i have recently learned that all my imaginary friends that i have a very deep connection with and have gone on many adventures with and all my fantasies and daydreams to dissociate at work have most likely been me maladaptive daydreaming.
i've been doing this for years, probably since childhood. i'd watch a movie and then go act it out in my room afterwards. i'd spend weeks studying a broadway script and then perform the show as my favorite character for a make believe audience. i've starred on successful tv shows and movies and met all my favorite celebrities while attending a live-in hogwarts like school for performing arts that's hidden away from the real world.
when graduated high school and got a job, i didn't have time for these adventures anymore. but my closest friend from all of it has been working at this job with me for almost 2 years. we applied together, got interviewed together, had orientation together. we worked the same hours until i switched to a department with inconsistent hours. i keep telling him he should come to this department, but he likes his role on the evening stocking team.
we're like steve and robin from stranger things. but he's not real. and i know he's not because nobody else can see him but me.
it goes away whenever i'm with real people. real friends. but my imagination always starts to wander as soon as i'm alone or feeling overwhelmed. i didn't know there was a term for it until now.