Am I Weird?

[jess3817]

Wasn't sure what else to title it?!
I wondered if anyone else does the same as me, or to the extent as I do?
Recently, in the last 3 months or so, I've started becoming as what I can only describe as obsessed (sp?) Over things. For example, in the past if I had a whimsicle thought about oh I wish I'd done this or wish I could do that, it'd be a fleeting thought, now it isn't. If I have a thought about something it completely engulfs my thinking for 4 or 5 days, keeps me awake at night and, even though I'm going to work and doing things with my kids, I'm not really there in my head ( if that makes sense) because I'm thinking about the thing that I am. It can be big or small. Like wanting to write a book. Do a degree or just meal planning, next year's holiday etc - most people it'd be a little bit of time thinking over it - but it seems to take over me- I can't describe it - and often it leads onto another train of thought wich gets me going again.
After 4 or 5 days the obsession suddenly leaves me, until a few weeks later when it happens again with something else.
It's completely exhausting and mind numbing. Never use to be like this so any advice would be very welcome.

Are you sure it isn't a symptom of anxiety OP? I suffer with it a bit and that is a way I absorb myself in things when I am stressed, as escapism. Lockdown has given opportunity for this sort of thing to thrive and also to reevaluate whether we might actually be happy with how our lives are going.

I would be thinking about what you're missing that leading you to look for ways to quickly fill the gap, instead think critically about whether you actually like the reality of things like writing a book or whether the idea of being someone who is/does/has is what appeals to you and why.

I don't think it's weird and I think lots of peoppe do it to some extent but I would make a point of limiting it so it doesn't become consuming. Say, time yourself a set time to google whatever it is - half an hour online looking at holidays. Then shelve it and move on to real life pursuits or a practical job at home etc.

There's nothing wrong with being weird! Although I don't think what you describe is unusual at all, but as bacon suggests, it's a common sign of anxiety. The timeframe you describe suggests it started around the pandemic/ lockdown, and there are so many reports of people experiencing worsening mental health from that time onwards.

You might want to look at CBT to help you manage the thoughts. Even just writing stuff down can be a big help, let the paper take the strain rather than your brain.

I hadn't thought I was anxious? I gave up daily drinking ( was drinking every evening for quite a few years) and I'm coming up to 6 months now - and I feel a lot less stressed and more calm due to not drinking, less emotiona than I use to be. I thought It was something to do with having more time on my hands but maybe I am without realising it.
I think I will start writing everything down, least it'll be out of my head then😂 will have a look at cbt. Thank you!

I do a lot of running, yoga and meditation Wich does clear my head while I'm doing them it's just if I'm in a phase of this afterwards I'm still thinking about it🙈