Superpower or escape from reality: What is maladaptive daydreaming? | DW Documentary
Many people daydream. But excessive daydreaming can become a burden. This is because the exaggerated mental digressions, termed Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD), often get in the way of real life.
Protagonists Amber, Sian and Dušan share their experiences, living lives cut off from reality. Combining intimate interviews with scenes from their day-to-day lives, ‘My Dark Beautiful World’ not only reveals what Amber, Sian and Dušan daydream about, but also documents their journey towards coming back to reality, unpacking what it is they’re really escaping from along the way.
Although the fantasies in daydreams can also help to organize thoughts, reduce stress, process events and wishes and inspire creativity, the film shows that ‘too much of a good thing’ prevents people from mastering their everyday lives and completing important tasks. And if the hopes expressed in daydreams aren’t fulfilled, it can even be a trigger for depression.
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Video “Superpower or escape from reality: What is maladaptive daydreaming? | DW Documentary” was uploaded on 07/11/2025 by DW Documentary Youtube channel.