OK...so just how weird am I?

Post Reply New Topic

I'm a high school student, all honors classes, and school and homework get me down. When I do have downtime, I will go on Youtube and listen to the same song over and over again. Is it just me, or is this an Aspie trait? How harmful is it?

No.

Dude, that sounds more like you are obsessive-compulsive or something. Ironically, people who are obsessive-compulsive, although they can be highly conscientious if properly groomed, can actually come across seeming like they have ADD or something, on the surface.

This can really turn into a disaster when well-meaning psychiatrists try to treat it with stimulant meds. That happened to me. Me on amphetamines is like doubling-down on an already bad problem. I'm already like a methed-out wildcat. Put some amphetamines in me to try to fix ADD that isn't there, and I'm the Tasmanian Devil.

Okay, the easiest way to address this is to work on your relationships with your teachers. Talk to them, and talk about the work that you have to do if you can. You see, the problem is that, when you approach the homework, the obsessive-compulsive tendency causes you to feel like you have just had an unpleasant interaction with your teacher. You don't always realize it's happening, but the emotion feels very real. You therefore do something to shy away from the perceived threatening presence. You can cure the problem just by being proactive in talking to your teachers and communicating with them, so you can gather some images of what they are to you besides something threatening and hostile.

You could also try loving-kindness meditation. Look it up. It's called "metta." It's an ancient yogic practice that might actually help you ease the barriers you have to getting your homework done and paying attention in school.

Based on what you described, though, I don't see an ASD. If you gave us more details, I might change my stance.

As far as harmfulness, if you can really master yourself, then you'll be making a lot more money than I do soon enough, but that brings you back to the same position as any neurotypical: you have to work at it. You have to devote a part of yourself to making it work. You have to make sacrifices.

I have a habit of continuously repeating a song, I've seen people post on this forum on doing the same. It's soothing to me, and while perhaps a bit compulsive, not something to worry about per se. Is it the stress in school that made this into a coping thing, or is it not a new development?

Just another form of repetitive behavior. An aspie trait.

Mental disorders should not be trivialized down to basic behaviours like this, especially when these behaviours can be observed throughout the general population.

Many neurotypical people listen to the same song over and over. I have friends that do this. They do not have undiagnosed ADHD, autism, OCD or bipolar.


OCD

It could possibly be OCD when a person involves obsessions/compulsions in their work, to the point where it significantly hampers their ability to perform. This is not the same as perfectionism or procrastination, and involves a metaphorical ton of distress. While an individual with OCD may avoid their work because of their obsession (to avoid the compulsions), listening to the same song over and over should never be considered a potential symptom of the disorder unless by listening to the song, the individual is stressing out - the disorder is egodystonic.

OCD symptoms also wax and wane, and are typically present from childhood. You may read about late onset 'OCD', but that is most likely only a side effect of another serious disorder such as GAD.


ASD

It is not necessarily a trait of ASD to listen to the same song over and over. To claim this is to be biased towards a diagnosis of ASD. The underlying reasons for it are what matter.

I feel pretty sure that listening to the same song repeatedly is also a teenager trait. So, it could be anything or nothing.

I don't think this is an "Am I Autistic?" thread, people. If you look at the OP's previous posts you can see that they "officially have High Functioning Autism".

It doesn't sound harmful, but I guess it depends on the song and for how long you've been listening to it.

there's nothing wrong with listening to the same song over again, I used to do that when I was a teenager if I liked a certain song, I still do sometimes if I find a song on Youtube that I haven't heard for a while.

This is perfectly normal teenage stuff.

I knew a neurotypical girl who listened to the same song HUNDREDS of times. This didn't affect her functioning within her peer group. She just liked the song THAT MUCH.

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 24 Nov 2014, 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Listening to the same song over and over again is pretty common.

I remember one summer evening a few years ago, where we were sitting outside in my mum's friend's garden. The neighbours a few doors down were having a party. If we heard UB40's 'Red Red Wine' once, we heard it 20 times. Of course, it could have been a party of autistic people - we'll never know.

I have listened to the same song for several hours tons of times. These days it's my preferred way of listening to music.

That is not really too terribly weird, though I personally do not see how anyone could listen to the exact same song over and over in one sitting...I will listen to a full album of a band I like, or listen to a bunch of songs by them on youtube but never the exact same song, sometimes if I hear one I really like but am side-tracked when it plays I might repeat it and then pay more attention that time.

I don't find it weird so many people do that
I keep listening to a song or anything that can be listened to which I like until I get bored from it or something which would make me hate it happens

Very unique, heres an award