Is Asperger's itself anyone's special interest?

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It became a complete obsession for me about 4 months ago, its actually the whole reason I joined this site

Yep. Kind of, anyway. Not just autism, but basically mental disorders. So I've also been searching stuff like OCD, depression, that sort of thing

Its pretty easy for it to become an obsession... its funny cause I've heard this mentioned about 2 weeks into my interest and thought "oh wow, it fits!"

Who better to dive in to spectrum stuff than a bunch of people on the spectrum lol

It was for a few months after my diagnosis. That's actually how I found this forum.

Neuropsychiatric disorders in general are my career field special interest. AS is one of the disorders I find most interesting, mainly because I want to explore more how and why I think differently than others. Within AS, the thing that I am most passionate about is, ironically, special interests. I find it fascinating to hear what other Aspies' SIs are and why they chose them. Whenever I hear about somebody being an Aspie, whether it be a real or fictional person, my first question always is, "What's their main special interest?" That's the main reason I joined this site, and I've always wished that there would be more in-depth SI threads on here. The ones that do get created never last long.

My whole social life is with other aspies, so I guess you could call it my special interest

yes! thought I was alone with this, but obviously not!

Yes. Especially right after I figured out that I had it last year. I have read dozens of books, blogs, articles, etc.

Wow! Lucky you I don't currently know any... but that may be partly because i've moved to a small town (50 000). Although statistically there should be a few around town - 350ish?
I've had it as a special interest ever since I was pointed in the direction of diagnosis... Up to which point (oct? 2011) I knew NOTHING on the subject (apart from having heard the word). By the time I went for my diagnosis I expect I knew more on the subject than the psychiatrist

Right now, yes. It has been for probably a month an a half. I spend most of my time on this site, reading articles, and watching videos about Asperger's. One of my best friends has Asperger's so I usually just blab to her about it so I don't irritate everyone around me, but I also talk about it to another one of my best friends whose sister has Asperger's, and my mom who wonders if I may have it. If I'm not reading about it/watching videos/talking about it, I'm thinking about it. I basically relate everything I do back to Asperger's, try to dig up memories, etc.

Yes, ever since I started researching about autism and Asperger's Syndrome it has been a big interest to me.

As a matter of fact, it is. That's how I found all you guys I first heard the phrase "Asperger syndrome" in passing several years ago, and never looked into it. However, psychology being a broader interest of mine (and my college major), it wasn't long before I came across a book about it. Everything in it described me to a T, and that was when I first started suspecting there was a neurological reason behind my "differentness". Anyway, the interest (like pretty much everything else that's ever struck my fancy) became a complete obsession, and I am still devouring everything I can on the subject. I didn't realise until today though, that it was an odd, uncommon interest (at least for NT's) to have: I was reading a book about autism at the bus stop today, and the young man sitting next to me asked if it was for school. It wasn't, but as always I fumbled and lost my cool and mumbled, "sort of," without thinking of anything else to say, to which he replied, "Yeah, I was gonna say, reading about autism for fun is just mean." (I think, by the context, he meant weird... not 100% sure though.) Anyway, now I have the rest of the day to ponder whether or not he's right, and this interest really is "weird".

Yes, I talk about it constantly, I like finding out new facts, I aspire to be good at recognising others who have it, etc.

It's become one! To feed it I started checking WrongPlanet all the time but now I'm reading about it from official sources and watching talks. Haven't bought any books on it yet, though. Seems like there's enough content on the internet..

For the people who answered yes to the thread's question, do you have favourite books on Asperger's/ASC (autism spectrum disorders)?

Well, Autism in general is what I am currently hung up, along with my first love, dinosaurs. Which makes a weird juxtaposition! LOL
Any health issue that directly effects me becomes a special intrest, most of the time. So learning about the Spectrum is a main area of reading/research.

Sincerely,
Matthew

It's been mine for the last month or so, when I first started to suspect that I may have AS. It's made it difficult to concentrate on other stuff...