[Eva_Star]

So there are many, many ways that my ocd will manifest into my life but the one that has been with me the longest perplexes me. It will hit me at random, maybe something someone says, or something I hear about on tv. All of the sudden, I have to know everything I can possibly know about a topic.

Example: A coworker mentioned in passing that she is Mormon. I ended up spending 3 month studying everything I could get my hands on about Mormonism. I was obsessed with understanding it, knowing about it. I probably read 80 books...at least.

This has happened over and over. Topics that come to mind: yoga, tarot cards, Christianity, Catholicism, vegetarianism, clouds, shoes, vitamins, WWII, Saints, prayer, massage,reiki etc, etc, etc. My former therapist had a theory that this was some kind of coping mechanism but we couldn't figure out what the trigger was...why this keeps happening?

Does anyone have anything like this? I've yet to find any info on this part of my ocd.

[CANDC]

This could just be a curiosity and thirst for knowledge. There might be underlying intentions of compensation for some relationship loss or loss of possessions but it still sounds like a wonderful thing if it does not wreck your job or family life.

Can you find a way to integrate all these expressions into your life? That would make it more than just a whim. To take that wisdom and incorporate it into your life.

[Eva_Star]

I'm definitely a naturally curious person. I love to understand things...but when a topic grabs me in an obsessive way, its different than when I just want to learn/know about something. I won't be able to sleep. I will check out every single book on the topic. I will spend days, sometimes weeks, looking up the topic, taking notes...it will be all I can think about. My anxiety will skyrocket until suddenly, with no warning, I won't care about the topic anymore...won't want to look at anything to do with it. Just BOOM...done.

I guess there are good things about this happening...I mean, I do well at Wii Jeopardy. lol But it doesn't feel good while its happening, Not at all. I think it would be fine if I could find a way to minimize the obsessive part of it. To just think, hey that sounds interesting, I think I will read A book or TWO on that topic...not oh crud, the next 3 months of my life are going to be about this topic. Not sure how to get there though.

Thank you!

I've never experienced that, but my OCD manifests in a more C than O way; yours sounds pure O.

[Eva_Star]

Originally Posted by 8888an8888

I've never experienced that, but my OCD manifests in a more C than O way; yours sounds pure O.

That is interesting! I've never thought of that before but you are right I'm definitely more obsessive than compulsive in all my tendencies, not just the topic obsession.

Thank you!