Daydream to Canvas: Creative Expression in Maladaptive Daydreaming
Daydream to Canvas
Creative Expression in Maladaptive Daydreaming
If you live with maladaptive daydreaming, you already know how vivid your mind is. You build whole worlds and complex stories in your head. But when you try to turn them into real-life art, like writing, drawing, scrapbooking, something gets lost. What you make on paper never matches what you saw inside. That gap is frustrating, and it makes a lot of people give up on making things entirely.
We are holding a simple one-hour workshop to tackle this issue.
This session is not about technical skill, and it is not about making something perfect. It has one main goal: to help you understand your brain so you can get your thoughts out of your head without overthinking.
What we will cover
The Science of Creativity
We will dive into what creativity actually is, what happens in the brain when you create, and how maladaptive daydreaming changes this process.
Removing Creative Blocks
We will talk about why bringing your daydreams into the real world feels so hard, and how you can overcome these obstacles.
A Quick Art Exercise
A simple prompt to help you map out one piece of your inner world using words, sketches, or collage.
The Italy Exhibition
We have an exhibition in Italy made specifically for daydreamers. We will share how you can submit your work and show your world to others.
Open Chat
A casual space at the end to ask questions and connect with others in the community.
This workshop connects to something bigger.
Maladaptive Daydreaming Italia and the University of Padua are hosting “The Shapes of Maladaptive Daydreaming” — a first-of-its-kind exhibition at the University of Padua this October. It is open to all daydreamers who want to share their creative work: drawings, paintings, writing, and more.
During this workshop, we will walk you through exactly how to take part. Learn more about the exhibition →
Meet the Speakers:
Saumya Jaiswal has a background in clinical psychology and works as a counselor, but her real perspective comes from living through the same mind loop. Having spent years navigating maladaptive daydreaming, she went on a personal journey to untangle her brain, overcome MD, and bring her true creativity back to life. Today, she combines clinical knowledge with lived experience as a mindset coach, guiding others to move past internal blocks, understand how their minds work, and turn their vivid inner worlds into real, physical creation.
Valeria Franco is the Vice President, Treasurer, and head of Communications at ISMD. Valeria founded the first non-profit association for Maladaptive Daydreaming in Italy. A former MDer herself, she is committed to spreading proper information about MD, leading Italian and international online communities since 2016. After a Master’s degree from the University of Padua in Cultural Tourism Management, she received a Counseling Diploma in order to provide better support for people in her communities. She is an art communicator and works as a marketing and communication freelancer, specialising in the art and non-profit field.
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