A ramble about short-lived (special?) interests

[AuroraBorealis]

I often feel somewhat of a fraud when it comes to special interests. It’s true that if I have one at all, it’s gonna be books. As for the rest, I don’t know – I get extremely passionate about things suddenly and will then feel as though I’ll have this interest for the rest of my life, even though it’ll be gone after a few days (if it even sticks around that long). Some things keep returning over and over again, but only stick for a short while each time. Some of those circulating interests include but are not limited to: science, physics, astronomy, animals, Northern fauna and natural phenomenons, certain movies or TV series, certain book series, painting/drawing, mental health, mythology, fantasy (dragons, elves)… aaand that’s all I can think of right now.

While having these interests, they feel all-absorbing. Heck, I sometimes feel almost hypomanic when absorbed in such a thing. I sometimes get so excited about it that I have trouble sleeping. I love being so enthusiastic. But it somehow makes me feel like a fraud when it comes to talking about special interests the way they’re meant for autistic folk. If someone asked me about my special interests, along with books/reading I’d tell them the thing I’m interested in that moment. Not because I’m pretending or want to act as though I have a special interest, but because at that time it genuinely feels all-consuming. But as soon as the next day, that interest can be out of sight, out of mind, and I’ll have hopped onto the next thing.

It’s a bit embarrassing sometimes, because I’ll act a bit silly about it. An example is how during my last phase of space science, I complained to my partner how my mom, after I’d rambled on to her about the topic of space, verbalized confusion because, according to her, I’d never shown that much interest in the topic. I got upset because “of course, this is something I’m really passionate about, I’ve always been into space!” Aaaaand yep, a few days later space had completely left my brain, having been replaced by something else all-consuming that “of course had been there all along”.

Can you relate? Hopping from all-consuming interest to all-consuming interest, each feeling like “the one”, some circling back to you on a regular basis but being completely forgotten in-between? Usually the recurring ones are triggered by something to resurface – a movie, a song, a book.

I know I don’t HAVE to have a circumscribed special interest. Interest-hopping is fine. I still am interested in how you see it.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I relate strongly to having reoccurring interest that rotate around. For me; however, I might stick with one or two for a few months. After it ends and moves on to something else there is a huge chance that it will cycle back around within a weeks to a couple of years or so. Every so often a new topic will join the rotation or one will drop off long term.

 

[Mary Terry]

I can become intensely interested in a topic or activity and sink myself completely into it - until I've learned/done all that I want to do. Then I move on to something else. I think that's fairly normal, isn't it?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I can become intensely interested in a topic or activity and sink myself completely into it - until I've learned/done all that I want to do. Then I move on to something else. I think that's fairly normal, isn't it?

I'd say that's normal too. I never have the focus and the stamina to learn all that I want about the thing. I'll lose track after a bit and jump onto something else.

 

[RemyZee]

I tend to have the same interest for a long time.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My life long special interest has been physics, have a few others shorter lived. Colour control was how I made my career. Genealogy lately has me going into an unexpected strange direction.

 

[vergil96]

Nope, I can't relate, but I understand what you mean and in my opinion it's completely valid to rotate between a number of special interests that are of great depth and focus.

I go back to maths, science and programming as special interests. My mind has a lot of inertia and I rely pn habits and routine a lot.

Recently, I think autism might need a change of perspective. In the diagnostic criteria and in all kinds of information there is emphasis on the interests being limited and that being a pathology, a lack of interest in things outside the narrow range, abnormal topics. But autism is a neurotype and it's not neccesarily a disease, for sure not all its aspects are. In my opinion, having one or more passions, deep interests is a valuable trait. Passions also aren't maladaptive by definition and a healthy autistic person is still autistic.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My mind is so active at any time I have multiple interests only a few I dedicate any time too. I do not do small talk so when at work loved to converse with supplier reps, about their product and how to improve it or process. They went out of their way to see me, I was all business.