Obsessing on a subject

[LadyGagasMeatDress]

Does anyone do this? Every now and then I will see something (eg a film) or read a book which sparks an obsession for the topic which goes on for a while. It's fun but also quite annoying.

At the moment, after seeing Bohemian Rhapsody, I'm obsessed by Freddie Mercury. I've read biographies, seen the film at least 3 times, listened to podcasts, watched stuff on YouTube. I've thought about his death and it's brought tears to my eyes. It's weird. I was never a huge fan as a kid or anything. In the past I've had similar fixations on The Titanic, the Abdication 🙄 amongst others.

I'm beginning to wish it would just go away because I'd like to focus on real life but I just can't seem to get enough! I'm not like this about anything normally. Does anyone else do this?

I do sometimes and I have pet subjects that I return to if I see it mentioned. I can and do obsess - DH is the same.

I get absolutely fixated on subjects, hobbies etc - totally immersed. Often the obsession ends as abruptly as it started, only to be replaced with something else.

Yep I do this all the time and then move on to something else (certain subjects again and again though). Last week it was caving accidents (I might be weird!)

I am like this, but then I'm autistic so no surprises there then!!!

Glad it's not me. The thing is I haven't done it for a while and was kind of missing having a new subject but this one sees to have staying power.

I'm like this and always have been. It's never impacted other areas of my life so it's never concerned me.

Yes I do this. Funnily enough my current obsession is also Freddie Mercury! It just sparks something inside me and it engulfs me entirely.

It's been happening since I was a young child. I have suspicion that I may be autistic.

Also if I'm watching a film I "research" it extensively afterwards. I Google all the actors, read about them, their personal lives, about their families, where they live etc.

100% me too

Sometimes I'll watch the same documentary / listen to the same episode of a podcast every day for a week or so, and Google everything to do with the subject too.

Mine I think is avoidance and distraction from real life sometimes but other times I think I'm just an intense person and can't take a laid back interest in things - it's all or nothing with me!

Yep, I do this too. I definitely run on themes for a few months at a time.

Same here.. one of the earliest ones I can remember was the Titanic.. most recent has been the Michael Jackson abuse cases. I was pretty obsessed with the Oscar Pistorius case too.. so pretty light-hearted things!

Though I do often also get obsessed with television programmes and literally mourn when they end.. I remember Firefly and Breaking Bad being pretty intense ones. Oh and my DH does think I might be on the autism spectrum..

Yes and also autistic so I'm a world champion at obsessions.

But one of my healthier (and longer-lasting) ones has been running.. I suspect that is the endorphins involved.. I guess the only unhealthy aspect of that was the absolute need to run X miles/times a week and he devastation of injury but I think that is common of most runners! And sadly(?!) it is not at that level of obsession at the moment (and has not been for a few years) due to young DC.

Yup.

I also had the titanic.
Mountaineering on dangerous mountains.
Pugin and the gothic revival.
Jeff Buckley.
Early 80s hip hop.
Doctor Faustus and Christopher Marlowe.

I feel l need to know everything about it, and obsess over it for months. It passes. And leaves you a damn sight better at pub quizzes.

I once got obsessed with swimming the channel! I couldn't get enough of reading accounts from people who'd done it.
I often get bogged down by plane crashes and illnesses too. So the channel crossing was one of my lighter ones.

I'm obsessed with cases of missing people. I find it staggering how many people have just simply vanished without a trace, and some of the stories defy all logic. My brain is literally an encyclopedia of missing person cases.

Oh @clashcityrocker, that reminds me, mountaineering too, but mainly specifically Everest. Also, world war two and Richey Edwards. As I said above, there seems to be a dark theme to these!!

Richey Edwards
Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mum
Columbine
Russell Williams
Missing people in general
People who fooled everyone
Andrew Godsen my god I hope they find that kid, his poor family
Jodie Arias
Casey Anthony
The girls who faked the fairy pictures
Sciencetology

I can't explain it other than it's an avoidance about thinking about my own issues because thats not a safety zone, so I keep my brain busy with stuff that is 1. worse than mine, some weird way of telling myself not to feel bad and 2. total distraction.

I didn't really realise other people felt this way, so its nice to hear they do. Mine are always such dark topics I feel I can't say to people in real life! Will talk to my counsellor about it next week.- thanks OP.

I haven't slept without a film / tv shoe / podcast on in the background for about 10 years (I'm 32)

I physically cannot deal with silence.

Maybe I am just weird though!

*TV show obvs, I don't just watch my shoes.

100% do this, and thoroughly research all sorts of random topics (often macabre) plus research actors, where they live etc during films

I also get obsessed with a song - if I like it I can pretty much listen to it on repeat for days without being bored

I do this too. I went through a huge phase of researching Armenia (I've never met a single Armenian person and have never been there). I also look up whole film/TV show casts and then their personal lives after watching something. It's like an itch that's rarely satisfied.

Yes I do this with things too then it just sort of fades and I’m onto the next thing

@Catzy glad I'm not the only one into Mr Fahrenheit!

Oscar Pistorius. Yes. Many hours lost on that one. I was gripped by the trial and my twitter feed was full of live court updates.

I developed a huge obsession with the Tudor period after reading the Shardlake books. For some reason poor Catherine Howard took my interest the most. She was so young and naive.

@LadyGagas - Yep, ditto. Had the Twitter feed in the background on my computer at work - have to say I didn't get much work done during it I also felt disappointed if they finished early for the day and really really looked forward to the next session in a way that people look forward to eg a holiday