Maladaptive daydreaming is a behavior in which a person becomes excessively absorbed in fantasies created by their own mind. It can cause a person to lose several hours of their day and, in some cases, interfere with their personal and professional life.
The main symptoms of maladaptive daydreaming include having very vivid daydreams and moving, making facial expressions, or making sounds while daydreaming. A person may also disconnect from what is happening around them many times a day or for long periods.
Other signs of maladaptive daydreaming include feeling a strong urge to daydream, as well as shame or guilt about these daydreams. The person may also be unable to control or stop the habit of daydreaming.
However, maladaptive daydreaming is not officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder, and a detailed evaluation may be needed first to rule out other problems that may be related to this behavior.