Momofblue
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jan 29, 2011
Posts: 25
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 Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:13 am Post subject: Do you get depressed in between obsessions? |
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| I noticed something about myself this morning. I have been sort of depressed for about a week. Last week I suddenly lost interest in my latest obsession. I was heavily into it for four straight months, spending hours a day doing it (genealogy). I found myself this week "looking" for a new one but not finding one. I feel very odd and can't seem to make up my mind what to do during my leisure time. The result is that I have been sleeping a lot more lately due to boredom. Now that I look back, I have noticed that I've done this in the past. I will have times of "depression" in between times of "excitement and happiness" when I am involved in an activity that highly interests me. Does anyone else experience this? |
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ThinkTrees
Sea Gull
Joined: Apr 06, 2012
Posts: 218
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:22 am Post subject: |
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Yes, absolutely.
I live for my obsession. When it is taken away, by some circumstantial demand, I am lost.
Each and every time it happens I don't know why I'm feeling that way..as if I've just completely forgotten who I am.
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cooldryplace
Blue Jay
Joined: Mar 19, 2011
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| I get these periods of doing nothing in between taking part in special interests, but I don't feel that it is depression. I like you will lie in bed but feel numb rather than sad. |
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EstimatedProphet
Snowy Owl
Joined: Apr 16, 2012
Age: 28
Posts: 144
Location: Midwest, USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:23 am Post subject: |
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I get depressed pretty often and I guess you could say I get lazy in between special interests. Once I finish one project there's always a bunch of downtime before I start something else, but I wouldn't say that causes me to be depressed. I get depressed for what seems like no reason at all sometimes and it's almost like I look for reasons to be depressed or I'm just trying to find something to explain why I'm depressed.
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LennytheWicked
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 23, 2011
Posts: 516
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:19 am Post subject: |
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God yes. I usually have more than one obsession and they are quite frequently unrelated. [At one point, it was making video games and horses, at another point it was the history of soda and rocks.]
Getting stuck between obsessions is really upsetting, because I look for stuff to do and it just doesn't appeal to me. Honestly though, I'm no more depressed than usual, aside from not having an outlet. |
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Ravenclawgurl
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 1285
Location: somewhere over the rainbow
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| yes |
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PaintingDiva
Deinonychus
Joined: Jul 28, 2011
Posts: 334
Location: Left coast aka Northern California
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. But down time is good too.
Not to mention, I know a new interest is always around the bend. For me at least.  And it does feel good when I realize, ah ha, my new special interest is up and running.... |
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Halligeninseln
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 23, 2011
Age: 59
Posts: 380
Location: Central Europe
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes. |
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nessa238
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 02, 2011
Age: 47
Posts: 3908
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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I seem to have an on/off switch on my brain whereby when it's on I am generally interested in lots of things to an average extent and some things to a more obsessive level and I generally focus on getting things done and when it's off it's the opposite - no interest in anything and no motivation to do anything. Life changes seem to trigger it; too much stress or feeling down about something can turn it off and it needs some positive things to happen or me getting really angry about something to galvanise me back into the active/inspired mode.
Anger is often the trigger so the brain chemicals released when angry must trigger a brain
re-boot. Adrenaline probably. |
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CockneyRebel
Mick Avory, Sensitive brown-eyed Sweet Pea
Joined: Jul 18, 2004
Age: 38
Posts: 87360
Location: In a quiet and peaceful garden, where gentle Mick Avory-like Sweet Peas grow.
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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I was between obsessions when I've joined WP in the Summer of 2004. I've grown out of Austin Powers and I didn't know what my next special interest was going to be. I guess that I was a little obstinate during my first two summers here. I was pretty depressed back than as well.
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IdahoRose
Imaginary Friend
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Joined: Feb 25, 2007
Age: 22
Posts: 18651
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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With my main special interest, I sometimes go through periods of "down time" when I don't feel obsessed with it anymore. During times like these, I become depressed and become desperate to find new interests. In the end, I always wind up going back to my main interest, but it's still pretty upsetting. It almost reminds me of a love-hate relationship where you're dating someone but keep breaking up and then getting back together with them.
I'm getting really tired of this whole "back and forth" thing (which has been going on for about a year) and sometimes I even wish that my interest would end for good so I don't have to keep going through this anymore. |
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the_curmudge
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Age: 62
Posts: 612
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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| This doesn't happen to me because I can always return to a past obsession or half-knowingly adopt a temporary, lightweight obsession to tide me over. |
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Bun
Bunnymen
Joined: Jan 09, 2012
Posts: 3250
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| IdahoRose wrote: | With my main special interest, I sometimes go through periods of "down time" when I don't feel obsessed with it anymore. During times like these, I become depressed and become desperate to find new interests. In the end, I always wind up going back to my main interest, but it's still pretty upsetting. It almost reminds me of a love-hate relationship where you're dating someone but keep breaking up and then getting back together with them.
I'm getting really tired of this whole "back and forth" thing (which has been going on for about a year) and sometimes I even wish that my interest would end for good so I don't have to keep going through this anymore. |
This. |
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IdahoRose
Imaginary Friend
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Joined: Feb 25, 2007
Age: 22
Posts: 18651
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Bun wrote: | | IdahoRose wrote: | With my main special interest, I sometimes go through periods of "down time" when I don't feel obsessed with it anymore. During times like these, I become depressed and become desperate to find new interests. In the end, I always wind up going back to my main interest, but it's still pretty upsetting. It almost reminds me of a love-hate relationship where you're dating someone but keep breaking up and then getting back together with them.
I'm getting really tired of this whole "back and forth" thing (which has been going on for about a year) and sometimes I even wish that my interest would end for good so I don't have to keep going through this anymore. |
This. |
Oh good, I'm really glad I'm not the only one who is dealing with this. I was afraid I was the only one, because it seems that with most other people on the spectrum, they're either into something or they're not. I haven't heard of anyone else who flip-flops between being into something and not being into it the way that I have. |
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Kinme
Dinosaurlicious
Joined: Apr 14, 2012
Posts: 3228
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes. Often. |
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