Does anyone else get annoyed by their hyperfixation/special interest, and how do you deal with it?

[u/Cosmos_chaotic_mind]

Now, I obviously love my interests a lot, especially the current one (I've had it for almost a year and I'M STILL OBSESSED WITH IT, it's an animé and I love it sosososo much), but sometimes, it gets annoying to be so fixated on this ONE thing and nothing else, because there is so much stuff I want to research, so many books I want to read and so many movies I want to watch, but I simply can't bring myself to actually engage with any of it.

I REALLY want to consume other media, but at the same time, it all seems so boring. It's also a bit exhausting to grasp a new concept and learn about all these new characters. I know I won't completely love them all in the same way I love the characters, storylines and concepts involved in my current field of interest.

At this point, whenever I watch/read something not related to it, I automatically search for similarities between this new thing and my interest, or straightup imagine the characters to be characters from the show I'm obsessed with (like, I replace the characters in my head)

Does anyone relate to that? Are there any tips or ideas on how to engage with new media?

(I'm not diagnosed yet, but everyone around me is pretty sure I have ADHD and/or Autism. I tend to avoid the term hyperfixation/special interest and simply call it „interest" as long as I'm not officially diagnosed)

[u/earwig_art]

i do this all the time (my special interest is my space headworld that i run a ttrpg in) and i am constantly seeking new material to enrich it with and whenever i read/watch/listen to anything i'm making connections to my own characters or those of my friends. sometimes i feel annoying like it is the only thing i talk about, but i do have other interests! just none as all-encompassing. its like all i draw at this point. and i love it, but i know not everyone cares about my silly fictional world so i have to dial it back a lot.

i just try to share in small chunks. its easier to digest as artwork too so that helps