Lifelong constant need of information.

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Does anyone else have this? I think it started for me in my late teens and is probably related to me never being able to be employed. It used to be based on my interests which could last months or years, but the last 10 years I've just been seeking new information of any kind. Anything that interests me.

I often do anywhere from 2 to 10 hours straight researching something I will never use in my life. I keep an influx of science related articles or in depth trade skills I never really put to use. I have been watching TED talks, documentaries, and recently the robust amounts of podcasts out there by brilliant minds. I was in a relationship for 7 years and never spoke about these things, the people I do know don't care, so I never developed a way to discuss the things I am interested in.

This makes me feel good. Especially when topics intertwine that I have read a lot about, and when I make these connections without them being pointed out. When I can study something somebody put years of his life into, and it directly relates to something somebody else spent many more years on, and I can sit on my computer for a 10 hour session and make my own connections I feel privileged to be doing so. My reward system is very strong and I can get a high for hours just processing information. But I can't do anything with it. Lately I've been getting very depressed after long sessions.

A big one for me could be defined as Sociology, but not in a textbook way. I have always been interested in cultures around me and how people act and the most important part to me, why. So if I do talk to anyone, I can always find common ground and entertain them on some level. But it just makes me feel fake and disconnected. It has limited my ability to be friends with people, I feel like the majority of people are just skimming the surface without any understanding of the reality of the universe and of their own human life. And I am very respectful of this, I don't see them as any less or more important or even stupid, some are very smart, but I can't associate comfortable with the common American.

I have tried disconnecting. I have a place I can go out in the country without internet. Even then I started studying my surroundings to more detail than I should have. I feel like the only time I can enjoy things is through other people, by experiencing things with them as they pull me into their world. When I'm around people the need for information shuts down, but I have developed such a stupid demeanor with such horrible communication skills that I start to feel trapped. I can be happy for short periods but then I stop feeling like myself.. so I dive back into pondering another question of life that will have no direct impact except making me feel more distant from humanity.

So I need this to be happy, but it makes me unhappy.

Yes.

The Aspie brain is an obsessive brain, and we do have a constant need for information (although conversely a need to switch off and recover from certain forms of external information too), hence special interests.

I need to be learning information or it feels like there is something missing and I don't feel right. Scientific information particularly.

Our brains are wired for it, it's our natural state of being.

That's why I want to go into research.

Same here. I need constant informational input. Almost any topic will do. Plus I tend to retain a good chunck of whatever I learn for a looooooooong time. I think its where aspies get the "know it all" label. Although pedantic speech doesn't help much either.

Whatever, I know a little about everything and a lot about some things and that's because my intellectual brain will not go into a state of rest. If I don't learn something new for too long my brain starts to feel itchy. That's the best way I can describe it. After itchy comes cranky. I don't like to get there.

I think that need for information is why I became a librarian.

I always related to the Johnny-5 robot from Short Circuit... "Input! Input!

Arggghhh!

We are a breed of robots! It's all there...storing information like a computer, lack of empathy, logical, factual, no need for company (OK let me stretch it a bit).

The human race is going to become...androids!

Yes, I know that feeling. I'll go on a multi-hour information "binge" and then sit back afterwards and say "ah, that was good". Like after a good meal or hot tub session. Information and connecting the dots is just so tasty.

I relate to much of what you said. I'm curious why you have resigned yourself to believing these efforts are not useful or that you won't gain employment?

Bodybuilders spend hours and hours pumping away lifting weights and their muscles become big. Aspies can spend hours and hours studying, thinking and using logic and it makes our brains "big". Sadly there are no Aspie Mr Universe competitions where anyone will acknowledge the merit of our efforts, but there are many examples of Aspies who have translated their efforts into something useful.

Me too, although I don't retain the details very well but always have to be learning. I'll soon start a volunteer project of assessing and organizing the small library for a non-profit and will be staying at the office day and night for a week or two no distractions, no home responsibilities-can you imagine my delight-uninterupted study of a wide range of topic. Heaven!! ! I used to be a research librarian and got PAID for this obsession, although I did have to stay somewhat focused.

As far as having a down feeling when done, I can mostly avoid it but know what you're talking about. To avoid it, I try to limit the time spend on getting real far afield of certain research goals related to real information needs. Definately I'll make a jump or two (or five!) away from the original topic, but do try to practice some restraint! Also, you mentioned getting outside, and even if we study the trees and bark and rocks, at least we're outside. Also just keeping a routine of daily chores, exercise, etc forces a break in the obsession. And I'm personally to physically restless to sit still longer than a few hours.

So nice to discuss this topic. I'm new to WP and HAVE NEVER had a discussion about it ever. Thanks everyone!! !!

I'm the same way! I start doing intense research about many different things until I feel satisfied and feel like I have gotten enough information needed. Until I decide to research something completely different. I find it easy to understand the information when I read it once and memorize it. But when it comes to school work and subjects like math and such I find it so hard to memorize those kind of things because I am forced to memorize it.

Some of the things I've done lots of research on are: different people- facts about them, diseases- the symptoms, causes, treatments, food- health, fitness, fda, religions, things related to aspergers, neurological problems, birth defects, things related to different countries- the capitals, states, accents, memorizing the U.S map, music, etc, etc.

I would have said the same at any number of moments in my life (almost 54 now), and at times it seemed my pursuits were as non-negotiable as they were inutile. Marriage, kids, house, poof. Nothing deterred the drive. Now I look back, enjoying it. "It" didn't make money, "it" didn't make my family happy, but I lived long enough (internet expanded that small town) to see how "it" has entered into other lives, with meaning. The meaning has been human after all. No one could have been more surprised than me. I've said it before but I say it right at you: love the you you've yet to know.