Trump has begun another trade war. Here's a timeline of how we got here
Canada's leader laments lost friendship with US in town that sheltered stranded Americans after 9/11
Chinese EV giant BYD's fourth-quarter profit leaps 73%
You're an American in another land? Prepare to talk about the why and how of Trump 2.0
Chalk talk: Star power, top teams and No. 5 seeds headline the women's March Madness Sweet 16
Purdue returns to Sweet 16 with 76-62 win over McNeese in March Madness
"'Raw dogging' isn't just internet slang anymore. The peculiar practice of enduring long flights without any entertainment has exploded on social media, with millions of travelers now choosing to sit and stare rather than stream and scroll. But experts warn this trend, combined with 'maladaptive daydreaming,' may signal deeper issues."
The technique of "raw dogging," which involves passengers deliberately staring into space for up to 12 hours without entertainment, has emerged as an increasingly popular approach among air travelers. This practice often accompanies another phenomenon called maladaptive daydreaming, where individuals immerse themselves in elaborate imaginative scenarios during their journey.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, "Maladaptive daydreaming is a behavior where a person spends an excessive amount of time daydreaming, often becoming immersed in their imagination." The practice has found particular resonance among women travelers, with some observers noting it represents an even more unusual travel hack than traditional "raw dogging."
Social media creator Makenzie, known as @speeckofsunlight on TikTok, demonstrated this behavior in a 15-second video. "POV: You use the train ride to stare out the window like you're in a movie and make up scenarios for over an hour," she shared in her video overlay text. Similarly, content creator Eden Fox documented her experience, describing how she uses journey time to "create 15 different plot twists to a situation that ended 6 months ago."
The trend has generated substantial engagement on social media platforms. In the comment section of Dr. Sermed Mezher's video explaining maladaptive daydreaming, which has accumulated over 6.4 million views, users have openly shared their experiences. "I've been maladaptive daydreaming my entire life," one commenter wrote. "I still do, but instead of it being scenarios of real life, it's characters I've created, and I go to their world." Other users reported emotional responses to their daydreaming sessions, with some noting physical reactions like rapid heartbeats and tears.
However, neuroscientist Mark Williams provides a cautionary perspective on this trending behavior. "Maladaptive daydreaming occurs when people use daydreaming to cope with a mental health issue such as anxiety," he told Escape. "They will often spend hours daydreaming when they are at work, school, or with loved ones rather than interacting with the people around them and getting real work done in real life."
Williams emphasizes that while these practices might seem appealing, they shouldn't be celebrated, particularly for individuals managing mental health concerns. "It is a way of escaping reality and not a healthy coping mechanism. Normal daydreaming only becomes maladaptive when you are using it to cope with a mental health issue, and it starts impacting your everyday life in significant ways. It becomes an intrusive and regular occurrence during normal activities," he stated.
The neuroscientist encourages travelers to explore alternative methods for occupying their time during flights, suggesting that while occasional daydreaming is normal, excessive practice could indicate underlying mental health concerns requiring professional attention.
