I can't seem to do anything

[Mira]

I've been trying not to daydream on my week off, but now that's resulting in all sorts of anxiety crowding in, angry thoughts, weird ideas, etc. I got a few things done. But most of the day feels wasted. I could hardly sit down and concentrate on a book. I literally have no concept of how to relax in real life. :(

[Bee]

@Source Maybe, but I feel, there's no better trigger for MD, than anxiety over how much you MD.

It's like when you're not trying to think of something, but then it becomes the only thing you can think of. You're trying so hard not to think of the DDing, that your mind gets stuck in that mode and you can't really get immersed in anything else. Like I said, it becomes an odd feedback loop.

When you take a breath, and when you do DD, don't beat yourself up - the anxiety, anger and doubt levels drops a bit and you get some space back. At least that's how it works for me. This isn't so much about 'controlling' the MD, but rather reducing the anxiety that comes from disparately trying to contain it. If you succeed for a few minutes, rather than beating yourself up - pat yourself on the back. Victory! ;)

It's not a perfect solution and it might not work for everyone.

[Source]

Bee, I think the reason why zapping out of MD creates all those problems is because if you do it you're left with a humongous amount of effectively empty time, which MD used to fill. And since you have nothing to do to fill that time, you wonder "what the hell am I going to do with all this time?", and there you go, daydreaming all over again. Besides, how do you relax your grip on it if you don't have any?

[Mira]

Thank you. :)

[Bee]

I'm about to say the most counter intuitive thing ever - don't try to stop yourself from day dreaming. I know it sounds crazy.

What I find when I try to force myself to stop, is that I only get anxious and do it even more. It's a weird feedback loop and I end up feeling like a total looser for failing.

Keeping yourself occupied and encaged is important - if you feel like you're drifting too far and fast, find something else to do for a bit or DD, but set a timer. You could try to remove some triggers, but I usually find it's an unpractical and short term solution. MD always finds a way.

I'd try and slightly relax your grip on it and give yourself some space to breath. Don't over analyse it - I feel like MD loves to latch onto stress.

That's my two cents, if it helps I'm happy, even though it might not have been what you wanted to hear. This is a complicated one.