The power of a special interest

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.

  • 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

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  • 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

Children
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