Excessive dreaming disorder: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Excessive dreaming disorder is one of the most prevalent clinical conditions today. In general terms, this condition affects many people due to the symptoms that appear at the most unfavorable moments of the condition. As a consequence, negative situations may develop that impair performance in various areas. areas of daily life, such as work, education or social and family relationships, among others. In this sense, several investigations have been carried out to understand the origins and possible approaches to this problem. While it is true that each human being has characteristics that differentiate them from others, there are certain indicators that are common and shared. Having valid and concrete resources allows you to overcome obstacles in a more enjoyable way.

In this Psychology-Online article we will provide you with information about the disorder of Excessive daydreaming: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment.

Index

1. What is excessive dreaming disorder?
2. Symptoms of excessive dreaming disorder
3. Causes of excessive dreaming disorder
4. Treatment of excessive dreaming disorder

Excessive dreaming disorder consists of a clinical condition characterized by presence of constant and dysfunctional fantasies for everyday life. In other words, these types of thoughts coexist with the person daily and prevent them from carrying out social, cultural, work and family activities. In this sense, this problem places emphasis on the difficulty that manifests itself in establishing accurate contact with aspects of reality.

In contrast, the name of this pathology is linked to the persistence of a state similar to sleep, which is why fantasies are equated to nocturnal dreams. However, despite all these qualities that have been described, There is no delimitation about this diagnosis framed by the DSM-V.

To detect this clinical condition in time, it is essential to understand the manifestations that arise at the level of emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Next, we will talk about the symptoms of excessive dreaming disorder:

• Appearance of daydreams during much of the day.
• Difficulty establishing an adequate distance from daytime fantasies.
• Lack of contact with reality.
• Few social relationships.
• Emotional expressions linked to daydreams.
• Interest in artistic materials.
• Deterioration of work, social and family relationships.
• Lack of attention and concentration in activities of daily living.

Despite the description made, the isolated presence of any of these symptoms does not imply an excessive dreaming disorder. In this sense, the evaluation of a health professional specialized in the subject who takes into account the particularities of each case becomes essential.

Contemplating the origins of this diagnosis helps to find solutions that allow an improvement in the quality of life of those who suffer from the symptoms. In this section, we will point out the causes of excessive dreaming disorder:

Environmental factors

They may have occurred traumatic situations in the past that left traces on the person. In more concrete terms, this includes the sexual abuse, rape, verbal attacks and physical, organic diseases or any other unpleasant event that could not be adequately prepared.

In turn, the imitation of behaviors of significant people in the environment Social and family play an important role in the generation of this problem. Therefore, observing the symptoms of excessive dreaming disorder in another person can function as a source for the reproduction of the same behaviors.

Organic factors

Neurological diseases are one of the bases of this condition. In this sense, it is possible that the person has alterations in the Central Nervous System that negatively affect the processing of external stimuli. This is directly linked to the suffering from cerebrovascular accidents, since they affect the synaptic connections between neurons in the cerebral cortex.

Genetic predisposition must be taken into account to understand reality processing. If any of the person's parents have been diagnosed with this pathology, there is a high probability that the same sequence will be repeated.

Despite the difficulties that this diagnosis entails, there are approaches that enable remission of the symptoms involved. In the next items, we will develop the treatments for excessive dreaming disorder:

• Psychological therapy: The therapeutic device consists of a space that invites reflection about personal aspects that generate inconveniences in the development of daily life. Likewise, therapy provides tools that allow us to cope with situations of anxiety and/or stress in a more enjoyable way. For this reason, a specialized health professional can guide the patient in finding solutions.
• Psychiatric medication: In cases of considerable severity, the provision of psychiatric medications may be a viable option. In short, the objective is to modify the functioning of the central nervous system to reduce the intensity of the symptoms. However, the supervision of a health professional is essential. Here you will find information about the different Types of psychotropic drugs.

This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Excessive dreaming disorder: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

• Vázquez-Rivera, S., De la Vega Rodríguez, I., Garcia Villamor, M., Díaz-Marsá, M., Carrasco-Perera, J.L. (2020). Excessive daydreaming disorder: Clinical and neuropsychological characteristics of the first case described in Spain. Journal of Clinical Cases in Mental Health, 1 (1), 21-36.