How do obsessions work?

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When I first started learning about this, I didn't think that I had any "obsessions" because I don't collect things, or have any real knowledge of any one particular subject...than I realized that I actually live in a world of obsessions...I think? What I do is I become obsessed with one subject, usually something psychology or religion related...and think/talk/research it constantly for about a week. I don't take notes or anything usually, I just like to read about it and talk about it...this week my obsession is actually whether or not I have AS. Than after about a week give or take, I'll move on to a different obsession and completely lose interest in the last obsession for a period of time. I may or may not revisit the "old" obsession at that point. But once I'm onto another obsession, I completely abandon and lose interest in the last one. Is this a way that AS obsessions can sometimes work? Thanks!

Yes, it probably puzzles my family. I could have an obsession (i.e. Excavators) as a child and then instantly find a new obsession (like Maps). Of course, my parents would buy me toys based on my obsessions and are shocked when I show no interest in the gifts. I would then proceed to suddenly return to the old obsession months later after all my excavator toys were given away. Imagine the tantrums I threw when I found THAT out!

I also was obsessed with a certain pizza place to which I must have been their best customer. Then, for no reason at all I just stopped going completely and never returned. I still haven't a clue why I would do that but apparently this is not uncommon with those on the spectrum.

Yes, except mine rotate. Physics, Astronomy, Botany, Biology, (any Geoscience subject actually). Music. ... The subjects are always shuffling about. Lots of useless facts memorized surrounding each subject. Want to know the nutritional constitution of black walnut hulls? (Why do I know that? Who knows?)

Mine rotate too, but I find there are roughly two types of special interests as far as I'm concerned: those that last a few weeks and those that last for a few months or even years.

The first come and go, wax and wane. I get obsessed in them, then lose interest and move to something else. They're fun while they last.

The second are much more intense and I get myself more invested in them. They become part of my identity. Even when a new interest is sparked in my mind, I still retain a fondness about those old ones. Most of them go through periods of revival, a few years after their first run. Also, these are the interests that tend to develop in other similar or related obsessions, leading to a very complex cluster of special interests.

As an example, my favorite band is Queen and it has been a huge special interest for years and years. Even today, when I hear their music I simply melt away with love and pleasure. They're very much embedded in my identity. I see myself as a Queen fan, one of the biggest there are. Still, my active special interest right now is Marc Bolan's T. Rex. I don't know if this will be a lasting interest or not, since it started only two days ago. Only time will tell, but I'm sure enjoying the ride, no matter how long it lasts. Special interests are wonderful things... How can NT people live without them?!

Thank you so much everyone, for being so willing to share your personal experiences and things you've learned, it's so incredibly helpful to me. I think that I am very largely unaware of myself (even though I thought that I was very self aware) (no idea why I would think that) so I didn't even know that I had obsessions. I brought this up with my husband last night and was like "yeah you do, they're really annoying!! !" Here I was thinking that he was the annoying one...without having half a clue that I myself am annoying too lol.

I also really enjoy having special interests, they're so fun!

Yeah, I've noticed my obsessions tend to rotate, as well...for instance, my special interests from 2006 - 2008 were Cars and the Cars movie, and then in 2008 - 2009, my special interests went from Cars stuff to special interests in crows and ravens (corvidae) and the Where the Wild Things Are movie. These two special interests lasted until about 2011 when I found out that Cars 2 would be coming out that summer, and I became interested in Cars again...and even later than that, I did some soul - searching and finally established myself as a car - furry, and even made a carsona: Lil' Pink Coupe. At this point, I don't see myself losing interest in Cars ever again...it's way too important to me.

I have this obsessions too.
For many years i was obsessed with occult spending lot of money on course or books related to occult
out of blue i quit occult and latched onto star child obsession i was always reading about that topic and believed that i am
from the planet sirius
suddenly i quit that and was obsessed with music i spend lot of money learning sitar and bought costly instrument also
then i was extremely bored with it and got obsessed with a guy in my spiritual class
i was badly chasing him and he was badly avoiding me
till date i am obsessed with him and whole lot of books, occult stuff lying gathering dust in my house.

I'm sure obsessions can manifest in any number of ways; the main characteristic that makes them obsessions is the intensity, not the duration. My major ones can last for years. From my sophomore year of high school to my freshman year of college, I was obsessed with the creationism/evolution debate, then my sophomore year and junior year I was obsessed with Pokémon. My junior year I also developed an obsession with music theory and composition which is now my biggest focus, and throughout this entire time (almost eight years now) I've had an obsession with college football. For the summer between sophomore and junior years I also had a brief obsession with lockpicking.

The lockpicking obsession lasted about the shortest duration (a couple months) that my obsessions last; I've personally never had one just last a week but I can easily see how that's possible.

Its like love. I have special interests I've had one for years in microbiology I work at it, cherish it and made it my life (I'm a microbiologist). Cant see me ever giving it up (or my cuddly bacteria). Other like ancient history I've loved since childhood and never even seemed like loosing. These are more comfort blankets and rarely change.

Others are like love at first sight. These tend to be data based, they burn brightly until I've answered the question, identified what i was after then often fade.

I don't think it's that random, that we suddenly have an obsession / special interest and suddenly feel disinterested in it. I think there's some answer we're searching frantically, and when we get the principle of it, we're done. Eg: a couple years ago I suddenly had this obsession with researching everything I could about a plane crash that took place when I was a child and that became famous worldwide, though it happened to people from my neighborhood. I did practically nothing for a couple weeks but read, think, talk, etc. about it. Then one day the need just poof! vanished. I don't know what unconscious need I had, but whatever it was, it was fulfilled, that's why I went on to something else. I had the same happen to me with many things such as I once watched all seasons of Dynasty in YouTube within a couple weeks, hardly eating or bathing in between. I think in that case maybe I was trying to decipher how society sees and relates to "the rich", I don't know.

Most of my obsessions last around 2 - 3 years, while short-term ones can last anywhere from a day to a few months. Losing long-term special interests can be really hard for me, depending on how emotionally attached I was to said interests. I struggled with losing my interest in Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movies for months, and I've only very recently come to terms with it. Now I'm struggling with not having a special interest at all, which is driving me crazy.

Yes, emotional attachment plays a big role in my special interests, too - for instance, I love Cars because I think of them as my protectors and imaginary friends who are always there and would never allow anyone to hurt me in any way.

And IdahoRose, I do hope you are able to find another special interest soon...I know the feeling of not having one/being deprived of one all too well.

Thanks for being supportive of me, Lil' Pink Coupe. I really appreciate it. (hugs you)

And that's exactly how I feel about my favorite fictional characters - they're my protectors and imaginary friends who are always there when I need them. That's why changing special interests can be really hard on me.

I have a life long special interest that I'm very well known for around here. I also have another special interest that I've had for half as long. The Kinks and 1960s England, London in particular. Those are the two things that make me feel the most like myself. i enjoy my special interests and I like to celebrate them.

My special interests vary in intensity....some I've had for years (psychology, medicine, art, writing), others are more recent (the band Rush, history). When I research, I don't take notes either. I like to read about my interests. I took notes when I was younger by printing pages information on my topic and highlighting the parts I found most interesting.

The Kinks are to you what Rush is to me