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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.

  • 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.

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  • 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.

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