause a multitude of problems, which I myself deal with. But, MD happens because we have repressed emotions, loneliness, emptiness, we can’t express certain emotions except in dreamland. Of course I can’t speak on behalf of everyone but please read more about fantasy addiction, all the pacing and daydreaming and triggers etc..they all make sense when you start reading more about it rather than accepting it. Hope this doesn’t offend anyone, just trying to help people who think they suffer from a “mental disorder”

[@dewisupriyati6792]

She mentions in the video that MDD can be cured if you fix the core problem. MDD is a coping mechanism, you daydream for a reason. It’s eaiser to accept this once you actually figure out why you daydream, and then things start making sense. It may be a mental disorder, it may just be a coping mechanism due to trauma. I personally believe it’s just a coping mechanism.

[@justagirl1516]

Oh. My. God. I used to do that. I never pretended to be someone else to other people but just to myself and I used to do that all the time, every day. I had a different name and everything but no one else knew because I didn't want to seem crazy. I couldn't wait to get out of work and the real stuff I had to deal with so I could go back to "my little world" I stopped when I moved and things settled down and now I don't have a need for it.........I thought that was normal behavior. #mindblown #holyshit

[@RhayvenBlood]

I hope you do not take "Wanting to pretend to be other people so you do not have to deal with the world" or otherwise living in a fantasy land as Dissociative Identity Disorder. Because that is not at all what DID is... by a long shot. I really hope she makes a follow up video correcting the mistakes she's made. Or at the very least, the very misleading comments. -Mae

[@justagirl1516]

RhayvenBlood I'm not saying I have DID. I know I don't. I'm saying I went through a time where I was always living in my own day dream. Don't be offended. and thanks ***** you are always so helpful and have been there for me for a long time and I really appreciate it. (:

[@RhayvenBlood]

Ah. Sorry about that. Really misinterpreted what you were saying :/ -Shadow

[@justagirl1516]

RhayvenBlood its okay, it happens! I'm sorry if this is something you struggle with and if so I hope you find help. We are all here to learn and get support so if you ever just want to talk, I'm here.

[@RhayvenBlood]

Yeah, it is. (hence others signing their names :P ) Either way, you're right. Really supportive channel (Which is really nice.) Either way, thanks again for explaining things! :)

[@kellynickell8195]

UR Awesome. Literally, I'm in awe over.how much I've learned! Thank you

[@MissStillAlive]

I was starting to feel really hopeless and I honestly really missed your videos... Glad you're back :)

[@csandreas]

Katie...this was really interesting!

[@gabbiefulton8604]

Hey Kati please do more video on this.

[@SMALLYOUTUBERARMY]

So good to hear this talked about without feeling that a complete mockery has been made of this, cause I am part of a mental illness recovery program where I have a ton of friends, but outside the program I can not interact at all because I am in this war against evil lifestyle.

[@kaylaliebs]

I absolutely love your intro, the piano makes me feel so relaxed.

[@reannarerexxx9505]

I have did and that's not how it is you cant chose youdont want to do you don't choose to go there it just happens its scary and screwed up u end up in places and u have no idea ho u got there u do stuff and don't remember most people with did do NOT choose to swap it just happens and in my experience I would love to get rid of my did just would really like to emphisise this as this was not mentioned in the vidio

[@Amira-km9ym]

Me watching this and telling my friends in my alternate universe about it 😬

[@prachiadapwar8149]

...And explaining them by giving them their own example about how they are not real because we are so crazy and aware at the same time...

[@superangora]

Me telling the “family’s” in my alternate universe 😅

[@MartiKokoro]

I never realised how distressing my life at home was until I moved to another city to go to uni. Not long after "leaving the nest", all the trauma I had bottled up started coming to the surface, and this was also thanks to a special person who was there for me and believed, cared and understood my struggles. Up until that very painful moment of realisation, anger and grieving, I had been maladaptive daydreaming. I just now realised that I suddently stopped at the exact time at which I started recognising my trauma and my suffering. I didn't even know that spending several hours per day fantasizing about a different life was something abnormal, and I wasn't aware that it was a defense mechanism, I honestly thought my life was perfect (or rather, I had convinced myself of that). I remember daydreaming everytime I could, on public transport, in class, right before going to sleep... and I would also cut out time during the day dedicated to laying on the bed and just daydreaming, fully awake. I would even tell my mother, who was used to seeing me spend a lot of time in my room apparently doing nothing, "I'm thinking", or "I'm going to my room for some thinking time" (which is ridiculous now that I think about it). Now that I don't feel the compulsion to daydream anymore, I almost think of that time with nostalgia, because daydreaming was extremely pleasing and rewarding. But honestly I'm happy to be in a much healthier place now, mentally-wise. Going through the process of realising the trauma was very painful. Extremely painful. I had the worst years of my life. But these three or four years of pain and struggle have been worth it.

[@pamisolester6651]

Thank you so much for this video Kati. I used to day dream a lot as a child. It started after I dissociated during traumatic event for the first time when I was 10 yo. It was so helpful at the time but it had two huge side effects as well for me. I lost connection with my emotions and I went numb which is a big problem for me now. I also have a very bad memory and huge parts of my childhood are lost due to me being "little out of it" all the time. I don´t remember teachers, friends, summer camps, places I have been to etc.

[@JamieZoeGivens]

and I thought it was only creative visualization.....

[@nimu-chan3888]

I have managed to go to a psychiatrist a couple of times without mt mother knowing, because I am not allowed to go to the doctor for some reason.. I was diagnosed with DID, and my mother somehow got to know about this, and now I am not allowed to go anywhere without her to have a treatment, and she's always putting me down like I am taking it. How can I fake that for so many years? Having a mental illness isn't fun! What should I do..?

[@jameswillis3650]

Psychiatry maybe crap. Use alternative medicine. Probiotics may help. A clean diet seems to be one of the best methods though. Whole food Vegan diet has been claimed to cure cancer, diabetes, mental health problems.........

[@exastrisscientia9678]

Omg I really feel for you. I'm so sorry you're going through this, it sounds incredibly tough. Is there a phone number you can call anonymously like "lifeline" or someone you can talk to through the hospital, or school or community organisation? You have the right to seek treatment for your condition. No-one has the right to hinder you in that process regardless of who they are or how old you are.

[@brikets5315]

James Willis No! Someone with DID needs a therapist! A lot a things 'have been claimed' to cure lots of illnesses. I don't know why you should even leave this comment if the issue is something else entirely. Also if psychiatry is a load of crap, why are you watching this channel?

[@jameswillis3650]

Briket S I have a split personality. I have experience on this topic. Therapy and drugs most likely will not do much, therapy should have good results on anyone even healthy minded people but it won't do much to ''cure a split personality'' Drugs can give a temporary high, but eventually that high may just become normal. Psychologist have a doctorate level degree focusing on human behaviour. If you want therapy they maybe the best option. Nothing may work, DID may not even be an illness. But if you want your body to run better, drugs and therapy are not your bodies fuel, use better fuel to have your body run better. Eating nothing but fruit is the best, easy to digest, mostly water, high in nutrients.....

[@brikets5315]

Even if someone's DID can't be cured they should still try and find someone who can help them deal with and manage it. I have experience with being diagnosed with an incurable illness and my therapist has been very helpful. Just because it didn't work for you, doesn't mean it can't for someone else. I agree that a healthy diet and just taking good care of yourself is very helpful though. It is for me anyway. But different things work for different people.

[@chanuppuluri8726]

I've been in DBT for a while, and I find that it's helped a lot! I don't have DID but it's helping immensely with the maladaptive daydreaming. It takes practice to stay present, and it gets better over time.

[@redanbluexoxo8009]

ive been having trouble daydreaming lately and this is why. thank you for helping me to understand

[@aprillewis7588]

Can I ask why you use a Monarch Butterfly at the start of your 🎥

[@aliisakalma8245]

april lewis illuminati huaaarghh

[@frederickanderson2813]

I have D.I.D and it's like a another person living in my body that can take control I Don't rember anything I do at that time it's like another me but evil an blunt

[@rickyevans1096]

Frederick Anderson I experience this too. In my experience, it is the part of me that the conscious "me" does not care to acknowledge.

[@briellewools]

i do that same thing only i have several and they all talk to each other.. I've wondered if it's schizophrenia but it's not like i actually hear them, it's more like i have multiple thought processes going on at once.. it's really scary and if i switch to another "me" i have no memory of that day, or week, or sometimes month(s)... i don't know what to call it.. i used to think it was this but this sounds totally different..

[@4TEiight48]

... i don't have D.I.D but something of simpler nature has ha-pend to me. in it happened and then was gone all in the time span of 3 hours the change o cured when i went to the store with a friend... i wanted them to die for all those 3 hours i don't know about you but to me after words i hated my self for wanting anything bad to happen to my friend.

[@Anthonywood589]

I have Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder, Ive learned to control it and use them for my comedy skit ideas, then I make them come to life on my youtube channel. Im trying to turn my disorder into a career.

[@AmandaDixson]

This is exactly what happens to me everyday! This has enlightened me a lot on my mental health.

[@CodeDarkBlue]

Don't care what you say, I'm not gonna stop.

[@xlipsyalicex]

is it normal to be really scared of doing to the trauma therapy i feel like i almost want to bury my head in the sand and pretend like it doesnt exist when i know it really does i have to do other therpay first they said before i do trauma work

[@xlipsyalicex]

thank you

[@Jobe-13]

I like that you state that mental disorders exist in spectrums. Very good and crucial information for people to know.

[@sheilaodonnell4219]

I'm echoing some other comments here, but my psychologist described DID as being distinct from maladaptive daydreaming. My understanding is the DID is not something the person can control, and is not a conscious choice. It doesn't happen when someone says, "I prefer this other dream life, so I'm just going to hang here." It's a compilation of personalities, often one that represents the child that was traumatized, one that represents some sort of "protector" that will come out when the person feels threatened, the "baseline" personality, etc. That's not daydreaming, maladaptive or otherwise. My psych said trauma treatment is best, but it's usually EMDR or something to that effect because talking about the trauma outright will be too triggering and CBT can't work if you're honestly not in control of what's happening to you. CBT is for maladaptive behaviors: DID, losing time because another personality has emerged and completely taken over, etc is not a behavior one can stop through will power. DID can improve with trauma therapy, but this video is not at all representative of the things I've heard trained professionals say about it. (not just my psychologist). BTW, I don't have a DID diagnosis. I dissociate but it's PTSD dissociation/ flash backs. I'm working to learn to ground when I feel them coming on, but sometimes they really do just blindside me. Even that isn't something CBT is super helpful with b/c you need to be able to identify the antecedent to change your response. Otherwise, your fight/flight/freeze kicks in and you're just along for the ride. I feel like this video would feel incredibly minimizing to someone living with DID. Just a few thoughts. I really enjoy your channel, but I've both worked in trauma informed mental health and am a trauma survivor and mental health patient and this just doesn't match the things I've learned in my own treatment or in my professional training. I'd appreciate some clarification if I'm missing something. Thank you!

[@mommymaks]

I have MDD I'm 14 it's not bad, but i have to have it every day about an hour. And every time I'm in there the world I create is always different, also in that world "sometimes" I'm a guy... And I'm like what the? Help me😭

[@mommymaks]

Is that even normal?

[@suprajaadesing9447]

Cringy AF It's not normal and please get help. I started having mdd at 10 and I'm 22 and I just got over it

[@amritmalhotra3582]

Suprajaa Desing how did u overcome it

[@hellothere4485]

+Cringy AF hey hope you're better now just please ask for help

[@robotneva]

+Suprajaa Desing mind explaining the-association process you experienced?

[@heatherallingham7120]

Couldn't watch this...the title says one thing but you start off by saying you're going to cover something else...you lost me right there. Sorry.

[@ilovepinkroses5167]

You're videos validate and just make my brain clearer and ok! Like it's just healing☆

[@madsx6438]

I looooooved writing when I was a kid, I still have moving boxes full of marble notebooks fully written in, and I don't remember when, but at one point I started thinking "what would (one of my characters) do in this situation?" Because they were all braver and smarter and bigger than me. I was constantly grounded for little things and spent hours in my room with nothing but my bed as punishment, and eventually that became the only place I could focus and calm down (even now, I'm shut in my bathroom, with the fan on and earbuds in). I started playing pretend, acting out chapters from a story I was writing in my own head to see what they would do, in my mind it was a writing strategy, and I'd take turns being each person. It seemed harmless enough, keeping myself company as a kid, but now I'm 22, and still pretending to be these characters, still locking myself away to play pretend to calm down or distract myself. I feel absolutely batshit when I realize I've soent 4 or 5 hours doing it

[@jodouglas67]

what are you talking about? DID and MDD are NOT the same thing! DID doesn't make you like in a happy daydream world and then you don't want to leave because it's so good.... that's simply NOT DID. if your going to make videos please get your facts right otherwise it's just disrespectful. you are describing here MDD not DID! DID is created by trauma. usually in early childhood and continued but not always. one large trauma event can cause a person to dissociate (forget) the trauma event. this trauma even then creates a separate person or alter to live with that trauma event. that person is usually the age the person was at the time of the trauma event. that personality doesn't grow as the host person does. therefore all through their childhood they are seen as immature. there can be hundreds of personalities in any one hist person carrying much trauma events all of different ages so the host can grow up thinking life is fine. until usually early twenties when it all comes out. the person switches between their alters and begins to act as those alters, usually children, frightened and traumatised, it makes the host loose time, have mirror shock and generally in its self is quite traumatic. with therapy to each of those alters and allowing them to be individual in their own right and to heal their trauma they calm down and live together as a system but simply talking with a bit of CBT doesn't make it "the end of it" what you describe in your video is MDD please don't mix up the two disorders.

[@aprilrain4296]

That butterfly on your opening....... MK Ultra...

[@XOChristianaNicole]

Which, DID is a result of MK Ultra/Project Monarch..

[@aprilrain4296]

Ms. Chris Cole I will refer you to Doug Higgs,,,, his website has all the answers you seek.

[@KayleighBA92]

Hey Kati, I love you! :) Thanks for making all these awesome video's to educate us!

[@emmahedgecock7091]

I also wanna say that just because this doesn’t seem like DID I LOVE your videos, you’re doing such a service to humanity and so amazing for giving us your time, and I don’t want my only comment so far to be critical 🖤 this is just a topic I feel close to and apparently you announced it was different from the comments but I just wanted to say that.

[@THECRAZYNARWHAL34]

Ok, for some reason I felt the need to post on here and honestly I hope people see this post and respond I wanna know what other people with this disorder have to say. I definitely have this disorder, it's like you can make a movie in your mind and watch it all day, I have made multiple little universes that have grown and became more realistic since the age of 12 I also quite often picture myself in scenarios. Being famous on a talk show, traveling to a far corner of the world, seeing myself in the next 20yrs being successful, etc. But I would not consider MDD a "disorder" it's a skill if used correctly. There is no doubt in my mind that some of the most talented directors and writers in Hollywood have MDD. Where did you think George Lucas came up with the crazy idea of star wars??? Also ya kno those daydreams that involve you? The ones where you are traveling or are in a scenario you would like to be in? Get off your ass and do them! Turn your daydreams into goals and pursue them! MDD can be a skill when you learn when to stop dreaming and when to start doing

[@thewrathofbombast]

I wonder what's the "logic" of the brain to act like this and cause dissociation. Also, does it affect people who are more "sensitive" to things? What causes this sensitivity? So many questions.

[@ramonvargas6865]

thewrathofbombast you're right....people that are sensitive are likely to have a lot daudreaming....when we go through an event and we take it so personally we want to imagine a world where we rule that event for example, you see wrestling or a football event you think like....ohhh I will be the greatest player in the world, with Lamborghini, a lot of women or men, lots of friends without even thinking how hard your work to get them....once daydreaming time is over, then you're like ohh snap....2hat happened. maladaptive daydreaming is something serious to worry about sometimes.

[@truth1305]

It's true I daydream to much

[@agampreetkalra1819]

I think we should create a support group online. Talking about this, helping each other help to cure with each other’s stories and trying. I think it will be very motivating it’s gets really hard when you are trying to give up -but it’s already under your skin. It’s addictive. I think it will also be liberating for many to talk this to someone who really understands.

[@maryannepadilla1493]

There's a lot to my personal story like any other person does. I may one day be ready to share it. For now, I just wanted to comment that this video by far is the closest to me to understand what's really going in with me. I want to say thank you for this and what you are doing. I will be looking for you on all your social media because I think you can help me along with my other supportive factors.

[@soulassassin0g]

Wow, there's a "disorder" for everything...

[@katrinpiars9118]

I have this condition as I was in grade 3-4, I was one of the children who were mostly bullied in school, I think that's why I have MD. At first, I started thinking of a child as innocent, I thought it was, but with time I became addicted, imagined myself as a participant in my favorite animation among people who understand me among friends, even I've come up with a different name. I have been in love with my arms for three years (let's call it X because I'm not ready to reprise the name I gave it to). It's been 6 years since it all started. I spend 1 to 3 or 4 hours per day in my dreams. I'm already a second year in high school, I'm not bullied, I have great friends, I even had a boyfriend for about two months, so I split up because I could not give me the closeness I had with X, I want to really want to find it but it's not may happen because it is not real, and I think this is the most painful thought of all others. I can dream at any time but I usually do it when I'm alone, just hanging out in a room if I'm hindered or interrupted I get irritable and nervous when it happens at school I usually get away from my friends to get loneliness to be able to return to the world in which I really feel myself, but at what cost, sometimes my friends think I deliberately do not want them in my life, ask me the question of "why countries from us" or "why walk away, wait for us, "" what are we no longer pleased with, "and me I can answer them, I can not tell them the real reason and then I feel I raskasana minted between two worlds. When I was studying this psychological state, I found a video asking "If you can choose between the two worlds you live in, who would choose" if they were asking me when I was 10 years old. I would have chosen the illusion without thinking, but now ... the truth is I do not know I want to be and in both places I can not say what they give me, I want to be able to merge the two worlds into one.

[@aoliver1203]

I never knew I had this until I watched this video! As a child of about 6 years old, I would stare into space in my classroom and move my hands side to side as my arms were down. I would then make strange faces and sounds when I daydreamed. My teacher would see this and thought that I was having a seizure. I even had an EEG done with wires attached with glue to my head. I was not diagnosed with seizures. My doctor told my mother to ignore that teacher (this was in 1977). Later on in my life, I told my mom that it did look like I could have been having a seizure, as I work with students with disabilities who do have them at times. I was big with daydreaming as a child and now I notice that I daydream as an adult, especially when I’m driving and the traffic is heavy. I catch myself doing this at work once in a while and I quickly stop if someone is around. My usual daydreams are being able to be a gymnastics star, flipping over and over (which I cannot do at all). The other big daydream that I have is being able to be an amazing figure skater. I can skate, but not that well.

[@marieacoleman1292]

My MDD needs no triggers. Happens anywhere, everywhere, anytime. It is stimulated by reality though, changes with reality, mood, ect. It’s super embarrassing sometimes because I’ll say things out loud and my face will change. I sway back and forth or full on act out the conversation between people in the dream. I can do this eyes open or closed. It distracts me in the midst of doing anything. Worst of all it’s caused other mental issues like depression and anxiety. So yes, it’s very life consuming.

[@jesterex_8750]

I do this weird thing where when I wake up, I spend almost 30 mins before school having an entire conversation with someone in my head, with little movements and like when I'm getting ready, it also happens, and I almost always miss the bus

[@Mysti13x]

I have been told that I may have DID. I have not been diagnosed. My new therapist did a quiz thing and she told me that she is taking my results to her supervisor. I can't remember things from my childhood, but other things I have an amazing memory (seriously even if it has been 20 years since I have been somewhere I will remember the way and what happened there even if I only went there once). It drives me insane not knowing what happened to me to cause this. I have memories before and after incidents where afterwards I feel sore and dirty, but I can't remember what caused me to feel that way. I dissociate in everyday life and 25 to 100% of a day can be spent either in my head or watching myself do things I have no control over. I miss my old therapist. He was helping me a lot. Now I have gone more into my shell and part of me hates my new therapist. I am way to scared to say certain things, because she has already said something negative to me about my old therapist, so that kinda just scared me a little. I am scared that she will think that he put the idea of DID in my head and that maybe I have false memories etc. I just ...yeah not in a good place right now. I am just not handling life. The only time I am fully present is when I am doing the books at work (I work in a bookshop with a cafe and love sorting out the books and making pretty displays) or when I am chatting to either my boss or one of the other staff members. I just want to be fully present for life. I want to actually be a part of life instead of feeling like I am watching someone else live my life.

[@TheMarry40]

thanks Kati. I spent 32 years trying to find the answer to my maladaptive daydreaming (obviously not knowing it was this).I found the answer in the phrase dissociation.I then spent the next 1r4 years thinking MD was a kind of dissociation but not exactly knowing where on the spectrum. well just last week I was finally diagnosed with DID.I suppose I ought to have known but didn't fully.I thought maybe DDNOS but not full DID surley.oh well I'm now trying to come to terms but feeling hopeful now I have the diagnosis.No more denial (eeek). thank you for this video. xxx

[@SK-bf6md]

for me, it’s like ocd within the mind..when i don’t get a scene right, i have a desire to replay until i get it right. it takes days perfecting every moment. i can’t move on until i’m satisfied. it is tiring and i can’t help it. i day dream specific characters with backgrounds and what i want their purpose to be. i often need a perfect face for it. i daydream things that are impossible from my reality, it helps cope with my losses but at the same time realizing it’s impossible is heartbreaking. my body physically reacts to it, meaning if my character was crying, i would tear, if my character was angry, i would feel anger.it’s really too much for me.