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The power of a special interest

Expecto_Patronum

It never ceases to amaze me the effect that a special interest/something familiar can have. I was having a really wobbly weekend. My anxiety was sky high and my mood wasn't great. I couldn't concentrate on anything because my mind was going a million miles an hour. There was nothing I wanted to do and nothing on TV that remotely interested me. I decided to put a Harry Potter film on. Harry Potter has been a special interest for many years and the films can be a source of comfort. (Admittedly not always, sometimes they irritate me for being from the books). This time the impact was immediate and profound. My body instantly relaxed, my mind stopped racing so badly and I felt so much better. There was still some anxiety etc but at a far more manageable level. It amazes me that a film can have this level of impact.

Does anybody else find their special interest can help them in this way? What is your go to when you're having a bad day?

Parents

  • For me making lists/excel spreadsheets of things of interest calms me. I can spent hours putting stats/specifications of mountain bikes, car stereos, computers, hifi and home cinema stuff even if im not looking to buy something.

    I find the research and numbers/stats calm me and relax me.

Reply

  • For me making lists/excel spreadsheets of things of interest calms me. I can spent hours putting stats/specifications of mountain bikes, car stereos, computers, hifi and home cinema stuff even if im not looking to buy something.

    I find the research and numbers/stats calm me and relax me.

Children
  • in reply to Sh0tgunCr4ig

    Same, I like organising my computer and digital spaces as well as my room, it just makes me feel a lot more calm about myself. Just having an element of order really helps.

  • in reply to Sh0tgunCr4ig

    me 100% - have a fairly new petrol car but I still do calcs on cost of ownership of an EV, do a bit of research for no real point.  My work is data and spreadsheets, yet I do these in my spare time too.  

    Love lists - mostly on a to-do app and also on paper/whiteboard.  Think I'd possibly rather write something on a list than do it.  I used to love mind-mapping too

  • in reply to Sh0tgunCr4ig

    Lists have helped me a lot too. I have my football history stats; lists of favourite films to watch; playlists and discographies for favourite music; lists of football grounds to visit and football programmes to collect. Applying that order and structure to life helps me to make sense of everything. Now that we're coming to the end of the football season I have to find something to do on Saturdays and Tuesday nights. In previous years I have become very lost and disorientated without the structure provided by the fixture list so I have to find an activity on those days until the football starts again. I know this sounds a bit sad but it works for me and keeps the anxiety under control.

  • in reply to Sh0tgunCr4ig

    Now I do like an excel spreadsheet and I do agree that if I'm making one, I can't spend hours on it and it will occupy my brain which has a calming effect. However, I can't just make them just because. I'd have to have a reason to make it. It'd need a purpose. And I don't often have need for one so it's a limiting strategy.

    Great that they help you to relax though.