Obsession jumping?

Post Reply New Topic

Hello... As you can probably tell, I'm fairly new to the boards. I fit a lot of the symptoms for AS, including obsessions. My long-standing obsessions are video games (real productive, I know) and computers. But I also have mini obsessions, for lack of a better phrase. These are almost always future purchases that go away shortly after whatever is purchased (phone, mac mini, and a motorcycle for the most recent ones). Almost like obsessive research before buying. Anyway, I can't seem to focus on one thing for more than 3 months or so before switching to something else. Usually it's just between games and computers (programming, these days). My question is, is this usual for an aspie? Does this behavior exclude me from an AS diagnosis?

Thanks in advance...

I do that too and have a firm AS diagnosis. Actually it is a total pain because with rotating interests/obsessions it's really hard to figure out what to pursue in studies/career. If it was just one special interest things would be much easier, could just settle into that niche without continuous disruption. but no, I don't think this means that you don't have AS.

I'm sure your obsession with video games would enhance such faculties as spatial awareness and hand-to-eye co-ordination. If you work where these attributes are desired, then maintenance of the obsession would be appropriate for maintenance of the job skills, therefore it genuinely IS productive.

one of my obsessions has to do with comparisons/contrasts between non-verbal learning dis. and Asperger's. (self-diagnosed NLD; possibly aspie.) in text-book terms anyway, aspies seemed more inclined to develop one or two life-long passions; NLD's tend to rotate, etc.


judging by what i've read/seen by actual aspies, NLD's, this distinction doesn't seem important. from what i've gathered: hyperfocus is just the general rule, whether the interests change or remain steady over time.

video games... hard to stop playing, aren't they? logic puzzles and word puzzles can be a real time-killer too, IMO. (but i'm not sure either video games or word puzzles are completely unproductive. who knows?)

Thanks for the replies. Getting tired of something after a few months IS annoying. I very rarely finish any programming projects. Interestingly enough, I enjoy contemporary logic and decision theory, but don't have the patience for logic puzzles like sudoku... I tend to find anything addicting if it peaks my interest. From games to logic diagrams. I guess the good part is that I do get bored of games and move to more productive interests. It does cause me some distress being addicted to unproductive stuff, though.

It's also disheartening, I know. That's why, when I started looking for a new career angle, I chose something that I have always found interesting but have never been particularly obsessive over.

Regards,

Patricia