Constantly changing interests / obsessions

Yes, I totally can relate to this. I have it, and also have found a recurrence/cycle, sometimes where the interest comes back like 10 years later and goes to a whole new level. Often my hobbies have had to do with processes, capabilities, equipping myself, to the point that it has always seemed with hindsight that the ultimate "goal" of the pattern of obsessions has been this: to take what previously seems almost impossible for a regular person to have or do, and make it utterly commonplace in my life. To make it not a commodity anymore, but that I WANT to take the amazing for granted. And once having achieved at a high level some new ability, I like to put the various trophies on the wall and admire them forever, as laurels. Maybe to indulge in at some future time, or not. Just being able to bask in the reality that, hey I did that.

But I get bad obsessions, fixations, too. Ones that bring me down. I only just realized that. It makes me want to find a way to trigger the Change. Wish I knew how to jumpstart that on purpose. I'm ready for a new and productive hobby. What will it be and when? I hope soon. I've been sad almost 2 yrs now, being "between" good/useful obsessions.

I'm a bit like this, but not that extreme and my interests are always cycling back and forth between the same stuff.

I was more like this as a child I guess, but back than I wasn't bipolar. I first developed it during puberty.

tjomball wrote:To me it's a feeling of mastery.
I master one thing to the point where I'm sufficiently skilled to "play with the big boys".
And then find another one.
.

That's very interesting - had never really thought of in that way but I figure that applies to me too. I've always been extremely competitive and will happily play competitive games for hours - chess, poker, scrabble, anything really. As I said in an earlier post I've gone through some huge chess phases over the years and this is definitely linked to my competitiveness - I got a huge sense of satisfaction out of mercilessly crushing my opponents (assuming they weren't better than me obviously) and used to spend hours upon hours reading up on chess strategy even when it was completely crazy given how busy I was supposed to be with other things. I just don't give in to the urge to play anymore as its so mentally exhausting when you play at a high level that it rules out pretty much any other intellectual activity.

Thanks for posting - perhaps this pattern of behaviour is more common with those who have naturally a more competitive streak. Or maybe it justs manifests differently. From reading other peoples' posts it seems common across a large range of mental illnesses - not just bipolar disorder. I would really appreciate anyone else who has experienced this to post on this thread - I'm finding it fascinating seeing how it manifests in people differently. I don't think I've ever actually met anyone who has this problem to the degree I do so its been really interesting reading peoples' responses.

Currently my interest is my bed...that is all.

I just realized something today. A lot of my interests/obsessions don't always change because I've lost interest...it's because I just don't enjoy things anymore. When I'm depressed, or even just down (which is a lot these days), I don't enjoy the things I love doing. The depression I'm in right now has taken away my love for music. I can't enjoy playing my drums, I can't enjoy making music in Ableton and I can't even enjoy sitting and listening to ANY music for very long. It just doesn't give me that rush.

I don't know if it's a combination of the depression AND the medication I'm on...? I'm currently on Risperidone Consta, and my psychiatrist said that it's a big antagonist of dopamine. The reason I'm starting Abilify now is because she told me it's more activating and allows the dopamine to do it's job more so than Risperidone.

Just thought I'd share. Does anyone else feel this way?

I have this with new vs known music. When I am hypo, I want new new new. More more more. Metal! Dance! Tribal rhythms from Africa as replayed by white Dutch nerds from a small village! I'll have all that AND MORE!!!! And now, that I am kind of okay and medicated, I just play my 90s records. And I don't notice when they play for the third time, they blend into background. My interest in music kind of takes a much less pronounced form.

I have this problem...
For me, it seems the obsession seems to come from a need to be in control and "all or nothing" way of thinking about things.

I've been through photography, chess, fitness, and an awful case of a formal girlfriend I can't stop obsessing over.

My cognitive therapist suggests it's a bipolar form of thinking about things--which seems right on. Her idea is the behavior is a combination of bipolar and a childhood of seeing the world in black and white.

Does anyone else here have serious effects on their concentration?
I mean like watching movie Black Hawk down ---> seeing a new type of gun in the movie or whatever--->pause movie and open up wikipedia or gogle--> spendng next hour reading about some random stuff--> check email/random stuff--> remember that you have a movie going on and resume watching it.
Or forgetting to submit your tax card into your workplace and have 60% of your salary going to the goverment as a result
Or forgetting to pay the rent

Kharon the ferryman wrote:Does anyone else here have serious effects on their concentration?
I mean like watching movie Black Hawk down ---> seeing a new type of gun in the movie or whatever--->pause movie and open up wikipedia or gogle--> spendng next hour reading about some random stuff--> check email/random stuff--> remember that you have a movie going on and resume watching it.
Or forgetting to submit your tax card into your workplace and have 60% of your salary going to the goverment as a result
Or forgetting to pay the rent

Yeah, especially when I have depression.
When I have hypomania, I more have this flight of ideas.

Kharon the ferryman wrote:Does anyone else here have serious effects on their concentration?
I mean like watching movie Black Hawk down ---> seeing a new type of gun in the movie or whatever--->pause movie and open up wikipedia or gogle--> spendng next hour reading about some random stuff--> check email/random stuff--> remember that you have a movie going on and resume watching it.

Yeah - I do this all the time.

I'm not sure if this is anything to do with mental illness or more to do with my concentration being destroyed by internet usage, probably a combination of both.

I gave up coffee recently and find my concentration has improved quite a lot, however.