Too many ideas = sensory overload, any advice?

I'm awaiting assessment but I trained, and briefly worked in film and theatre costume many years ago. Couldn't keep up (now I'm beginning to understand why). If your like me, there was a huge amount of stuff involved with working in that kind of field, As an example, I still have five sewing machines, my sewing box was a dirty great toolbox rather than a dainty floral number and I have a button box that's a lot larger and more outrageous than what you'd find in most homes.

Over the years, I've been clearing out a lot of things in an attempt to get some order. Just a little at a time. What I found, was that there were some things that I was far more interested in than others. I began to group things, for example, I'd like to remake my clothes in my wardrobe, but I'm interested in using natural fibres. So I'm clearing out my synthetic fabrics. I'd like to use more traditional patterns as I like the older Victorian and Edwardian styles, so there goes a whole load of modern patterns that I don't need anymore. I'm following the same system with other hobbies. It also allows me to see which hobbies are most interesting to me so again, I can clear away the things that distract me and just stick to the things I know I enjoy.

My hobbies that I'm choosing to focus on are: Sewing, miniatures, reading, writing, and my Cello.(I'd also love to have a farm, create puppets, build a hobbit hole to live in and learn everything there is to know about the natural world, etc, etc. but that might have to wait for another day). I don't have to do all of these at once, I'm just trying to choose something each evening. Even if it's just to play with some clay and learn how to make shapes. I'm not forcing myself to create a masterpiece, I'm just enjoying the process. I haven't done any sewing for years so even though I have a complex project to work on, I'm only trying to do some basics. I've started with underwear which is always the most important foundation. I can re-learn all the techniques that I lost over the years so that when I get to the outerwear, I'll have a clearer idea of what I want and I'll even have some experience again to help push me along. 

I think what I'm trying to get at, is what are the distractions? You can work on several things at once, it's something you couldn't avoid in Theatre. But there are some things that get in your way. Don't box yourself into a corner. A bit of structure is helpful but don't time yourself or you'll always be looking at the clock which will be another distraction. Media is also a distraction. I don't watch TV and I try to avoid too much internet and phones. I've been dealing with PTSD and severe Anxiety so I've virtually had to start from scratch. Just picking a task each evening when I get home from work is giving me clarity as I'm beginning to see the way I want to go and more importantly, how I'm going to get there.

Hi Loz,

You've made some great observations and recommendations. I totally understand why you couldn't keep up working within film and theatre. I think you've asked a very relevant (for me) question, '...what are the distractions' and my answer to that (and probably part of an answer to my initial post) is a LOT! I have a house that sounds rather like your sewing box. I've always liked collecting things and even when my interest has slightly waned I've kept hold of them. I like to look at things. Perhaps it is time for me to sort and get rid of past collections in order to try and focus on where my real interests lie now.

Having read your post I'm going to give myself a little time to decide on what those are.I'd be interested to hear what sort of miniatures you are interested in, I have myself made many Hobbit holes although they have been at 25th scale, so too small even for a Hobbit.

I give myself certain times of the day to work on my computer and this is generally research but it's so easy for the time to just tick away. TV and phones I generally avoid.

Have you been getting any kind of support whilst you've been working through your PTSD and anxiety issues or have you been left to deal with them on your own? Thanks for your reply and once I've answered all the other posts I'm going to sit down with a cup of tea and have a real think about what I'd like to focus on and then take it from there.

25th Scale Hobbit hole? Are you sure we aren't the same person?

I admittedly have a few ideas rolling around in my head at the moment but the one that is taking form in reality is a 144th scale model (inspired not replica) of the Petronella Oortman dollhouse. The original is too big and the 144th scale is forcing me to think creatively as I can't go off and spend a load of money (that I don't have) on miniatures when the point is to use my hands. I'm not allowing myself to 'cheat!'

I've made the cabinet and put in the rooms. The original had a garden with a working fountain so in honour of that, I'm trying to work out how to add some LED's so I can make the garden look like it's bathed in sunlight.

I'm fortunate that in my area, I have access to Italk which is a mental health service on the NHS. It took months before a slot became available as the PTSD treatment is a bit more specialist (mine was due to a motorbike accident), but it certainly helped. It was actually my PTSD Counsellor who suggested I might be Autistic. She used to work with autistic children and saw some similarities.

When I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder, I had, again through Italk, access to counselling for six weeks. Once that ended, I didn't really get any support, I also didn't know how to ask for it or even if I should. I always managed to figure it out myself. I tried different things. I found that Buddhism was really helpful, I gained a lot of insights that helped me to deal with things.

I was also able to manage without antidepressants up until the last few years. I think that has changed because I'm now working in an office based role. It seems that the office is where common sense goes to die. I had issues with my anxiety, and rather than talking to me, I had managers who poked and prodded my little anxiety monster until I ended up on antidepressants for the first time ever. 

On top of the Anxiety and Depression and PTSD, plus the work place issues and of course the Pandemic, I've had to re-examine what I thought I knew about myself. I certainly welcome the autism diagnosis as it explains so much but it's been really tough. 

I think I'm finally starting to find some balance that I didn't have before and I'm using the things that I've read about autism to help me get back on track.

Regarding the collections, don't try and do it all at once, just remember, start with the things you hardly ever look at. You might empty out a box and find there are treasures you can't part with. You don't have to! You'll also find there are things you are happy to get rid of straight away. Always look at it as making space so you can work on the things you enjoy. I found that as time went on, the things I wanted to keep, informed things that I threw away later. It's how I realised how much I loved miniatures because as I got rid of things, all the little tiny things that I'd collected over the years, kept getting back into the treasure pile. It took years. There is no rush. I'm still working through all my stuff, but because I took my time and was clear about why it had to go, I don't miss anything that I've already let go of. 

Yeah, I'm amazed at how anything gets done in organisations, or progress is made. When I look around my working environment I just can't see how millions of such places add up to the society we live in. I struggle to see how any organisation stays afloat given how inefficient it all seems.

Yeah, I'm amazed at how anything gets done in organisations, or progress is made. When I look around my working environment I just can't see how millions of such places add up to the society we live in. I struggle to see how any organisation stays afloat given how inefficient it all seems.