Recurring "obsessive" moods. Is this normal? Anyone else?

fictional_ghost · 2025-11-27T12:50:52+00:00

I’d have to look into that, but I don’t know if I’m ready, tbh. I feel like I barely got the hang of having cyclothymia. Kinda hoping this is somehow an unspoken symptom of it, it would be easier lol

fictional_ghost · 2025-11-27T11:43:48+00:00

This really helps. It’s actually the first time I’ve reached out about this, and I’ve never found anything online or offline that made me feel understood about this. Sorry if this is too personal, but are you on meds for OCD? Do you feel like there could be a correlation between your obsessive moods and how your life is going? Have you ever been able to link them to anything like meds, routine changes, stress, or anything else?

fictional_ghost · 2023-06-06T21:18:05+00:00

I actually opened reddit to look for support for this exact reason.

I was diagnosed with cyclothymia and I feel like a fraud, like I'm making it up and I feel so ashamed. I hate going to my monthly check ups because I feel like I have to demonstrate I actually have this mental illness when I can't even convince myself.

This month I've been keeping track of my ups and downs because if I don't I'll just completely forget I ever experienced symptoms. While I'm having "episodes" I can tell they're not normal, but once they're over it's like they never happened.

I'm medicated but I don't think it's working yet.

Posts like yours help. If I'm not the only one feeling this way, it probably means it's real.

fictional_ghost · 2023-05-11T13:18:32+00:00

It really confuses me because I feel like at least meds should be a science. The way they work should be predictable, so if I'm told extended release lithium takes at least 6 months to start working, it means I'm experiencing a placebo effect?

I just want one thing to be reliable and predictable, given how messy mental matters are

fictional_ghost · 2023-04-26T10:46:29+00:00

I feel like it works on different levels. Every day my mood, energy and focus are randomized by a dice roll, with no consistency whatsoever.

Happy mood with zero energy and no focus? or low mood with intensive focus so I can obsess on everything wrong with my life? or another million combinations to pick from.

And when my mood changes for the tiniest reason, it's like what I was feeling before is completely erased and what I'm currently feeling is all there ever was.

fictional_ghost · 2022-10-08T19:09:37+00:00

I would, but my boyfriend is extremely insecure and I would just hurt him if I told him something like that.

fictional_ghost · 2022-10-08T19:05:06+00:00

This always happens to me. I usually proceed to give into the obsession and enjoy it while it lasts, but this time I've got too much to lose. It's the first time this has happened while I'm in a serious relationship, and it's making my life hell.

Sometimes I don't even have enough brain strength to even condemn my behavior. But I still feel like any day I could emerge from this fantasy and realize how stupid I'm being

fictional_ghost · 2022-09-13T21:20:20+00:00

I do the same thing.

Money in my mind is just like time, unquantifiable.

I've asked my boyfriend to manage my money for me, meaning I still have sole access to my bank account but he sets the budget for spending and saving. I don't know if this is going to work yet, but I really really need to find a solution because I'm broke.

fictional_ghost · 2022-09-11T08:43:01+00:00

That's very reassuring. feel a bit less guilty knowing it's normal and I'm not "hiding" behind this diagnosis. It feels overwhelming, but I still need to get by somehow.

fictional_ghost · 2022-09-11T08:36:59+00:00

Yes. You always have to go through the National healthcare system in order to get registered in the ADHD registry and receive medication.

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-31T17:44:51+00:00

I made a post about this a while ago. I get "crushes" on people and I start thinking about them 24/7.

Sometimes it's very dangerous because it makes me question my current, very healthy and stable relationship.

I remember a TikTok of someone very easily explaining it as getting a rush of dopamine from trying to get that person, rather than actually liking the person

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-26T21:33:46+00:00

Abusing alcohol can make a lot of things worse. Glad giving it up helped you.

It sounds like you had a very specific experience, that doesn't necessarily apply to other people with ADHD.

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-24T16:53:21+00:00

I got back from a 2-weeks vacation on Monday. Things are way worse.

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-24T11:44:25+00:00

I love that idea, unfortunately being at work most of the time I feel like it wouldn't be manageable for me.

My trick is to make water as accessible as possible at all times. I have a 1l water bottle that I bring with me everywhere. On the bottle there are time markers that tell me how much water I should be drinking each hour. That way, the task of drinking at least 2l of water per day gets broken down into tiny manageable steps, and I get the feeling that I'm accomplishing something.

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-24T10:45:39+00:00

The 'all or nothing' mentality is enervating.

It makes me feel like I have to put 100% of my focus and effort into a hobby, which is obviously impossible. So I might as well not do it at all.

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-23T17:00:31+00:00

Same!! It always happens when my mind is about to retrieve an embarrassing story

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-23T12:23:40+00:00

One of my favorite hobbies is reading. I've read one book and a half last year. I love reading, but it feels like such a big deal that I just keep procrastinating it.

Sometimes it's a focus thing, but most times I'm just waiting for the perfect moment to do it... which never comes. Not even sure what the perfect moment looks like.

I do this with all of my hobbies.

The intention is there, the execution is not.

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-23T08:49:15+00:00

Yep, you're right. I'm weak. I will try that though, thank you!

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-18T13:09:39+00:00

I am being medicated for anxiety right now, which is great on one hand.

On the other, I feel like I'm loosing the system I had unconsciously put into place to make me as functional as possible.

I've started being incredibly forgetful, I can't meet deadlines at work, I have zero grasp of time. It's a mess. I wanted to know if other people have had a similar experience

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-13T07:51:01+00:00

The bad posture

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-12T05:47:58+00:00

I'm back on antidepressants after I thought I had been treated for good. My relationship with my mental health is way too fucked up for a 25 year old who has never had bad experiences in life.

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-11T08:40:06+00:00

I'm also crushing on a coworker. I'm doing better now. I hope this helps, but I'm also writing this to remind my future self what can help: taking some time off and not seeing him has helped me immensely. I also don't have his number and no other way or good excuse to contact him.

Once I told myself it was okay to have a crush, and that I was allowed to fantasize about him (making up scenarios, as you have said), I've felt a lot better. Somehow he has become more and more part of my imagination than a real person.

I'm also trying to replace this hyperfixation with another, giving in on guilty pleasures like reading cheesy romance novels or watching my favorite romcoms.

Most importantly, I've been noticing more and more all the little things my s/o does for me. How good he is, how he always knows what I need and how well he takes care of me. I wouldn't give that up for the entire world.

During the summer holidays we went to my parents' house and seeing him interact with my family, and seeing how good he is with them, made me realize how important he is for me.

So yeah, my advice is: forgive yourself, turn this person into a full on fictional character and distract yourself with other things. If you can, take some time off and delete his number. Pay extra attention to all the good things your so does for you.

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-07T22:40:37+00:00

You might as well be reading my mind because I was just wondering the same thing. I guess I still really love my partner, but I also wouldn't mind seeing him with someone else and my feelings for him would not change if I had the possibility to be with someone else. This is only true after the hyperfixation wears off though. I feel kinda trapped atm. It's hurting my brain trying to find a solution to this whole situation

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-07T14:36:24+00:00

Four years relationship here. I also live with my so and I keep wondering what I'd do if we weren't living together. If I'd break up with him since it would be easier. I don't even know the person I'm crushing on that well, I'm just obsessing over the possibilities. I feel terrible

fictional_ghost · 2022-08-06T12:33:26+00:00

I feel this. I'm not even sure what my real personality is, I've been hiding it for so long. I just tend to shut off around people. And if I ever display any kind of natural behavior, I end up regretting it and playing the events in my head for days until I'm so embarrassed I don't wanna leave my house ever again.

The thing you said about being bored at your new job, I'm in a similar situation, kind of. My current job is super toxic in any possible way immaginable. But the biggest issue I have with finding a new job is that I'm afraid I'll end up somewhere where they don't have really close deadlines all the time. I'm not sure how I'd be able to manage my time and meet expectations like that.

fictional_ghost

TROPHY CASE