Escapism? How do you heal?

Hi and thank you for reaching out!  I know how tough it can be to reach out and recognize that something needs to change.  The fact that you're here right now is a good thing and a step towards the direction that you want to be going.  A disclaimer to keep in mind as I write my response -  since I don't know anything more specific about your situation, my response will be pretty broad.  Asking open-ended questions and purposefully asking you to think about things is intentional.  While necessary at times, part of the therapeutic process can be painful and challenging, especially when you are doing the work.  I am sharing this with you because it is important to know that going in and hopefully in turn would not be as overwhelming as it could be. 

The first question I want you to ask yourself is - when did you start to notice that your daydreaming was beginning to affect your day to day?  From what you described, you're saying that you have a sense of missing something or someone, but can't put your finger on it.  You also say that it leads you to being sad or agitated when you weren't in that world you have created.  Have you ever experienced a loss of any kind?  When you think about it, "escaping" is a coping mechanism that we use in different circumstances.  It could be for when we want to run towards something that we don't have (yet) or when we want to run away from something.  These questions could be the tip of the iceberg in terms of where this is coming from.  The reason why this is important is if we are able to start addressing the root cause(s) of this, then we can start looking at other ways that you can cope.  Coping in and of itself is not a negative response; however, sometimes if we don't know any other way to respond to a stressful situation, we will turn to a familiar behavior to help us feel better.  There is no doubt in my mind from what you shared that daydreaming and escaping through social media is comforting to you. 

Besides the daydreaming and social media scrolling that you do, do you have any other hobbies or interests?  Do you also have a support system, even if it is just 1 person to whom you can speak?  Developing a support system is vital to help in not feeling like you're in this alone.   I also think this is where working with a licensed professional can be very beneficial in your journey towards healing.  Even though this won't happen over night, I think if you are able to connect with a therapist and start doing the work, you will head in the direction you would like to go.  

To recap everything I shared - It is okay to question things, it is okay to cry (as well as experience ANY type of emotion, whatever that may be), it is okay to feel stuck and not know which direction to go.   Especially as a young adult trying to navigate the current world, it makes sense that social media has become a main source of your "escapism".  Now that you have acknowledged that you need to heal, this is where the work begins.  Figuring out the reason(s) for escaping and being able to process can be a very cathartic experience and it is here in therapy where you would be able to work towards whatever goal(s) you see fit.  Good luck with your journey and know that you are not alone in this.