I'm not sure if I have any obsessions?

[Jessica]

I think I'd have a clearer idea of what i'm obsessed with if I wasn't such an perfectionist, whenever I seem to take a keen interest in something I end up avoiding/giving up on it as I feel It's not going the way I expect it to, I can't seem to deal with the stress that comes with disappointment. Can anyone please share with me what your obsessions are and how you feel about them as I would like to see if I share the same feelings/thoughts about them as you do. :S

 

[GivitToEmPaulie]

I dont have any obsessions, I have aspergers and pay alot of attention to detail and i know loads about the things i like.. But i have friends with aspergers and they wont stop talking about a certain subject or a couple of subjects, I'll listen to anything they say, but if we are in the company of 'nuerotypical' people they don't understand and just switch off etc.. Its a massive spectrum and even me and my friends having the same thing we are different and for a while and even questioned that i had AS.. although ive been diagnosed since i was young lol, just because i wasnt as severe in certain typical ways..
but i just dont have an obsession my AS is more about how i see things and come across or percieve things that are said to me, these are the ways in which i am misunderstood the most.

On your subject Jesska, I think u shouldnt look for an 'obsession' cause u might never find or have one yano, just find stuff u like doing even if your not the best at it at least you'll enjoy yourself.. but as u say if your a perfectionist maybe you have to be good at whatever u do.

 

[Kelly]

I felt the exact same way as you a few months back...I don't have an obsession??. But the more I read and the more I thought about it the more it became obvious I do obsess over interests I just don't have lifelong ones like some of the info suggests aspies do.

At the moment my two main obsessions are baking - cookie/cake decorating and my daughter's birthday party. I saw an advert for a new baking magazine and thought "wow that looks so interesting" So I bought the first issue and read it cover to cover over and over, was desperate to get started on baking and it just developed from there. Soon I was watching videos about how to ice cupcakes, how to make sure your butter doesn't curdle when mixing. I was looking up various tools to buy, I ordered loads of cookie cutters and of course made lots of cookies and cakes.

My daughter's party is something I obsess over every year, I LOVE the planning of it all, thinking up tiny little details to make it amazing. The past few days I've trawled the net looking for the perfect fairy wings and pink shoes to go with her dress. I ordered some fairy cookie cutters, I've been looking for the right fairy themed tableware (she's having a fairy school party). I make lists of the food we will buy, check the prices at various stores online to find the best deal. Earlier today I was measuring how big the marquee they bring along is so I can work out exactly where I want it, where they can do the photoshoot etc. And if something doesn't go right or if for example I'm outbid on the perfect pair of wings on ebay....I rage and cry. I was in a complete state because the booking clerk hadn't got back to me about whether she'd booked us in for the hall on the right date, I'm still worried about that because she hasn't sent me the form to fill in but I can't keep pestering her or I'll look like a lunatic.

I also completely understand when you say you get disappointed and give up, I get like that all the time, my baking obsession has come down a notch after I had a complete meltdown because my piping bag split and then I ran out of icing and the cakes didn't come out exactly how I'd planned so it kind of ruined it for me.

 

[Jessica]

That's interesting to hear how AS effects different people in different ways. I think I'm maybe more like you in that aspect, personally I am constantly over analysing people and their body language, i'm intrigued by what they could be thinking and how they might interact with me. I also seem to notice the stupidest of things like for example, the patterns in colour on Christmas lights. I often get misunderstood by people, do you find yourself talking about something that you think's relevant to the conversation but other people don't have a clue what you're talking about? lol.

I guess I do kinda have obsessions for example at the moment I have an obsession for certain foods like last month I was obsessed with Dr Pepper and this month I love golden syrup. It's like i'll take any opportunity to consume them and I get really frustrated if they've changed the product in anyway or if it's not the right one.
I think looking back at my early childhood I can see patterns of obsession, for instance I used to be fascinated with animals, I had about 30 books and I read through all of them all the time, I collected cuddly animal toys and I used to build farms out of Lego for little toy animals.

Oh gosh I'm not a fan of planning i like the idea of it but it stresses me out too much haha btw I hope your daughter's party goes well!

Thank you both