Have I lost the plot

[Helpakaplot]

Hi I have rarely posted on here and honestly am at a loss who to ask for someone to talk some sense into my brain.
I turned 40 the beginning of this year and have an
Married with 2 lovely
Children aged 4 and 1. The marriage is ok could be better has floundered somewhat since the birth of our second child (intimacy, time etc etc lockdown?) anyhow I returned to work last year after maternity leave.
I have been working from home so haven’t met a lot of my colleagues only via the power of video
Conferencing etc.

One colleague I have randomly started to feel an attraction (crush?) on and I feel really shocked, angry and confused at myself they are about 11 years younger than me and I feel such a connection to them. Now I know this is probably due to the fact I haven’t ever met them ever and of course I can subsequently make up romantic scenarios because until I have met them ‘it isn’t real’. What is more distressing is the fact I feel less connection with my husband than ever due to my feeling for this colleague. I know I am being absolutely ridiculous I have even started to sense they may return some feelings back and know I sound like some idiotic infatuated school girl.

Has anyone been in this situation? Please advise me how can I get this ridiculous crush out of my head? Have I lost the plot? Nothing has happened and I would never try to start something but it’s just whurring in my thoughts incessantly at times.

Look up limerance.

Avoid unnecessary contact with the colleague, and keep it about work only.
Distract yourself with other things - a box set on Netflix that sort of thing.
Work on your relationship with your dh.

Good grief @Ruminating2020 you have hit the nail on the head. Actually having something to look at has put it into place/context and made me feel like I’m not going mad.

My brain knows it’s me being absolutely ridiculous and redirecting my flailing marriage emotions to some colleague.

The fact I am like they always answer any work related questions I have on the work chat so clearly they feel the same (I know I know I promise I am a rational intelligent person and that is a ridiculous/adolescent style of though and they are merely just a nice colleague helping out their colleague ) indicates exactly what you have advised to look up.

Thank you such wise words I will put this into place much appreciated.