Danger To The obsessed Is Ignorable

[Gomendosi]

I sometimes wonder about things and rather than ponder alone I thought I might treat you to something to think about!

Do your obsessions put you in harms way in ways you don't take into consideration, I am not talking about being obsessed with keeping venomous snakes in your pantry or skydiving with specialty made rice paper parachutes, I mean if you are obsessed by something so much that it blinds you to things you would otherwise be wary of.

I used to be obsessed with reading as a child so much so that I would read while I walked to school, I always looked up to cross the street but drivers may have worried judging by the honks and shouts I got. I also was as an older child, obsessed by collecting trading cards, to the point I would walk or ride my pushbike to places I had never been to that were miles away, just to go somewhere different in the hopes that another location would furnish me with a different selection of trading cards.

Has anybody else been oblivious to dangers due to obsession or does not your obsession obsess you to that point?

 

[King_Oni]

I don't know if it qualifies as "danger' in the literal sense...

But I guess any hobby of mine that turns into a bit more than "just a hobby" often negates life in general. If I'm really busy with anything I'll make sure life doesn't get it in the way... even though I guess it's important to take care of certain things at time. In the long run it might be a danger when it comes to living in general.

Sometimes I think if my painting is an issue in itself. Since I live at my parents house and have to do with just a bedroom I'm kinda bound to paint on said room. I could open a window, but often I don't... thus I'm ending up with a room with some painting fumes. Luckily acrylic based paints don't cause a lot of smelly fumes in general, but I guess exposure over time does tend to make it more of a hazard. It doesn't really affect me directly... and the things that really have ill effects; like spraypainting, strong superglue fumes, I tend to either do outside or open windows for, I guess that over time... you might notice it.

I have wondered though if some obsessions/interests turn you into a danger and said obsession takes hold of you. I guess we all heard about the stereotype of "the serial killer that used to be obsessed with said killers before".

 

[Christy]

My obsession at the time lead me to enrole in a uni to do a course that was only offered in that one uni in all of Australia. Consequently I regularly flew to this other city and caught two trains, just to get off in a suburb that had recently had riots, and where shortly after I left the first time, someone was murdered at my hotel.

Thankfully my classmates had a bit of smarts and refused to let a female wonder alone in said suburb. As long I as could get to my hotel safely, they then chaperoned me the entire stay.

 

[MoCoffee]

I used to be obsessed with reading as a child so much so that I would read while I walked to school, I always looked up to cross the street but drivers may have worried judging by the honks and shouts I got.

Has anybody else been oblivious to dangers due to obsession or does not your obsession obsess you to that point?

This is exactly what I did. I was in danger when I rode my bike too, because I was far more focused on whatever my mind was obsessed with, to the point I wouldn't be aware of my surroundings at all. I was actually hit several times!

 

[total-recoil]

Sure it does. I got knocked down by a car trying to work out a maths problem while crossing a road. Plus, I go for obsession in a huge way and think it's fair to say I cut myself off totally from routine life. When my mind is totally involved with the interests I have I don't tend to get depressed and routine stuff doesn't get me down. The lack of friendships and social contact doesn't seem to bother me if I'm engrossed with my interests. Maybe it's like a drug.

I sometimes wonder about things and rather than ponder alone I thought I might treat you to something to think about!

Do your obsessions put you in harms way in ways you don't take into consideration, I am not talking about being obsessed with keeping venomous snakes in your pantry or skydiving with specialty made rice paper parachutes, I mean if you are obsessed by something so much that it blinds you to things you would otherwise be wary of.

I used to be obsessed with reading as a child so much so that I would read while I walked to school, I always looked up to cross the street but drivers may have worried judging by the honks and shouts I got. I also was as an older child, obsessed by collecting trading cards, to the point I would walk or ride my pushbike to places I had never been to that were miles away, just to go somewhere different in the hopes that another location would furnish me with a different selection of trading cards.

Has anybody else been oblivious to dangers due to obsession or does not your obsession obsess you to that point?

 

[Gomendosi]

I am obsessed at the moment with trying to make my current job a long term thing but they have begun talks about selling up.
I have been obsessed with jobs in the past as I am with this one and now I feel I may need to hire a housekeeper, because while I have a job I become a split personality.
At work there is the clean cut, dapper, well spoken gentleman who gives terrific & friendly customer service and then there is the Aspie, who goes home and doesn't do housework or eat or sleep properly all for worrying about how to do better next shift and if they sell will I lose this job too.
I hate losing jobs because they either sell up, close down or change managers, why cant I have at least one stable thing in my life!

 

[total-recoil]

I'm a bit different but am in the same boat as you I guess. The difference is I don't have any interest in a day job but just enjoy being away so I can get stuck into my electronics stuff which involves reading and wading through diagrams. The problem is my job is also folding up and I face unemployment which is challenging and can lead to anxiety. It's happening to no end of people so you're not alone. Maybe though you could try and set up your own business doing what you enjoy now?

I am obsessed at the moment with trying to make my current job a long term thing but they have begun talks about selling up.
I have been obsessed with jobs in the past as I am with this one and now I feel I may need to hire a housekeeper, because while I have a job I become a split personality.
At work there is the clean cut, dapper, well spoken gentleman who gives terrific & friendly customer service and then there is the Aspie, who goes home and doesn't do housework or eat or sleep properly all for worrying about how to do better next shift and if they sell will I lose this job too.
I hate losing jobs because they either sell up, close down or change managers, why cant I have at least one stable thing in my life!

 

[Judge]

Part of my OCD involves perceived consequences over benign actions. Sort of like superstition on steroids. As if the next choice I make is wrong, it will be very costly to me in a global way. Could be which direction the crow flies. Or what direction one of my stocks goes in the next 60 minutes.

Stupid and silly, but I'm still compelled to do it.

However whatever consequences I imagine are just that- imagined. They have never come to fruition. Nor have I been burglarized, even though I check the lock to my front door up to four times in the last half hour I go to bed.

Does all this put me in harm's way? Nope. I just live with it.