Are we addicted to our special interests?

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Ever since I was a kid, I've been a fanatic for my special interests. Although they have changed (or evolved) I have never been without one or a few with me. One of my special interests is: drugs and changes in perception. And something I noticed was the fact that the strength of special interests is VERY similar to drug addiction. At least in my case I can state that my special interests make EVERYTHING else lose meaning or consistency. The only important thing ends up being the target(s) of my special interest. So, at least for me, being an aspie is being an addict. How do you feel about your special interests?

Maybe, but"addiction" is a very negative word.
Would you say that Picasso was addicted to painting, or Einstein was addicted to physics, or Poincare was addicted to math, or Mozart was addicted to music?

I was severely obsessed with these certain people I knew of when I was 14-16. To me the obsession was more important than anything else. One time when I saw one of the people I was obsessed with in the supermarket, I was so happy, that when I got home I excitedly told my mum exactly what aisle I saw them in and what they were doing and wearing and everything. My mum yelled at me because she thought I had rushed in to tell her some good news like I'd saw a job advertisement or something like that (because she wanted me to get a part-time job for the summer holidays). But my mind was so full of this obsession of mine, that I wondered how my own mother could think I was excited about a job advertisement over my precious obsession! (I am being sarcastic there, because it wasn't healthy for me to have this stupid obsession that I put first before what was really important).

Maybe you could call that an addiction or something. I was addicted to talking about my obsession too. I knew nobody gave a s**t about my obsession (who could blame them?), but I just had these impulsive urges to talk about them. That may be an addiction, because usually an addiction means impulsive urges that take over your life, even to the point where it becomes unhealthy. And this obsession really did take over my life.

For me it is trains. If I have a girlfriend it would be her as well.

Yes, I admit having people as a special interest can be unhealthy.

If we are going to use the word addiction in a way where we can't stop doing something and always feeling urges to do it, then we do have a special interest addiction. If it weren't an addiction, we could choose to stop anytime right?


I am into my game right now and play it all the time. It doesn't feel like a chore. I will go to the message board about it and keep up with it and it's great seeing many people into this game too. Makes it feel more normal to be into this game.

The special interest that has stuck with me throughout my life has been animals, particularly cats.

If an NT person has interests they're called hobbies and are generally considered good. If an aspie or autist has interests they're call addictions or obsessions, even if the aspie or autist is not harming themselves or anyone else.

When I was a teenager and a long way from being properly diagnose, drawing cartoons, playing video games and role playing with stuffed animals seemed to be all I cared about, and my mother and teachers kept trying to make me stop. How little did they know that they were criticizing and trying to make me stop doing the very things that helped me to cope with life, and then they wondered why I just seemed to get worse. GENIUSES.

Well, my mother sorry for what she did, and I forgave her. But I'll never forgive the teachers, therapists and home staff. They basically told my mom she'd be a horrible mother if she let me continue what I did to cope. To be my own "normal". They should all be sued, like that would ever happen.

Maybe so, but I don't care. My special interests are my favorite part of being autistic (and also my biggest trait). As a child, people could try to take them away from me but now that I'm an adult they no longer can. I no longer have to "be nice" to people that aren't so nice to me so if someone doesn't accept my special interests, I will not accept them. I warned my ex boyfriend (we've split up for other reasons) that if he EVER tried to tell me to stop talking about meerkats or animals, I would break up with him on the spot and I meant it. I think I'm actually asexual or possibly demisexual, but if I meet someone else in the future, they will get the same warning and I will mean it. Anyway, take away my special interests or even hint at it and all Hell will break loose.

People assume meerkats are my main special interests. They are one, but veterinary medicine is my main one. I've struggled with math in school and my mother had me brainwashed for years that I could never pass the college math requirements, let alone the ones for vet school. I talked to several actual vets and they ALL have told me that yes there is some math required, but it's NOTHING compared to someone studying engineering or mathematics. I have a diagnosis of a math disability and can get accommodations and help.

My mother was just really opposed to the idea of me being a vet. Apparently she wanted to be one as a kid but lived in an era where women were expected to be housewives and was afraid to stand up to people and challenge stereotypes. I will always wonder if she was secretly jealous of me and was like, "If I can't have X, neither can you." But that only pushed me harder and me want to be a veterinarian more.

I enjoy my special interests very much. I guess I can say that I'm addicted to television, but it's a healthy addiction.