Maladaptive Daydreaming Made Me Fail My Exams…

A-Level Exams and Maladaptive Daydreaming

The speaker describes failing their A-level exams after spending long periods immersed in vivid fantasies that disrupted their studying. They identify this pattern as maladaptive daydreaming, which helped them avoid stress, anxiety, and other difficult feelings.

After their first attempt, they began preparing to retake the exams and made several changes:

• Face difficult emotions instead of escaping into fantasy.
• Break large workloads into small tasks. Complete one manageable task, then gradually add more.
• Keep going after an imperfect day. If plans or wake-up times go wrong, make the best use of the time remaining.
• Study according to your energy. Even one or two hours on a low-energy day can reinforce the habit of trying.
• Ease the pressure by lowering expectations. The speaker found it easier to study after letting go of a specific required outcome.
• Be kind to yourself and focus on the present, taking life one step at a time.

The speaker has completed their second exam attempt and is awaiting results. They feel hopeful about pursuing their desired degree.

Presenter and Sources

Penguin’s Diary; Robert Frost; David Allen (Getting Things Done); Maya Angelou.