The Burn Out Blues

[Stormy]

I really hate this part.

The burn out phase. I am burning out of the current DD for now. It comes in cycles. I won't let it go. And I don't feel like going to a standby and haven't been inspired by anything new. I usually hang on to the current DD's for at least a year or so. Sometimes a break of an old standby for a night or two. But I go right back to the current after that.

But this is when I go a few weeks sometimes with barely DDing. I will have a comfort scene I always go to for when I lay down to fall asleep. It's my falling asleep scene. My MC's in the DD are also about to fall asleep in this scene I replay. Most of the time when I get to this point of the burn out phase it doesn't take long of that scene for me to pass out and not even finish it.

But I feel so EMPTY when I am not DDing with zest and purpose. I feel like someone who hasn't had their cup of coffee all day. It's horrible. In these periods I do read more and catch up on my favorite shows. But it doesn't do wonders for my mood around people.

Anyone else go through something like this? The cycles of activity and pretty much the "coming down" of a very active state?

[Sky with Diamonds]

I can relate to this on some level. There are times when I find myself getting annoyed and even bored with DDing. But that never seems to last long. This usually happens when im looking for a place for my mind to go, instead of it taking me there. As far as changing DDs and holding on to some, ive had some of the same ones for nearly ten years now, and even thoughs ones evolve from time to time. But that's my own personal issues of not being able to let go.

[Aquarius]

This is interesting. I think I almost seamlessly switch to changes in the scenario or sometimes parallel plots. But Stormy what u can do is channel this burnout phase into something positive. Like use it to practice control over your MDD. When the burnout phase happens try extending the no DD days.

What u seem to saying is that MDD isnt a coping mechanism for you, its practically a fulltime active participative mechanism. In the long term this dependency is going to hurt you. The more you rely on it, the lesser you will interact with the real world. And that aint good

[Jennifer]

I find it amazing that you are able to move on from daydream to daydream. I've become too attached to my characters and my scenario. I have thought about moving onto another one, but I can't. I'm so attached that I've been playing around with the same scenario and characters for 8 years now. It's insane.
I sure do hate the feeling of when I am too busy to daydream, so I can't imagine what a burn out feels like. You will find some inspiration soon! YouTube, music, movies and books all help with inspiration.

[Candi Alexanderia]

So dang true

[ShellyBelly]

Hmm, I'm not sure if we have the same thing but for me, I have certain fantasize I stick too for months and new ones come. Like when I was a kid, all of the zombies in "Thriller" were my best friends and then one day I got older and that wasn't my fantasy anymore. It was something else. I don' really think I have experienced burn out because the shift seamlessly from one to another.

[OhMyMagenta]

Wow. I am currently in the burnout phase myself! I absolutely loathe being without the comfort of a DD that has avenues yet explored. It's annoying when I don't have something to go to that gives me that special feeling; that daydream "high" when you experience a really great scenario.