Make it stop ...

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My mind is racing at warp 10 on something that is totally unrelated to my job (though 100% related to my special interests). I am sitting here zoning in and out, my mind fully absorbed, at moments practically motionless. I suspect I might look a bit catatonic to a fly on the wall.

But I am going to lose my job if I can't break out of this. I keep coming up for air to briefly engage in external things (like posting this), but then I get sucked right back into it.

I'm getting nothing done.

Any suggestions on how to break out of one of these mental black holes? It doesn't help that I don't WANT to. My mind fully engaged is a place that is of great exhilaration. I LIKE being there. I don't even care if what goes on there matters to anyone else. Just being there is enough. Does that make sense?

Don't know. Perhaps switching to one of your secondary interests, and after some time to your work.

Listening to music on earphones.

Are you using a computer for your special interest at the moment? Close its window. (It doesn't come naturally to me, that's why I dare to write it down.)

Same thing is happening to me today.

Listening to music does seem to help.

I think you should just keep doing what you're doing OP. Don't worry about it until your boss comes and hassles you.

Sometimes it helps me to write the thoughts down, it seems to "solidify" them if that makes any sense!

What I mean is when I'm thinking obsessively about something its like the thoughts have no set shape, I can move them around to see what patterns emerge which can be absolutely fascinating and totally absorbing. Something about the process of writing them down (talking doesn't work) releases me from the obsession - unless what I've written sets me off on another chain of thought

When I am in that 'space' time stops. I feel no pain - really. I have some persistent pain in my shoulder. When I'm in that place, I don't feel that. Or any other pain. It's like a freaking drug.

Actually, just opening this thread helped a lot. It reconnected me to the immediate.

I'm lucky enough to be diverted by mindless things - tv shows, cute animal video on youtube, mindless puzzle games online. It gets me out of my interest and into a neutral focused state of mind. From there I can get back to what needs to be done and try to save the personal happy space for the drive home.

Some people find listening to white (or pink or brown) noise helps them to concentrate.
http://simplynoise.com/

What to do is do your best to focus on your work - you cant afford to lose your job, especially not if you have Asperger's or any other autistic spectrum disorder - finding a job is really difficult just now in almost any field seemingly.

Two things, could you work for say 20 minutes at a time and then practice your special interest in between for say 5-8 minutes. If you need to justify this to anyone basically humans can only focus for say 20 minutes at a time so by taking regular short breaks you will improve your focus and concentration on your work

also when you are working on something, your subconsious mind also works and it may come up with a unique solution to a problem or help you realise something

have pen and paper or notepad open on computer to write down any thoughts - running in background

Other thing to do is always have a drink to hand, and cut out some additives from food, cut out stimulants such as pseudoephedrine, caffeine etc and also cut out Aspartame from your diet [found in soft drinks and yoghurts]

Do all that and see how you get on - avoid white noise because it isnt pleasant either quiet music that is rhythmic without a lot of high pitched noises or something soft - music you like that isnt distracting or no music.

Sometimes if there is a lot of background noise, listening to some music to drown it out helps.

I have to put timers on my work and work through task lists. For every 2 tasks or big task I do, I will give myself a set amount of time to be "me".