Do you go through 'phases of obsession' ??

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I've been obsessed with Tim Burton's movies for the past 2 years. The intensity of the obsession goes in phases - sometimes I'm into it, but most times it feels like it's fading. It was really intense during the first year following the beginning of the obsession, but unfortunately the novelty has worn off. I can't even remember the last time I watched any of the movies.

Sometimes, I go on a hunt for new obsessions. But even if I find something I like, I'll make excuses as to why I shouldn't like it and should go back to Tim Burton stuff. I'm at war with myself - part of me is tired of liking the same old thing and wants a new obsession, but another part of me is afraid to let my old obsession go. My mom thinks it's because Tim Burton movies are the first obsession I've had that involves real people, being live-action instead of animation like my previous obsessions were. She says that the fact that they're live-action creates the illusion that I know the actors/actresses personally, which is true - I feel like if I give up my Tim Burton movie obsession, I'll "hurt the characters' feelings". My mom has dubbed this phenomenon "The Human Factor".

On an unrelated note, I also have a secondary obsession with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. But unlike my Tim Burton obsession, it still has the element of novelty to it because I've only had it for the past 3 months and I'm careful not to overindulge in it.

Long term interest(s):

I became obsessed with space at six. I have wanted to be an astronaut since I was eight.
When I was fifteen, quantum physics came in, along side the above. Then general relativity.

Short term:

I often have a history interest/obsession. A year ago, it was ancient ireland. Its currently neanderthals.
Also currently, random facts and maths. I also have a medium term obsession with pi.

I go through distinct phases, but normally quit things when I reach the limit of my ability.

I loved karate, I trained 4 times a week for two years, but I reached a point where I simply didn't have the ability to pick up the new katas without 1 on 1 tuition, I just didn't go once, then never went back. This wasn't. Conscious decision it just sort of happened.

Running was the same, although only 6 months, I was running 4 times a week, once I reached the point where I could run indefinitely (ie, 10k+) the challenge was lost and I again just stopped.

I tend to have computing always there (although the actual interest within computing changes all the time), plus some other thing such as Sudoku, Online Poker or fantasy novels.

Jason

As a child I was obsessed with horses. I could name every breed and its features and every time I saw a horse I would tell people how tall it can become, what's the name of that particular colour and where that particular breed originated from....

In high school I was obsessed with folk music bands and the X files. Later on I was still obsessed with the X files and became deeply interested in Japanese rock bands. I collected everything I could find, I spent all my money on magazines that had to be imported from Japan, I started to learn Japanese in order to read them and I dressed up like their band members...

When that obsession faded TV shows totally took over. I re-watched the X files for the 20th time and I started to watch some other shows that made me completely obsessed (Lost, Alias, Supernatural, Heroes, Prison Break, FlashForward, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead....) I would watch all seasons over and over again and look up the weirdest details on the internet. I would also start additional reading about topics that appeared in my shows (time travel, many worlds theory, chemistry, electromagnetism, whoohoo) and I would annoy my friends with all my findings and how stupid I thought some episodes were and how many goofs and plot holes I noticed in the episodes. Most of the time I would also never leave my room (except for going to work) or interact with my roommates. Even if I did so, all I would talk about was my shows and I would see references in random objects and they wouldn't understand half of what I said because I would speak in tv show quotes

I was thinking about any other current obsession (apart from Syd Barrett) and I realised I've always been obsessed with myself! I don't think I'm a selfish person but I'm totally self-centered.

My first obsesive love interest was Dinosaurs also. Kind of a classic, but reading on them caused my reading skills to rocket up several grade levels above my classmates.

Sincerely,
Matthew