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Alla
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30 Sep 2010, 6:03 pm

Can aspies be obsessed with their work/job to the exclusion of everything else (relationships, personal hygene, money, etc.)



Surfman
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30 Sep 2010, 6:44 pm

Yes, its common for artists and well as autists, activists too.

People trying to change the world for the better become obsessional as well.



StuartN
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01 Oct 2010, 7:01 am

Alla wrote:
Can aspies be obsessed with their work/job to the exclusion of everything else (relationships, personal hygene, money, etc.)


Being obsessed with work (up to a point, and not excluding other important aspects of living) is a great thing, assuming that the obsession is enjoyable and productive. It is far better to have an obsession that is in conjunction with employment than one that is in opposition. Some people would probably benefit from the work-life balance of having an obsession / interest / hobby that is entirely separate from employment. I had an employment that almost exactly matched my interests for many years and was very happy with being "paid to play".

However, I have met a lot of people (in academia especially) who are obsessed with work to the exclusion of personal hygiene, relationships, money and health who were almost certainly not on the autistic spectrum, more than the number who I would guess are autistic. Some would probably be diagnosed with psychiatric conditions if they were not in employment - in fact some have been after redundancy or losing their job.



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01 Oct 2010, 7:22 am

If I worked as a roller coaster designer, or if I owned an amusement park, I would be obsessed, obsessed, and obsessed. But I am a teacher, and I love my job---but I am not obsessed with it. Originally I taught high school general level English for 19 years---OHHHHH!! !! There were plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times. Now, for the past 4 years, I am the school's gifted intervention specialist---I love that. But as for the obsession of a job like a special intense interest, I think it is quite possible. As was mentioned earlier, artists are often obsessed with their art.


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01 Oct 2010, 9:36 am

Not obsessed with my day job very much - there was a time when I could get quite wrapped up in it, but the stuff they want me to do these days isn't very interesting. I don't really view that stuff as "my work."

I used to get completely fixated on certain technical special interests, but having seen the social effect of that, I've switched priorities and I now see my work as being mainly in the social domain, and yes I can get very fixated on that - not on any one person but on my whole social life. I daren't let myself too near my old technical obsessions in case I don't come back, but more recently I've allowed myself to dabble again....but I try to set a time limit and I always try to question myself when I get the urge to keep working on techie stuff - asking questions like "at what point am I going to put this down for a bit?" It's like trying to control drug addiction without keeping off it completely........learning to go against the grain and to keep looking at the bigger picture (i.e. my life) instead of the small one (the fine detail of the nerdy project). But it's not all that difficult, if you've noticed the social damage that technical obsessions can cause. I've noticed a lot of that, so there's an alarm bell goes off in me when I'm in danger of straying back. If you've not seen it for yourself, you may have to learn the hard way. Or you might not really want friends - that way you won't need to bother, unless it's so intense that it's threatening your livelihood or your health.



kicken18
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01 Oct 2010, 10:20 am

I think people can become obsessed with their job whether they are spectrum or not, though it's more likely in people with AS possibly, but I guess it's all down to many factors not just if your AS or not



nelle
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01 Oct 2010, 11:03 pm

I am obsessed with my work. I'm an artist and luckily I can make a living with my work. I could go days on end doing little else. I forget showers and food sometimes. I hate to be interupted and avoid going out for other things. I do walk my dogs everyday (that's another special interest I guess), I've been walking 5 miles a day, rain or shine for years. Once in a while tho I'll even miss my walk for my art.



ReallyGoodName
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27 Oct 2010, 4:41 am

Not me. I'm obsessed with not working. :D



Lindowyn
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27 Oct 2010, 5:36 am

Yes I am obsessed with my work, but I would never forget about personal hygene.
But I love my job, there ist nothing better than go for a long walk with the dogs, alone in the woods or along a river.
I walk 6-8 hours everyday with my dog and the ones I only take to walk and there is no better way to spend my day :)



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27 Oct 2010, 6:20 am

Depends on the Aspie and the job. It's common if the Aspie's job involves their obsession, yes.



Adam82
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27 Oct 2010, 6:23 am

I work hard, when I'm in a job I actually enjoy, and not doing casual under-employed work, but I wouldn't say I'm obsessed. I place more importance on relationships, family, etc. Money is a means to an end.