Obsessive interests..... this is interesting!! !

Post Reply New Topic

Oh, I forgot...obsessed with myself for the last 40 years

I like this thread, it's very informative and fascinating. So I will post my own as well.

5-10: Reading, Muppets, Science Fiction

10-16: Reading, Writing, Drawing

16-18: Reading, Weight Training, Mathematics, Physics

18-27: Reading, Nuclear Engineering, Anime, Video Games

27-30: Reading, Astrophysics, MMORPGs

30-present: Reading, Writing, Staying away from people (yes, a bit obsessively)

10-12 was about the point where I reached collegiate level of reading, so there really is no need to break it down into the types of books I've read over that span. But typically if it's a book with a very strong romantic love relationship that actually ends well, I will tend to read that book or series at least 5 times, and sometimes many more.

I really prefer the term "special interest" over "obsession". The DSM-IV for AS states:

II) Restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

(A) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(B) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(C) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(D) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects


while for OCD, it defines "obsession" this way:

Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3), and (4):

(1) recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress

(2) the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems

(3) the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action

(4) the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)



I know I'm being pedantic, but I see those as being very different. I have a few things that could be considered special interests in the sense of [b] II (A) for Asperger Syndrome, but I've never experienced them as intrusive or felt any need to suppress it. I enjoy thinking about my special interests, and while I sometimes lose track of time or cause a table to be taken up by one of my projects for long periods of time, it's mostly a positive thing. The only time it's not positive is when I have a strong desire to do something related to a special interest, but lack the materials, time, or something like that.

Lets see...in order of time period then in intensity. I'll only name the top 3 for each time period.

elementary school:
-drawing
-video games
-nightmare on elm st. (specifically Freddy Krueger's glove with the blades)

middle school:
-drawing
-video games
-certain people, one at a time (I wasn't really friends with them, just obsessed with them because they were popular. Most of them didn't even know my name. So I guess popularity was the true root of the obsession with certain people.)

high school:
-ballet
-drawing
-video games

after high school:
-ballet
-drawing
-autism

It was clear when I was about 4 what my special interest is.

I tore apart my sisters ride on car and rebuilt it with discarded car parts from the back ally. I intended to eventually have it ready for my dad to drive it to work. Instead it ended up at an art show.

Been doing it ever since and I really fixate on it and everything that relates.

Here are my most recent accomplishments @ Cardomain.com user GO460

At various points in my life: Astronomy, geology, computer programming, fractal geometry, computer linguistics, nonverbal communication, Civilization games, economics and praxeology, Spengler, Marquez, Twin Peaks, Argentina, Spain, cold hardy palm trees... and just generally absorbing information, analyzing it and not getting enough sleep...

Swinging London
Carnaby Street
The Kinks
Routemasters

I'm old enough to remember Carnaby Street the first time CockneyRebel My sister and I had Twiggy haircuts.

I call them both special interests and obsessions. Like, Lazytown is an obsession for me.

Here are some more I had in the past:

Power Rangers, WWF/WWE, Tots TV (kids show produced by Central), Japan, Japanese, Russian dolls, Little Britain, a lot of musical acts.

_________________
I'm a writer, not a fighter and my pen is always loaded.

Magnús Scheving is my Icelandic rose

My current ones are Linguistics, Buddhism and Buddhist Meditation, and Neuroscience and Autism.