To think having an imaginary partner is okay?

[AvaJune]

Right, I really really REALLY don't know if it's a good idea to post what I am about to post but I think I gathered all my bravery so here it goes.

I've been with my partner for 4 years. I love him and he loves me. We had our ups and downs mainly because of his job. He travels abroad loads (1-2-3 weeks/ month it depends) with his work and I wasn't really coping well with it. It was always an issue right from the beginning of our relationship. I struggled up till about 5-6 months ago when I started having an imaginary boyfriend. I sort of just daydream about him when my partner is away. It comforts me and makes me miss my partner less. It also helped our relationship loads. I'm much less upset when my partner goes away. Also not getting upset over stuff like not calling me or not immediately answering my messages. I know it sounds bad (and it is) but before I expected him to call and text all the time. Don't get me wrong we still speak when he's away but I'm not putting pressure on him anymore and I feel so much better about myself now.
On the other hand tho... does this count as emotional cheating? Am I ok ? Do I have mental issues? Or I'm fine? Anyone has experienced something like this before??

OP, I do this too. I have two other alternate lives that I dream about, complete with partners, houses, careers etc. I'm very happy in my real life too. I just like to imagine other possibilities. I looked up maladaptive daydreaming and I'm 100% sure I don't have it. Daydreaming is only a problem if it interferes with your real life. I'm also curious about what other 'normal' people think about when they can't sleep!

Having a vivid imagination and fantasy life isn't worrying, (we all daydream/fantasise occasionally) unless it takes over and you retreat from real life. I'd also think a fantasy of 'perfection' might leave you dis-satisfied with everyday real life not measuring up, so in a vicious circle, you retreat more into fantasy. If it works for you, then fine. If it's stopping you addressing major or ongoing issues maybe it's healthier to address those things rather than retreat into fantasy .

I'm not sure I'd classify myself as normal, but i think about work, things I need to do, things that occurred during the day, that kind of thing.

I have moments where I think gosh this would be great if it happened or that would be great if that happened, or it would be awful if x y or z happened, and I can imagine what that would be like, or the conversation, but it's fleeting, I don't dwell on it, and I don't create a fantasy round it.

I did try it earlier, to create an imaginary life in my head round a scenario, but there is something in my head stops me doing it. I think I'd worry you would get to the stage you can't tell the difference between real life and fantasy and would retreat into a fantasy world when you couldn't face real life, and because the fantasy is better.

I get a lot of people think it's normal on here, I don't know if it is, but when I think about stuff in bed, it's about real stuff.

I know you said your parnter isn't abusive, but when I was in a shitty relationship, I used to lie with my back to my bastard xh dreaming of a boyfriend who was kind, good humoured, cared what I thought and considered how I felt. I could nearly feel his presence. I was demented at that point of my life though. I'd be ground down to zero. Never really day dream now because I think it's so unlikely that kind of man will materialise for me and also I am perfectly fine on my own.
So I think it sounds like a sign that you're not being heard in your relationship, even if he's not unkind or abusive, does he see a fictional version of you rather than the real you?

OP for what it's worth I think it's entirely normal and just a sign of a rich imagination. Maladaptive daydreaming is something completely different, it's not getting in the way of your real life its just a little bit of escapism in the same way that some people will get lost in a book or binge watch TV series. I've daydreamed like this since a child. Had a very happy childhood, have a very happy life now, good job, active social life, lovely family. I'm actually surprised that there are so many people on here who can't comprehend it.