Getting totally obsessed with a interest/hobby?

[Lovemusic33]

I know I’m doing it, I try and stop myself but when I find a new found interest or hobby I get totally obsessed to the point I spend all day (and sometimes night) thinking about it, researching and learning about it or doing it if it’s an activity. I’m sure people get fed up with me talking about my latest hobby, posting about it on SM and not being sociable because I’m busy with my new found obsession. Sometimes I spend way too much money on my interests knowing how stupid it is and that I’m likely to move on to something else in 6 months/a year.

Some of my interests are pretty crazy (to other people) and possibly boring.

Does anyone relate to this? Is there a way of controlling things better and not becoming totally obsessed?

To be honest with me, I get drawn to new projects as I call them, then I'll research as much as possible about e.g. X topic, then after a while two options happen, either a new project idea happens or I get bored and start another topic, then it's rinse, new project and repeated.

Usually it's influenced from tv, or other people, or random ideas, myself ect

Generally it's only when I get bored that the project idea fades, until then it's research mode

I do however keep a research journal, to document what I learned from my research, that way the knowledge is not wasted.

I do have some interests that I have had for 5+ years, others only last a few months. Some are educational but quite unique and I have managed to gain qualification’s in the subject I become obsessed in,I do like to think I have become very experienced in some of the hobbies/interest. But some things (like crafts) I just end up spending a fortune in equipment and then totally losing interest, felting for example 🤣.

I think my main worry is what people think of me and the way I obsess with things to the point I can’t really make time to do other things, though I do try and make sure it doesn’t get to this point.

Mine nearly always involve purchasing, either multiples of the same item like a certain brand of t shirt the same style but different colours patterns, I have 14, lunch bags, again same style just different patterns I have 12, same coat in 5 colours, that's just a small same there's loads of other things, once I like something I buy loads of it, spend ages researching it online, looking for new patterns, looking for discount codes and sales, to be honest it's exhausting, it is an obsession, and I can't control it, occasionally I get bored of it and sell the items so I can raise money to buy things for a new obsession but it's so stressful, at the moment I'm into a certain kids character and I buy so much stuff, and organic clothes brands, I must waste so much money but the mental effects are worse I literally get drained by the obsessive thoughts

Like you op I get influenced by TV or film, like I saw the pikachu movie then I had to buy the hoodie, the cuddly toys, it drives me mad, if anyone knows how to stop please tell me

@Mummiepig

Mine nearly always involve purchasing, either multiples of the same item like a certain brand of t shirt the same style but different colours patterns, I have 14, lunch bags, again same style just different patterns I have 12, same coat in 5 colours, that's just a small same there's loads of other things, once I like something I buy loads of it, spend ages researching it online, looking for new patterns, looking for discount codes and sales, to be honest it's exhausting, it is an obsession, and I can't control it, occasionally I get bored of it and sell the items so I can raise money to buy things for a new obsession but it's so stressful, at the moment I'm into a certain kids character and I buy so much stuff, and organic clothes brands, I must waste so much money but the mental effects are worse I literally get drained by the obsessive thoughts

Yes, this is me too, if I find a item of clothing or a brand I like I will buy multiple (in different designs), I have 10 pairs of run and fly dungarees 😬 and the same top from TU but in 8 different colours. It does get exhausting. Clothes used to be my main obsession but now I have moved on to more expensive things, each time I buy a item I tell myself it will be the last but then I find myself searching the internet to buy another. I often sell things to find the new things, luckily I never get into debt to buy something but I do worry that it’s unhealthy.

Yes that's exactly me, I hate jeans as I find them so uncomfortable and I hate belts I can't wear them all digging in, my husband said joggers look scruffy, but I found some jeans joggers, they are so comfy and OK to go out in public, so I bought 5 pairs in one week!
It's so exhausting, I try not to look at sales and unsubscribed from emails so I'm not so tempted
I can afford it, (saving money is another obsession!) But it's the mental obsession that I hate

@Mummiepig

Like you op I get influenced by TV or film, like I saw the pikachu movie then I had to buy the hoodie, the cuddly toys, it drives me mad, if anyone knows how to stop please tell me

For me it doesn't, just have periods of down time until the next influence

@Lovemusic33

I do have some interests that I have had for 5+ years, others only last a few months. Some are educational but quite unique and I have managed to gain qualification’s in the subject I become obsessed in,I do like to think I have become very experienced in some of the hobbies/interest. But some things (like crafts) I just end up spending a fortune in equipment and then totally losing interest, felting for example 🤣.

I think my main worry is what people think of me and the way I obsess with things to the point I can’t really make time to do other things, though I do try and make sure it doesn’t get to this point.

I've learnt people will judge one way or another, so I openly admit I'm strange and a pickle, then after that it's hobby talk so to speak.

@Mummiepig

Like you op I get influenced by TV or film, like I saw the pikachu movie then I had to buy the hoodie, the cuddly toys, it drives me mad, if anyone knows how to stop please tell me

Oh wow, I've never seen anyone else say they do this too. I was going to write a post about it but I couldn't think of how to word it.
I do exactly this. I've had obsessions with Cath Kidston, Cats, Disney, rainbows, scandi clothes etc and I do what you do and buy lots of it. When it was Disney, I changed all my clothes to Disney and my bags to Disney, even my socks.
Eventually the obsession fades but then a new one starts and all my things are "wrong" so I try to sell it or throw it away. That's always a big mistake though because the obsession inevitably comes back months later and I truly regret that I got rid of my stuff.

I really hate being stuck in this cycle but I've done it all my life.

For me, it is a subject I get interested in. Eg a true cold case crime or politics. I will read and watch everything there is on the subject, often watching over and over. It can go on for months on one subject

@PinkPupZ

For me, it is a subject I get interested in. Eg a true cold case crime or politics. I will read and watch everything there is on the subject, often watching over and over. It can go on for months on one subject

I get special interests in subjects too. I've had ones in British history, feminism, gardening, Japan etc and I do the same as you, and try to find out as much as I can about the topic.

I won’t say what my weird interests are as some may put me. Photography is one of the more normal ones and one that I spend a lot of money on, luckily it’s a interest that I can use with my other interests 🤣. Also love gardening but that’s more of a seasonal obsession, it’s getting close to gardening obsession season.

It's almost like I try and change my personality and base my whole life on the current interest, it's that extreme.
When I get the memories that pop up on Facebook, you know the "what we're you doing on this date 3 years ago" thing? I'm generally really embarrassed about what I wrote or shared. I sound like a different person.

@ofwarren

It's almost like I try and change my personality and base my whole life on the current interest, it's that extreme. When I get the memories that pop up on Facebook, you know the "what we're you doing on this date 3 years ago" thing? I'm generally really embarrassed about what I wrote or shared. I sound like a different person.

Yes 🤣, this exactly.

@ofwarren YES, I used to love joulesclothing so bought only joules, the sweatshirts the harbour tops, literally everything, then I got bored sold the lot, and only wore next girls clothes, again got bored changed to only wearing pink, then it was Jack wills, now it's scandi
I've also had 3 lots of sylvanian families that I've collected, sold then bought back when the interest comes back around again, it's exhausting

@PinkPupZ

For me, it is a subject I get interested in. Eg a true cold case crime or politics. I will read and watch everything there is on the subject, often watching over and over. It can go on for months on one subject

Yes, this is me too. After the main phase of intense interest has faded (which can take months) the topic is shelved and I return to it every so often as a comfort. It can be a historical event or person, a crime or 'scandal' or sometimes a place. I usually find myself associating particular music with the topic - if you like, giving it a theme tune.

[quote Mummiepig]@ofwarren YES, I used to love joulesclothing so bought only joules, the sweatshirts the harbour tops, literally everything, then I got bored sold the lot, and only wore next girls clothes, again got bored changed to only wearing pink, then it was Jack wills, now it's scandi
I've also had 3 lots of sylvanian families that I've collected, sold then bought back when the interest comes back around again, it's exhausting[/quote]
I buy things back too when my interest comes back (I change my mind and miss the item).

I can become obsessed with say a certain animal or species and I will learn everything about it, same with plants, birds etc..,

I always struggled learning at school, it was all so boring but I have learnt so much as an adult, mainly about totally useless things or very specialised subjects 🤣.

I've just been organising my jumpers I have 9 snuggle fleeces, 6 of the same sweatshirt, 4 picallily funnel necks, and 7 of the same knitted jumper, I hope I don't loose interest in them!

My lunch box collection, I only need a lunch box on a Wednesday, but I want to own all the patterns 🤣🤣🤣

I love the lunch boxes, I can see why you had to have them all 🙂, I have a nice collection of Tesco’s ‘bags for life’, I get a bit excited when I see a new one near the till and I just have to have them, especially if they have a character or something funny on them, I have Star Wars bags, Minions, My little pony, Elf and many more 🤣, but do I remember to take them with me when I go shopping? No.

Haha love the carrier bag obsession!

I'd love to be one of those autistic people who just has one obsession that sticks with them for life. It must be far more satisfying than all this swapping and changing. It makes me feel like I don't know who I am.
How do you know who you are and your personality/identity if you can swap and change so drastically?
Exhausting

I know exactly what you mean, I feel like I don't have a personality, I just try and copy who ever I am with to fit in, I'm only me when I'm totally alone at home, and I'm really weird!!! The clothes thing was to fit in with other people like the joules and Jack wills, but I do feel the scandi is more me, but I do get odd looks when I'm out, when I'm home alone I put on a lovely bright outfit and think wow I look great I am Great, then I go out In the world and hate myself