Could maladaptive daydreaming be connected to OCD?

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I’ve noticed that many ppl who have ocd might also daydream a lot! Maybe it’s the repetitive thoughts? Sometimes I like to go back to one specific scenario over and over again until it’s just right, or I replay a short audio/music video a thousand times if the scenario in my head doesn’t fit what I wanna imagine. Tho I feel like this repetitiveness also counts as a compulsion of some sort, and I wonder if writing and drawing could help me not waste hours daydreaming. And it’s embarrassing to be caught pacing around your room, esp if your super excited about a specific scenario…

ezzieorsomet...

Date posted: Yesterday

Pacing solidarity! Well, here's a thing. I pace around my room and do something simliar and i'm autistic and have adhd. I do exactly what you do. Listen to music and come up with scenarios, ides in my head. Which is a normal part of having an imagination. My ocd usually messes with my imagination though because it makes me repeat things like you. The having to do it over and over may be related to ocd but I actually think what you are describing (in general) sounds more like something that might be linked to some neurodivergence (daydreaming is common in creative autistic and adhd folks) than specifically ocd. (Except maybe having to repeat the scene over and over) Not making a diagnoses just sharing my experience . It's not necessarily a waste of time it's a stim and a creative outlet. But you can start recording the ideas! What i like to do with my scenarios is get a journal, write them down, and later i can use them as a reference to write out prose . I write a lot so i just use that time as fuel for my writing. :) I hope this helps

Pinni

Date posted: Yesterday

@ezzieorsomething I’ve always suspected that I have ADHD, but I have no way to confirm it irl for now anyways, but hopefully I will! And writing down my ideas did really help a lot! Intrusive thoughts got into my daydreams once and I got horrible anxiety after it, so I don’t feel like I can do it anymore for fear that something may happen again, and plus it takes so much of my time away from my studies and family so I’m hoping that I can slowly let go of this habit (even if the urges kick in, some audios and songs fit specific scenarios so much that my brain can’t help it lol)

ezzieorsomet...

Date posted: Yesterday

@Pinni Well, I am not a clinician and can't diagnose! But, symptoms of adhd can show up as inattentiveness and frequent daydreaming. There's loads of other symptoms that come with it that I won't list exhaustively here. Intrusive thoughts seem to hijack the same channels that cause an adhd mind to wander. Random intrusive imagery is so upsetting. I totally feel you. I can get intrusive thoughts in the middle of daydreaming (something disturbing out of nowhere that totally ruins the mood). I can't say one way or another if quitting totally is the solution. Moderation might be key? I've always found for me it's centering, and hate when OCD gets in my way. Feeling the need to avoid it may be OCD as well, to prevent the intrusive imagery. Do you want to kick the habit because you feel compelled to get be productive ? But either way, I suppose I can say it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Maybe setting time to sit around daydream walking so it doesn't interfere with the rest of your life balance.

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