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Is it common to have 3 major obsessions your whole life?

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daydreamer84
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18 Jun 2013, 1:02 pm

The_Walrus wrote:
KingdomOfRats wrote:
daydreamer84 wrote:
Yes, some ASD'ers (apies) have a few special interests at once and sure someone could have a few lifelong ones.

not just aspies,the actual label of ASD each one of us have doesnt affect whether we will have special interests- OR not, the only people on the spectrum who do not get significantly obsessive special interests are those who have profound intelectual disability; a common regular interest in this group is watching tv but they do not watch it for the program itself it is only the sensory input it gives them,the colours and lines and for some people-the sounds.
many very mildly autistic people also do not have significant special interests,they tend to have non obsessive interests that emulate the NT background.

am severely autistic and mine have been lifelong around;animals,computers,disabled sport,cartoons;for sensory input.
am a special olympics club athlete but cant afford the sessions at the moment,and also a RDA rider but the last RDA school was in was closing and theres no where else around willing to accept,plus not able to afford it anymore anyway,riding schools have all put their prices up and its only half an hour long,dont mind it if actualy went to the horses and not their profit.

I think daydreamer84 was using "Aspies" as shorthand for "people on the autistic spectrum". At least, I know I do that all the time.


I was but it is kind of a confusing term.



Ettina
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18 Jun 2013, 1:32 pm

I have had several different obsessions. However, they can all be summed up by three headers:

* genetics
* psychology
* other species (either real animals or fantasy creatures)

All of these three still hold interest for me, even if I'm not fascinated by the same subheadings now as I used to be. For example, I'm no longer interested in illegal drugs and addiction, now I'm more interested in attachment disorders, but psychology is still an interest.



MusicalWonders
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18 Jun 2013, 4:44 pm

Of course they have more than one obsession. Just like interests but more powerful.



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19 Jun 2013, 2:42 am

For many of us, our obsession become our profession. And the better for that, yes? KingdomOfRats made a keen point about this trait in the whole of the spectrum as well.


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Shellfish
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20 Jun 2013, 7:24 am

Surely, at 2-5 years old, programming and science would have been too advanced? DS gets a new special interests every 3-6 months although Super Mario Bros is almost a year now..


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Drehmaschine
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20 Jun 2013, 9:46 am

Not uncommon at all. I can only think of one obsession I've had my whole life (lathes) and it's the one that got me a job. It's the reason I actually like going to work and don't see it as just money. The people I don't much like, but the machines makes it worthwhile.



KF2M
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21 Jun 2013, 9:08 am

Lifelong interest started off with just electronics, got my Amateur Radio Operators license at 12. Made it through HS then joined the Army formally learned more electronics (before that was self taught). Post Army started working on computers. Still have my Ham License, still playing, and working with computer hardware. I am also a gearhead (into cars/trucks), and of course sex...

I got lucky and was able to parlay my electronics obsession into a trade/job.



GregCav
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21 Jun 2013, 4:43 pm

I have many interests, but I only let one take front stage at any given time. It becomes an obsession which I let run its course. I generally start wearing it thin by about 10 years. I then put it on the low priority list and go with another.

PS: actualy, according to my list below, I don't. I do several concurrently. But hey :)

Surfing 17 years.
Martial arts 15 years.
D&D 15 years.
Wood carving 3 years.
Old cars 17 years.
Computer programming 10 years and ongoing.
Music (instrument + production) 5 years and ongoing.
Human psychology 5 years and ongoing.



nikaTheJellyfish
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21 Jun 2013, 8:44 pm

Only having one is a common misconception.

My long-term interests are jellyfish and Mario games (I am now in my mid-twenties). I also pick up more minor interests and keep them for 6 months to 2 years before switching. These do not replace the long-term ones though.



CockneyRebel
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22 Jun 2013, 12:41 am

My three lifelong special interests have been:

The Kinks
Computers - later on the Internet
The Summer and Winter Olympics

I know that there are people on here that might not like my special interests, but they are mine and I'd like others to respect my interests as much as I respect theirs. I want to feel welcome after coming back from a break after enjoying something I like.


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