The Pathological Loop: How Maladaptive Daydreaming Contributes to Emotional Anaesthesia in Adolescents
Abstract
Maladaptive daydreaming is a frequently misunderstood psychological state in which vivid, immersive fantasy begins to displace real-world functioning. While often dismissed as an overactive imagination, prolonged engagement in internal fantasy worlds may trigger a significant psychological consequence: emotional anaesthesia. This state is characterised by persistent numbness, detachment, and reduced affective responsiveness.
This paper explores the conceptual relationship between maladaptive daydreaming and emotional anaesthesia within adolescents. By examining reward circuitry, dopaminergic stimulation, and avoidance-based coping strategies, it argues that excessive fantasy engagement may dysregulate emotional processing while diminishing sensitivity to real-world experiences. Over time, this can produce a self-perpetuating cycle of emotional withdrawal.
This research seeks to reposition maladaptive daydreaming as a significant, though under-recognised, contributor to emotional numbness in modern youth.
This paper explores the conceptual relationship between maladaptive daydreaming and emotional anaesthesia within adolescents. By examining reward circuitry, dopaminergic stimulation, and avoidance-based coping strategies, it argues that excessive fantasy engagement may dysregulate emotional processing while diminishing sensitivity to real-world experiences. Over time, this can produce a self-perpetuating cycle of emotional withdrawal.
This research seeks to reposition maladaptive daydreaming as a significant, though under-recognised, contributor to emotional numbness in modern youth.
Keywords
emotional anesthesia
emotional anaesthesia
maladaptive daydreaming
adolescent psychology
emotional numbness
affective flattening
dissociative absorption
psychiatric symptoms teens
Citation
56 CitationsMeena, K. (2026). The Pathological Loop: How Maladaptive Daydreaming Contributes to Emotional Anaesthesia in Adolescents. Global Youth Science Journal, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18628515
Meena, Khushi. "The Pathological Loop: How Maladaptive Daydreaming Contributes to Emotional Anaesthesia in Adolescents." Global Youth Science Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, 2026. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18628515.
Meena, Khushi. "The Pathological Loop: How Maladaptive Daydreaming Contributes to Emotional Anaesthesia in Adolescents." Global Youth Science Journal 2, no. 1 (2026). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18628515.
Meena, K. (2026) 'The Pathological Loop: How Maladaptive Daydreaming Contributes to Emotional Anaesthesia in Adolescents', Global Youth Science Journal, 2(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18628515.
@article{GYSJ2026Meena,
title={The Pathological Loop: How Maladaptive Daydreaming Contributes to Emotional Anaesthesia in Adolescents},
author={Khushi Meena},
journal={Global Youth Science Journal},
volume={2},
number={1},
year={2026},
url={https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18628515}
}
TY - JOUR TI - The Pathological Loop: How Maladaptive Daydreaming Contributes to Emotional Anaesthesia in Adolescents JO - Global Youth Science Journal VL - 2 IS - 1 PY - 2026 UR - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18628515 AU - Khushi Meena ER -
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