Hey guys, I've been having a problem and need some help. Recently I've been sorta down, but thats not really any different than the norm. But whereas before I always had ponies to cheer me back up, now the thought of ponies sorta makes me feel worse. I dunno, I'm just starting to get the feeling that I've gone way over the top with the whole brony thing. Its infiltrated every single part of my life; my friends, my clothes, my music, everything. And it felt really good before, throwing myself into the fandom. I felt like I was part of something really awesome. But now I just sorta feel like its another unhealthy obsession I've gotten myself stuck into. This community has done so much for me, I don't know where I'd be without it. It kept me going through one of the toughest parts of my life. But now it all is just starting to seem like I've been wasting my time and money on a dumb obsession. I guess I just want to know if I'm the only one with these thoughts. Has anyone else here ever felt like this? Or anyone have any advice on how I can stop feeling like this?
The only time I've ever had that thought was when I was dpressed myself. I felt like it was a waste of time. As I come out of the depressive state I feel normal. That's just me though. You said you feel down, does that mean depressed or what? As far as obessing over stuff. I besides MLP obess over the green lantern and the emotional spectrum and hearts. The only way an obsession can be bad is if it effects your life in a bad way. Do you think MLP is effecting you badly? Sorry I can't be more of a help. I can never think of the right words. -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
Well I can't say I have felt like that but I do have some advice. The first time I became a brony I was all over it it literally took over my life but it was awesome! I realised it was an unhealthy obsession when it started to affect the rest of my life. (Grades,Friends, Family etc) So I decided to slow down a bit. I used to watch 5 episodes in one day when I was supposed to be doing homework. so what I did was put limits and challenge myself to see how long I could go without ponies. I watched max one ep a day and when I became up to date with ep's I challenged myself to only watch ep's on the weekend when the new ones came out. I kept the songs on my MP3 player as they helped me a lot when it came to keeping my mood up. I now only use the forums for an hour max on school days and as much as I want on weekends so long as my homework is done.So if you have a problem where it is taking over all your time then limit yourself. suddenly bam! my grades went up and I had more time for friends. AND I was still happy because I still had ponies in my life. as for all the merch I wouldn't worry. I see nothing wrong with having a hobby or collecting shirts and toys. I have a huge pile of Airfix models in my room. It hasn't affected me negatively. With depression and ponies affecting you negatively in that light...hmm. I think you have the same problem as me. when I am depressed I listen t pony music and watch an episode. however it gives me a desire to be able to climb into my screen and live in equestria...then I realise I cannot. I get super depressed then. I think maybe spending more time with your friends or even finding somepony to love might help as you will be interacting with real people more. If you want you can add me on skype simon.robinson68 and we can chat. so basically if you feel you are going over the top that is fine. There is nothing strange about having and obsession. letting it take over your life is where you should draw the line. Just tone it down a little. that's all, you don't have to quit the fandom all together. I hope I helped.
Hopefully this gives you some guidance and much deserved courage to keep moving forward. Especially look at the pic at the end of the post. Just give it time, relax a little, get yourself into a good place and you'll find everything kinda falls together in the end... at least, that's what happened to me.
Considering all the good it has done, can it really be considered an unhealthy obsession? I've enjoyed other things to a more staggering and potentially unhealthy degree.
Thank y'all for responding, it actually means a lot to me Thats pretty much how i feel. Most of the time I feel perfectly fine, but as soon as my mood gets worse, i just start doubting myself. i beat myself up over the decisions I've made, and over who I've become. I think of all of the things that make me an abnormal person, and obviously being a brony is pretty high on that list. Its stupid, but when I'm depressed all I want is to be just a normal guy, without any of my problems. I definitely thought i was the only one who would do this. As as soon as I realized that the world that I wanted to live in was just completely made up and not real, it would crush me, and send me spiraling deeper. I actually read this when it was first posted, and it helped me a lot then too. Though at the time I was just a novice brony, it still gave me confidence knowing that someone out there beat what Im feeling Its done a lot of good for me, I'll never deny that. I might not have made it this far if i hadnt found this fandom. Its just, being a brony has sorta estranged me from the rest of society. I feel like its just another way that im different. But again, thank you all for responding. It actually helps a lot to know that I'm not alone.
My real life interactions with friends usually involve bland topics of school and personal drama. This is a much more interesting topic and seems to lead to more interesting discussions. In fact, World of Warcraft's online interaction was quite enjoyable, though I miss my friends in North Carolina, Wyoming, and Nevada. It's just a common interest, after all.
I understand, I do sometimes think the same way. But as a whole ponies has been a healthy obsession, far more healthy than my obsession with the afterlife. For me, ponies represent all that is good in this world, I think this show has captured a spark of a divine light. My only regret is that I can't enter that world (yet). However upon death, who knows what will happen, maybe Equestria is an echo of paradise, maybe ponies are humans past away. It would wonderful if that was the case.
I too have felt like this, maybe not to the degree you have, but in some ways. I'm always struggling with depression and I'll probably never leave it fully behind and ponies have helped me greatly. I've been in darker places than when I discovered MLP but it definitely helped me clear my mind and focus on good things. I've never felt my healthy obsession with ponies has been a bad thing but I don't enthrall myself as much as I used to in the culture but part of that is because the practices are so common place now seeing as how I've practiced them for a good amount now that my good moods and motivations are more frequent and natural. I thought about whether it was crazy to be a brony and I realized it truly doesn't matter. If I'm thinking if it's something good or bad, I'm putting too much status in it and that in turn is not good. Everything I buy is material and while it gives me happiness, most material things don't. The only happiness you get out, is the happiness you put in. So wondering objectively about whether being a brony is good or bad, you take away the general thought that MLP did this great thing in your life at some point in time. Life is continuous functions but focusing on the good in life isn't bad. It's one thing to keep people sane. So in conclusion I would just say that if you keep your spirits up, and focus on the good that things have given you, there is no reason to question it's authenticity. It provoked a reaction and whether big or small, it should be allowed to come to fruition in any capacity that allows the happiness to flourish which in turn gives you something beneficial for life.
I've had those same feelings. But you know, it helps to know that it isn't the ponies in your life that make you unhappy; it's the griffons. Sometimes, as humans, we redirect our misery onto others, and place blame where it doesn't belong. There's nothing unusual about that. Try getting out of your comfort zone. Meet a new friend, and have a conversation with them about a hobby or interest you forgot you had.
I've felt like that before. All I did was detach myself from the whole brony thing for a while.(7-10 days) I didn't wear my shirts, look at pics, watch videos, and put my RBD toy away. When I came back I felt refreshed and got into again almost immediately. A weird feeling I get is when I'm playing a game where I can get very mad(MW3) while watching ponies at the same time. The conflict between such a strong love and strong hate going on simultaniously makes me feel like I'm going insane. It's a very weird and uncomfortable feeling. That's why I come to the show while being mad at something that happened at an earlier time. Then I feel happy again. One of my favorite parts of the show that I never told anyone about is actually how the characters smile. That probably makes me more happy than anything else in the show. Example: http://img.ponibooru.org/_images/08...- Raindrops absurd_res transparent vector.png
Yeah I see nothing wrong with taking a break from Ponies. Getting really involved in something that is helpful for you is mostly a good thing. If this is an addiction then it is a good addiction when it could be something like Tobacco, Cocaine, or porn instead. Don't ever feel that you need to be constantly involved in MLP fandom though. The community will still be here two weeks from now if you don't log on in two weeks, (and probably be much larger). Ponies will be there for you when you need them.
