pls rate my gcse speech, give it a pass, merit or distinction

distinction

Are u sure? I feel like this would be a merit

maybe idk its structured pretty well

A few years ago, I used to live in 2 worlds at the same time. Every day, I traveed to a different place—going back and forth, back and forth. Each day, I was pulled into that world, only to return to reality and then escape again. This constant mental movement kept me drifting between fantasy and the real world.
It’s like watching Netflix, but even better. Instead of just observing, I’m actively experiencing these worlds. Before going to bed, if I don’t daydream, I can’t sleep. And as soon as I wake up, I dive straight back into my fantasies. I go over the scenarios, repeating them over and over again, constantly improving and refining them. This ritual brought me immense pleasure and felt incredibly addictive. It was the best type of entertainment for me—far more immersive and engaging than anything I could find in the real world.
I don’t remember exactly when this started, but I think it began around 2019 and intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m not sure why it began so intensely. I don’t have any specific reason for it—no trauma, no neglect, as I was surrounded by friends and family. It just started one day, and despite my efforts, I couldn’t stop it because it felt so rewarding
However, no matter how intensely I described it, it never affected my real life—my school grades, my relationships, or my daily responsibilities. I never considered it a serious problem, even though I think people sometimes caught me zooming out. I brushed it off, not letting anyone realize what was happening. But as time went on, I began to realize that this was slowly becoming a real issue. I became so consumed by my thoughts that I wasnt living in the real world anymore. I didnt notice if anyone called my name and kept forgetting small tasks that were assignment to me. It became really bad at one point that led me to Google my symptoms and I was surprised to find out that my condition had a name — maladaptive daydreaming. First introduced by Eli Somer, the condition is defined as ‘intense daydreaming that disrupts a person from their real life’. It’s a condition that others also face, often as a result of childhood trauma or as a coping mechanism which never applied to me.
I desperately wanted to break free from it because it was slowly starting to consume me. The addiction to it all was intense, and I knew it wasn’t healthy. It felt incredibly difficult to manage. I searched for tips online extensively but was too scared to ask anyone I knew about it, fearing they might think I was insane. In the end, I gave up trying to control it because the daydreaming was just too captivating and just let it all consume me, so it continued like that for a long time.
However, after the lockdown ended and we returned to our normal, busy lives, I noticed that my daydreaming habits began to fade away. Looking back now, I think the reason why I started daydreaming so intensely was because life had become monotonous and uninteresting after lockdown. Daydreaming provided an escape from the dullness of reality, offering a vibrant and engaging alternative that I craved during those times.
In conclusion, maladaptive daydreaming is a complex and consuming condition that can deeply impact one’s life. Understanding it, exploring coping strategies, and raising awareness are essential steps in addressing and managing this issue. I believe this topic deserves more attention, as many people remain uncertain about what it is and how it affects individuals. There are likely thousands out there who, like me, struggle with this condition. By shining a light on maladaptive daydreaming, we can foster greater understanding and support for those who face it.
I'm open to any criticism. Don't be hesitation to share your ideas.

Hello there! I got a distinction in my speech, and mine was about the positive impacts of COVID-19 so i did mention some things you did asw 🙂 I would suggest adding some evidences from reputable sources as i think that is one of the tickboxes for the mark scheme!

A few years ago, I used to live in 2 worlds at the same time. Every day, I traveed to a different place—going back and forth, back and forth. Each day, I was pulled into that world, only to return to reality and then escape again. This constant mental movement kept me drifting between fantasy and the real world.
It’s like watching Netflix, but even better. Instead of just observing, I’m actively experiencing these worlds. Before going to bed, if I don’t daydream, I can’t sleep. And as soon as I wake up, I dive straight back into my fantasies. I go over the scenarios, repeating them over and over again, constantly improving and refining them. This ritual brought me immense pleasure and felt incredibly addictive. It was the best type of entertainment for me—far more immersive and engaging than anything I could find in the real world.
I don’t remember exactly when this started, but I think it began around 2019 and intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m not sure why it began so intensely. I don’t have any specific reason for it—no trauma, no neglect, as I was surrounded by friends and family. It just started one day, and despite my efforts, I couldn’t stop it because it felt so rewarding
However, no matter how intensely I described it, it never affected my real life—my school grades, my relationships, or my daily responsibilities. I never considered it a serious problem, even though I think people sometimes caught me zooming out. I brushed it off, not letting anyone realize what was happening. But as time went on, I began to realize that this was slowly becoming a real issue. I became so consumed by my thoughts that I wasnt living in the real world anymore. I didnt notice if anyone called my name and kept forgetting small tasks that were assignment to me. It became really bad at one point that led me to Google my symptoms and I was surprised to find out that my condition had a name — maladaptive daydreaming. First introduced by Eli Somer, the condition is defined as ‘intense daydreaming that disrupts a person from their real life’. It’s a condition that others also face, often as a result of childhood trauma or as a coping mechanism which never applied to me.
I desperately wanted to break free from it because it was slowly starting to consume me. The addiction to it all was intense, and I knew it wasn’t healthy. It felt incredibly difficult to manage. I searched for tips online extensively but was too scared to ask anyone I knew about it, fearing they might think I was insane. In the end, I gave up trying to control it because the daydreaming was just too captivating and just let it all consume me, so it continued like that for a long time.
However, after the lockdown ended and we returned to our normal, busy lives, I noticed that my daydreaming habits began to fade away. Looking back now, I think the reason why I started daydreaming so intensely was because life had become monotonous and uninteresting after lockdown. Daydreaming provided an escape from the dullness of reality, offering a vibrant and engaging alternative that I craved during those times.
In conclusion, maladaptive daydreaming is a complex and consuming condition that can deeply impact one’s life. Understanding it, exploring coping strategies, and raising awareness are essential steps in addressing and managing this issue. I believe this topic deserves more attention, as many people remain uncertain about what it is and how it affects individuals. There are likely thousands out there who, like me, struggle with this condition. By shining a light on maladaptive daydreaming, we can foster greater understanding and support for those who face it.
I'm open to any criticism. Don't be hesitation to share your ideas.

distinction
i did my early
so i did it last yr
and it sounds like a definite distinction