Question about the special interests part in the DSM IV

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My obsessions very frequently center around - or stem from - TV shows or movies. It can last for literally only a couple of weeks, or for years. Sometimes once I leave an obsession I never come back to it again; sometimes it cycles, and the interest is always there at some level, but every so often something reminds me of particularly strongly, and I come back and get obsessed again.

I say 'stem from', because sometimes a particular aspect of a fictional medium triggers a broader obsession. Such as I might be, say, obsessed with a movie set in the 1920s, and go on to become temporarily obsessed with everything and anything to do with the 1920s, but it's all really based on that movie. So sometimes the original obsession ends up genuinely expanding my knowledge.

I get this, mostly leads from games and books though. Like i read a book series on ancient rome then tried to find everything out about that period, trawl through wikipedia for hours reading about it. Then i'll play a game set in medieval europe and start reading up about that. Sounds like pretty much the same thing.

"than others"
than others
T H A N others

GOD I HATE THIS!! !! THAN THAN THAN!! !

It's THAN - NOT THEN!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!

Can't you people learn to speak Engrish?

This drives ME NUTS!! ! GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I've been a bit confused on this as well. I've had interests, but I don't know how intense the interest must be to be considered a "special interest". And I wonder how long a "special interest" has to go on to fit into that category, and how detailed? And when DSM-IV reads that the subject will discuss his interest to the exclusion of everything else....hmmm. I know I've talked about my interests to an extent, but I don't know that I've ever done it to the point of single-focus. I don't generally discuss whatever I was into at the time if I knew someone wasn't into it. I love weather and know lots about it, but I don't spend every waking moment on it, poring over years of past weather charts and telling everyone I know what I learned. I do watch The Weather Channel every day though, and can watch it for hours. I've even predicted snow several times based on weather conditions, which is quite a feat here in Southeast Texas, where we get snow only about every 5 years or so.

Do any of these qualify?

* Trivia and "list" books. In the 80s, there were a number of books published with all kinds of trivia in them, or lists of various items or people. I loved them and read them constantly and repetitively.

* Painting my fingernails. I bought a new bottle of polish every time I went out, and did my nails every day in a different color. That lasted a few months.

* The band KISS. Back in the late 70s I was a huge fan, had all their albums and had posters all over my walls. But doesn't everyone do that with a favorite band?

* The comic strip BC. For a while you could get paperback books of past strips. I bought every one I could find and read them over and over again. Ditto MAD Magazine books, although oddly not the magazine itself. Al Jaffe was my favorite.

* Books. During the 90s, I had a regular routine every payday of going to the bookstore, buying several books (spent about $75 at a time), and then eating at the Mexican Restaurant next door. I amassed over 1000 books in the process. I'd still do that if I had the money. The smell of a bookstore almost makes me feel high.

* Baseball. I love baseball, and from 1987 until 2008, I followed the Houston Astros like my life depended on them. I attended dozens of games, went to Spring Training three times, and didn't miss an Opening Day game in 20 seasons. But again, don't most sports fans do the same thing?

* Earrings. I have about 80 pairs of earrings, most bought within a couple of years period. I still like earrings, but the passion has passed.

* Anything purple. It's my favorite color. I've owned a purple car, sofa, clothes, bath towels, dishes, teddy bears, sheets. I would have a lot more, but I can't afford to buy all the purple things I see.

* Various websites and TV shows. I've watched Seinfeld and MASH obsessively, as well as stand-up specials of my favorite comics -- I'll DVR those and watch them until I can almost quote them word for word. Louis CK is the main one I do that with now.

My ultimate interest is learning. As Joseph Campbell (author of The Power of Myth) put it, I've found my bliss. I'm only happy when I'm learning something new. Every time I go out, read a book, watch a TV program, or have a conversation, I see it as an opportunity to learn something. I have favorite topics (religion, earth science, psychology, film history) but I'll learn about anything -- quilting, golf, deer hunting, gardening, carpentry -- it doesn't matter what.

OH, and IAmAnAspie...I feel the same way, except my irritation is over the misuse of the words "it's" and "its".