Sometimes, obsessions can be a good thing?

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DadX4
Hummingbird

Joined: 9 Jan 2009
Age: 69
Gender: Male
Posts: 20
Location: Tennessee

24 Jan 2009, 1:46 am

Just a little bragging here but a good point comes out of it I think. My son just won his school Geography Bee. He used to be very very obsessed with Geography a couple of years ago. He has moved on to ancient and Medieval History now, but still remembers all that stuff he put in his head by reading maps and Encyclopedias about Geography.

He has Aspergers and is 11 years old and is in the 6th grade. the Bee was 5th thru 8th grade 200 students. And the subject matter was based on 7th grade Geography. He has now taken the test to compete in the state Geography Bee, and the teacher says he scored very high and will almost certainly be in the state contest.

In a previous post I wrote about one of his negative obsessions (Innapropriate staring, etc.). Well some of these obsessions can actually pay off.

Anyway, I'm proud!!

Rjaye
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24 Jan 2009, 1:52 am

Congratulations!! Give him big props!

Rjaye.

mysterious_misfit
Deinonychus

Joined: 24 Apr 2008
Age: 44
Gender: Female
Posts: 353

24 Jan 2009, 9:18 am

Obsessions, and/ or hyper-focus can be rich sources of creativity and innovative thinking. I don't think of these things at all as part of a 'disease'. What Aspergians need to learn is how to control, direct, and choose the subject of focus to use it to their best advantage.

DeLoreanDude
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24 Jan 2009, 9:42 am

The majority of obsessions are a good thing, only very few are bad ones.

9CatMom
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24 Jan 2009, 10:50 am

Congratulations!

I believe obsessions are very helpful if they are related to academic subjects, such as geography, spelling, reading, languages and math. They become a way of helping people excel.

I also believe obsessions with animals are a good thing, because they mean a person is compassionate.

mysterious_misfit
Deinonychus

Joined: 24 Apr 2008
Age: 44
Gender: Female
Posts: 353

24 Jan 2009, 11:29 am

mysterious_misfit wrote:

I want to add on to this... It's not just people on the autism spectrum or other people with disabilities, it really goes for all people: Everyone should identify their own strengths and talents and learn how to use them to make a living or improve their own lives or contribute to society or humankind's knowledge.

DW_a_mom
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24 Jan 2009, 5:36 pm

Congratulations!

Success is all about channeling obsessions. Making them work for someone, instead of against someone. Once you learn how to do that, everything is set, IMHO.

_________________
Mom to an amazing young adult AS son, plus an also amazing non-AS daughter. Most likely part of the "Broader Autism Phenotype" (some traits).

CelticGoddess
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