The "high" from your special interest...

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Yes I get elated when I achieve a long-wanted thing in a special interest. But I usually react with quiet dignity and grace, on the outside at least. On the inside I feel great. I think it's human nature to get a lot out of those peaks. Personally I get quite a lot out of the build-up to the peak as well, as long as I can see how I'm going to get there. And after getting there, I find it hard to think about anything else for a while. Mind you, I find it hard to think about anything else whenever I have an unsolved problem, an unanswered question, a lost item I haven't yet found, or anything else that I've started but not completed, though in the case of having achieved a special interest goal it stands out more because in theory there's nothing more to be said or considered, so it feels more strange that I have to keep running back through the experience.

I definitely agree, special interests are a gift

They provide me with joy and distraction when I need it. Most of the special interests I developed in high school have stayed with me and influenced my line of work, hobbies, and life goals. It's hard for me to imagine my life without the interests I have gained throughout that brief time of my life.

I love birds, but I also used to love video games, seriously obsessed with Pokemon and Sonic. But for some reason the video games are not holding my interest anymore.... Not long ago I bought a Switch Lite and Sonic Mania and Pokemon Shield... Why can't I get myself in these games anymore, I don't know... But I don't think birds and nature will go away... I got happy today when the author of my favorite bird guide app posted on FB today he was working hard right now on updating his app again! Yay!! ! I'll have fun looking at the updates!! !

i made a video about this last week (not a video actually it jsut has to be in 'video' format to be on youtube)
but it's absolutely the case.. .special interests are a gift.
same with stimming (except the self-injurious types which must be re-directed for all ages--
often requiring therapy)


without their 'special interests' my kids would have nothing - they would be floundering . since the special interest was there pre-covid19 situation, though they missed school/daycare, they still had something consistent (their interests)

it's like a life-saver (not the candy, the doughnut-shaped flotation device)

it's what kept me from suicidal thoughts ever coming up even during the worst times (esp times of being bullied) as t hat never occurred to me - my mind was concentrating on other things to keep occupied with

which now that im an adult, im glad- because i didn't have much of an education--most of what i know or way of thinking that is conducive to learning/accepting new information/ideas (even if im too scared to pursue it)
=
from what i learned from following 'special interests' and having a world of my own full of things that didn't require people.. no friends at school? = books , crafts

my kids, even if wrong, unfair things happen to them ,have something that they can occupy their attention with and feel fulfilled with


a chidl without special interests would not cope as well..

for someone else it may be films, as an example.
the loneliness in autism is real and encompassing - however the special interests are
the saving grace.

there was a user here IsabellaLinton - she described her childhood and all her special interests, that she was in a world with, so it kept her coccooned from the tragic aspects or sad things around her--- it prtoected her and so she could deal with it later when more developed and capable -

she knew more because of them and that is what made her an interesting person

Same here! I loved science althiough not astute enough to remember the details, I could at least get the 'gist' of it and the satisfaction of knowing there was a meaning as to why things happened.
we did many experiments
my dad was/is obsessed with science but my mom knew more than him...so it was a great subject as they weren't bored either ,and encouraged and participated.

my dad reads scientific books like comic books -
my mom is just smart and more educated in science things-
so she explains difficult parts to him. one thing we all believe in is evolution as God is also the 'Evolver' and there are verses to support it unlike christians, however harun yahya (a writer who my parents and i also read) didn't. however he was imprisoned with false charges and drugged up and nevert he same since (he looks like he was tortured, he has the eye thing where one goes in the other direction that i've seen happen to torture victims)

i do believe they both display 'aspergers traits' esp my mom - but she is also beloved by and gets along with ANYONE and everyone even people in lines (eg at airport) instantly befriend her, and somehow tell me 'you're so lucky to have such a good person for a mother'
etc
while i never can do that (make friedns like that)

she got me a book called 'how to make friends' bought at the library book sale
but it never worked.

my mom even tried to make us bird-watch and look at books to identify and make notes.
she was a great mother i guess. my dad was too ADHD-ish to make her life easy though and kept moving us.
so i guess her pervasive depression (that increased, the more pressure he put on her-
as he himself was flailing - he needs and needed meds in my opinion ---
welbutrin as it worked wonders for me in adulthood)

was from that.

A phenomenal book we had (shared between 5 of us children) was called 'usborne book of experiments' - it was BEAUTIFULLY illustrated, with a good structure and good writing. very good book.
i tried to look for it recently to no avail - they have books like it but with uglier more 'flashy' illustrations (that one had illustrations in many many styles, and masterfully done!) and just overall more 'junk food' rather than the amazing standard they had before.

oh well.
i love those memories!

actually the best books i remember were the 'DK eyewitness books' which had illustrations + facts put together like a formal poster board - those still exist though they were better before, too.
birds:

https://www.amazon.ca/DK-Eyewitness-Boo ... oks&sr=1-2

https://www.amazon.ca/DK-Eyewitness-Boo ... 3719&psc=1

I agree that special interests are a gift. The Kinks get me through the tough times and enhance my good times.

I definitely get a high from my special interests, ironically intoxicants are one of my special interests.

I do get a high from my special interest. My special interest is plushies and stuffed animals. There’s something about giving them names (unless they come with names) and when I buy one it feels like I gave them a happy home. All of them are displayed very nicely. Most of them live in my guest bedroom where my mom takes care of them. At my place, Darci, Malibu, Nugget, Jupiter, Snowcone, Shellby, Icy, Milo, Slush, Kenya, Flippy, Cinder, Leggz, Tabor, Ryley, Bear Bear, Mr. Gauc, Lullaby, Lyla Sparkles, Magenta, Mr. Peep, Pixy and Betti all live with me.

Some may think it’s pathetic and childlike for me to love them this much. I call it happiness.

One of my special interests was...collecting books about my special interests. I would cram hundreds into whatever apartment I was occupying.

Later, I had to move across the country. Getting rid of them was devastating...although I now see that owning a Kindle or three makes things easier in many ways.

I get excited when I find something that I've been looking for.

My problem is a weakness for collecting things part of which manifests in things I would've liked when I was a child plus a few other interests that have appeared over the years.

I need to start collecting more space!