Maladaptive daydreaming, dissociation, and obsessive-compulsive disorder

In the second ISMD members’ webinar on 9^th May 2024, ISMD President Prof. Nirit Soffer-Dudek will discuss the relationships between maladaptive daydreaming, dissociation, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In this webinar, Prof. Nirit Soffer-Dudek will discuss related mechanisms such as changes in embodiment (the sense of being in your body), decrease in the sense of agency (acting automatically), intrusive imagery, and the concept of certainty.

Webinar / 2 / Could focusing inwards make you feel less in control?

Description – Thoughts about maladaptive daydreaming, dissociation, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Speaker – Prof. Nirit Soffer Dudek

When – 9th May 2024 – 5 pm GMT 

Duration – 90 minutes

Join our Webinar!

As with all our webinars, this event will include a Q&A session where you can submit your questions about maladaptive daydreaming directly to Prof. Soffer-Dudek.

Click the link below to register for Prof. Soffer-Dudek’s webinar and receive the Zoom call link.

Did you miss the last webinar?

Don’t worry! If you missed our first members’ webinar with Prof. Eli Somer on 29 March, you can access the video recording at the link below.

Please note that you must log in to access the page:

Confirm attendance | Watch the last webinar

Confirm attendance | Watch the last webinar

Why we are talking about this?

Over 50% of people with maladaptive daydreaming may also suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or a related disorder^a. Research has also highlighted the similarities between maladaptive daydreaming (MD) and dissociative disorders^b.

When we attend whole-heartedly to our internal perceptions, images, or sensations, we are inherently reducing our sense of presence in external reality, somewhat similar to a hypnotic trance. This can be useful and adaptive in many situations, but for some people, it becomes excessive, as in MD, certain dissociative experiences, and OCD.