Has COVID affected your MD?

[Blanca Margatroid]

I had MD almost completely under control, or so I thought. I started therapy, addressed the things in my life that made me fantasize, gained some self-esteem, and I started spending my days in the real world instead of the fanstay one. I only daydreamt when I was bored, but I was able to go back to reality without problems. I really thought I was over it.

But now with COVID I've been working from home since March. My friends have left the city I live in, because they're working from their parents' home. I don't see my coworkers anymore, obviously -even though we have online meetings, it's not really the same. I can't visit my family, because they live in a different city, and here in Spain it's forbidden to go to another state. (I'm not criticizing it, I understand we're in the middle of a pandemic, I'm just saying what it is). 

So I feel isolated again, and I have started daydreaming again. I feel so bad about it, just when I thought I had it under control. Anyone else has experienced a worsening of their condition because of Covid? Let's chat about it! 

[Theaxe]

I can imagine for a lot of people, there have been a shift in habits. Like most people who MD, I can do it anywhere, the trick was enjoying it more if I could have privacy. Even when I did work in an office, if I had some alone-time then that alone would trigger me to start daydreaming.

Blanca Margatroid said:

Hi Theaxe, so then you are really used to work from home! In my case we went from going to the office everyday to work from home and never see my colleagues again in months. It was a huge and sudden change.

[Dreamer]

Yes! I am 36 and have been a daydreamer or, "pretender," as I used to call it, since childhood. For the past six years, though, I had it under control and it wasn't taking over my life as much. The pandemic for sure has increased my time spent daydreaming. Old themes of my day dreams having come back. I've just been allowing myself to enjoy them rather than distress about them. They must be helping me to cope in this new world.

[Cain]

It's more or less the same amount for me too. While commuting to work I often caught my self daydreaming after long intervals. When I'm at home I catch myself more frequently and more often.

Now that we're alone, maybe we're just getting more aware about how often we DD? Just an assumption. 

[Martha M]

Yes, Covid isolation has caused me to even stop trying to control it. I am retired and live alone. My family does phone, and I have zoom calls with friends but I have many many hours to myself and the daydreaming has most emphatically gotten worse and I no longer have any incentive to rein it in. I think the worst part is that I’m not sleeping enough because I’m laying in bed daydreaming. I’m glad you posted this.

[Blanca Margatroid]

Exactly, it is the same for me!

I enjoy my daydreams when they don't take such a big amount of time in my everyday life. When I can't even concentrate in work, or when I daydream during a phone call or such, that's when I start to worry.

Dreamer said:

Yes! I am 36 and have been a daydreamer or, "pretender," as I used to call it, since childhood. For the past six years, though, I had it under control and it wasn't taking over my life as much. The pandemic for sure has increased my time spent daydreaming. Old themes of my day dreams having come back. I've just been allowing myself to enjoy them rather than distress about them. They must be helping me to cope in this new world.

[Blanca Margatroid]

HI Cane,

so then you're not teleworking I assume. Yeah, commute to work usually was a time to daydream for me too.

Maybe we are more aware, especially now that we know what MD is. But I certainly know that when I had more "social life" (just by going to work, or the gym, or whatever) I kept the daydreams to a minimum.

Cane said:

It's more or less the same amount for me too. While commuting to work I often caught my self daydreaming after long intervals. When I'm at home I catch myself more frequently and more often.

Now that we're alone, maybe we're just getting more aware about how often we DD? Just an assumption. 

[Blanca Margatroid]

Martha, I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I can totally get why we wouldn't even try to stop daydreaming since the news seem to get worse everyday. At least you have family and friends to count on. And yeah, sleepless nights are also a given.

I don't know if this helps but I found that writing in this forum and getting in touch with you guys also helped me a little.

Martha McCulloch said:

Yes, Covid isolation has caused me to even stop trying to control it. I am retired and live alone. My family does phone, and I have zoom calls with friends but I have many many hours to myself and the daydreaming has most emphatically gotten worse and I no longer have any incentive to rein it in. I think the worst part is that I’m not sleeping enough because I’m laying in bed daydreaming. I’m glad you posted this.

[Lisa Tomlin]

Actually I have put the pandemic into my daydreams. I might change it a bit or something but its in there. I live alone so it gives me company. 

[Liz]

Oh gosh! I couldn't imagine having MD and not living alone!
I find the pandemic has made it more socially acceptable to stay home and get nothing done.

[Lisa Tomlin]

I know what you mean. 

Liz said:

Oh gosh! I couldn't imagine having MD and not living alone!
I find the pandemic has made it more socially acceptable to stay home and get nothing done.