Obsession and physiological arousal

[ALustSupreme]

Hi,

This is my first time writing erotic fiction in earnest. The past few days I wrote compulsively. One problem I'm dealing with is that I've gotten so obsessed with it that it's hard to even eat or sleep properly. And I feel an antisocial desire to just be alone and write and I've resented the presence of the family member I am living which has made me feel guilty. Physical effects besides the sleeping and eating are that my armpits get really sweaty and stomach feels uneasy. Anyone else deal with these things and how do you manage it? Thank you.

 

[FromManyOne]

That sounds either unhealthy or like a character in Nineteenth Century Gothic or Romantic fiction. (Being a character in Gothic fiction is probably unhealthy.)

 

[NotWise]

Hi,

This is my first time writing erotic fiction in earnest. The past few days I wrote compulsively. One problem I'm dealing with is that I've gotten so obsessed with it that it's hard to even eat or sleep properly. And I feel an antisocial desire to just be alone and write and I've resented the presence of the family member I am living which has made me feel guilty. Physical effects besides the sleeping and eating are that my armpits get really sweaty and stomach feels uneasy. Anyone else deal with these things and how do you manage it? Thank you.

That doesn't sound too unusual to me, but it's something you may want to temper sooner rather than later.

 

[StillStunned]

Hi,

This is my first time writing erotic fiction in earnest. The past few days I wrote compulsively. One problem I'm dealing with is that I've gotten so obsessed with it that it's hard to even eat or sleep properly. And I feel an antisocial desire to just be alone and write and I've resented the presence of the family member I am living which has made me feel guilty. Physical effects besides the sleeping and eating are that my armpits get really sweaty and stomach feels uneasy. Anyone else deal with these things and how do you manage it? Thank you.

I've been doing this for more than three years, and when I'm in the grips of a story I resent anything that intrudes on my writing. I resent being distracted from thinking about writing. I resent having to sleep when I'd rather be drafting scenes in my mind.

So yes, welcome to the hobby. It's part of being a writer, I think, that we'd sometimes rather dwell in our fictional worlds than the real world.

 

[Rob_Royale]

The sleeping issues and antisocial aspects I have had. Any time I've started a new hobby, but this one more than most. Anything creative will dominate my attention.

As your career here progresses it may subside some. It has for me but YMMV.

 

[Britva415]

Hi,

This is my first time writing erotic fiction in earnest. The past few days I wrote compulsively. One problem I'm dealing with is that I've gotten so obsessed with it that it's hard to even eat or sleep properly. And I feel an antisocial desire to just be alone and write and I've resented the presence of the family member I am living which has made me feel guilty. Physical effects besides the sleeping and eating are that my armpits get really sweaty and stomach feels uneasy. Anyone else deal with these things and how do you manage it? Thank you.

Do these effects happen with other things besides writing erotica?

 

[ALustSupreme]

Do these effects happen with other things besides writing erotica?

Yes, I've noticed it in the past when playing competitive games online like chess or Hearthstone. The sweaty armpits are the same and the constant fantasizing about what strategies I'm going to use next time are like how I'm fantasizing about writing scenarios now. I had to stop playing those games because I never found a way to deal with the resentment and impatience I felt while not playing. Have no idea why writing erotic fiction should have a similar effect because the two activities seem quite dissimilar at first glance.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Some people can become quite invested in specific activities and interests that consume large chunks of time and energy, sometimes to the detriment of their well-being. While it can be really awesome to be in the zone (speaking as someone who used to be there a lot), it's more important to make sure to set aside time to take care of yourself. You can write till you keel over from dehydration if you want, but then you can't keep writing, can you? Some people find it helpful to set timers to remind themselves to drink water or to eat when they are in these modes.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yes, I've noticed it in the past when playing competitive games online like chess or Hearthstone. The sweaty armpits are the same and the constant fantasizing about what strategies I'm going to use next time are like how I'm fantasizing about writing scenarios now. I had to stop playing those games because I never found a way to deal with the resentment and impatience I felt while not playing. Have no idea why writing erotic fiction should have a similar effect because the two activities seem quite dissimilar at first glance.

Sounds to me like you need to find ways to wind yourself back some, to reduce the intensity of your response to your writing - especially since you say it's impacting the family member you live with.

Wanting to be alone as you write is one thing, breaking into sweat and feeling resentment is something else. That's a bit of a worry, to be honest. You don't mention the type of content you're writing - that might be something to consider as well. Writing erotica can have a powerful effect on the mind - do make sure it's not harmful.

 

[TheLobster]

Yes, I've noticed it in the past when playing competitive games online like chess or Hearthstone. The sweaty armpits are the same and the constant fantasizing about what strategies I'm going to use next time are like how I'm fantasizing about writing scenarios now. I had to stop playing those games because I never found a way to deal with the resentment and impatience I felt while not playing. Have no idea why writing erotic fiction should have a similar effect because the two activities seem quite dissimilar at first glance.

This sounds like addictive personality; you simply found a new outlet. Whatever coping strategies you used to manage it previously should work for writing as well.

 

[Imstillfun]

Hi,

This is my first time writing erotic fiction in earnest. The past few days I wrote compulsively. One problem I'm dealing with is that I've gotten so obsessed with it that it's hard to even eat or sleep properly. And I feel an antisocial desire to just be alone and write and I've resented the presence of the family member I am living which has made me feel guilty. Physical effects besides the sleeping and eating are that my armpits get really sweaty and stomach feels uneasy. Anyone else deal with these things and how do you manage it? Thank you.

Do you get obsessed with other activities? I would see a dr. Sounds like a number of medical conditions including bipolar disorder, addiction, or other obsessive disorders.

 

[Britva415]

I think it will run its course. You’ll finish writing all your present ideas, and, it will get harder to come up with new ones, and you’ll stop the writing and some other interest will grab you.

I‘m not a psychologist or an expert in anything, I have just formed this impression, is all.

 

[Randy_Lector]

Something similar happens to me when large amounts of content reveal themselves to me - especially when in the world-building phase. I can't tell you how many times my wife has noticed me staring off into space while I indulge my imagination and said, "What's going on in there."

"Oh. Nothing, hun. Just a plot bunny hopping by."

My advice is to do what you can to just get it out of your system. One strategy that has helped me it to outline everything that comes to mind. If I actually write the scene, I'm stuck in that mode until I get it all out and it takes much longer to write it out than to outline it.

For me, outlining is like scratching a persistent itch. It helps, even if it's temporary. Writing is the salve that cures the itch.

Remember to take deep breaths and keep life in perspective. Hang in there!