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Freaking Out
Sep. 15th, 2009 09:45 pmI have managed to freak myself out.
Fact: I have a tendency toward obsessive behavior. If I like something I immerse myself in it completely and totally and then am done and can revisit the obsession for enjoyment later. For example, I will listen to the same CD (used to be cassettes) until I have totally absorbed it. I will only start a book if I am pretty sure that I have enough time to finish it in one sitting. I can focus on doing something at work and not take a break for 7 hours.
I have been 'obsessed' with tv shows before...When the kids were little and "Star Trek: Next Generation" came on, Mom was gone for the hour. I simply would not respond during that time.
I am not a big tv watcher. I can truthfully say that the only reason I had a tv was to watch the Star Trek incarnations. Other people in the house watch tv but knowing that I can get hooked to watching something just because of my temperment, regardless of whether it is worth watching, has always motivated me to avoid just 'vegging' in front of the tube.
Now, however, tv series are available in dvd form, all 3 or 5 or 7 years to be watched without the excruciating week (or season-ending) delay. So I have gone mildly obsessive over "Buffy" and "Angel;" the 2 "Stargate" series; and "Firefly," which thankfully is only one season long. I plowed through "Buffy" because I wanted to see what happened next--the worst was the 14 episodes in 36 hours. For the other shows my husband has been watching them as well, which limits it to a maximum of 4 episodes at a stretch because we have to both be home and awake.
But now I am really scaring myself. Two weeks ago my daughter was watching "Supernatural" episodes in her room on her computer while Dave was watching "Supernatural" dvds on the tv, and I finally had to see what they were doing. And, no big surprise, I found myself totally hooked after 2 episodes, needing to see what happens next. Except that, not quite halfway through the second season, I am finding myself so caught up in the stories that I am reacting as if they are real and am getting hysterical at the intensity of what the lead characters are going through! I just finished watching 3 episodes and am so seriously upset at what just happened that I am physically shaking. AND I KNOW IT'S JUST A TV SHOW! What is wrong with me?
Edit: Okay, had an insight, not sure what it means yet, but it has to do with watching two people who are trying so very hard to do the right thing when faced with very gray circumstances, and who are trying so hard to have each other's backs and yet no matter how hard they try they are heading into disaster. And my emotional reaction was "I can't save them" and it is tearing me up. And I am not seeing any parallel to anything in my present life to explain this reaction.
AND I KNOW IT'S JUST A TV SHOW!!!!
Fact: I have a tendency toward obsessive behavior. If I like something I immerse myself in it completely and totally and then am done and can revisit the obsession for enjoyment later. For example, I will listen to the same CD (used to be cassettes) until I have totally absorbed it. I will only start a book if I am pretty sure that I have enough time to finish it in one sitting. I can focus on doing something at work and not take a break for 7 hours.
I have been 'obsessed' with tv shows before...When the kids were little and "Star Trek: Next Generation" came on, Mom was gone for the hour. I simply would not respond during that time.
I am not a big tv watcher. I can truthfully say that the only reason I had a tv was to watch the Star Trek incarnations. Other people in the house watch tv but knowing that I can get hooked to watching something just because of my temperment, regardless of whether it is worth watching, has always motivated me to avoid just 'vegging' in front of the tube.
Now, however, tv series are available in dvd form, all 3 or 5 or 7 years to be watched without the excruciating week (or season-ending) delay. So I have gone mildly obsessive over "Buffy" and "Angel;" the 2 "Stargate" series; and "Firefly," which thankfully is only one season long. I plowed through "Buffy" because I wanted to see what happened next--the worst was the 14 episodes in 36 hours. For the other shows my husband has been watching them as well, which limits it to a maximum of 4 episodes at a stretch because we have to both be home and awake.
But now I am really scaring myself. Two weeks ago my daughter was watching "Supernatural" episodes in her room on her computer while Dave was watching "Supernatural" dvds on the tv, and I finally had to see what they were doing. And, no big surprise, I found myself totally hooked after 2 episodes, needing to see what happens next. Except that, not quite halfway through the second season, I am finding myself so caught up in the stories that I am reacting as if they are real and am getting hysterical at the intensity of what the lead characters are going through! I just finished watching 3 episodes and am so seriously upset at what just happened that I am physically shaking. AND I KNOW IT'S JUST A TV SHOW! What is wrong with me?
Edit: Okay, had an insight, not sure what it means yet, but it has to do with watching two people who are trying so very hard to do the right thing when faced with very gray circumstances, and who are trying so hard to have each other's backs and yet no matter how hard they try they are heading into disaster. And my emotional reaction was "I can't save them" and it is tearing me up. And I am not seeing any parallel to anything in my present life to explain this reaction.
AND I KNOW IT'S JUST A TV SHOW!!!!
