trying to hold on to past special interests

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does anyone do this is this an aspie ting or just a part of growing up thing? im 22 and for years and years harry potter was my obsession my special interest whatever you want to call it. my whole whole teenage years revolved around harry potter.
well im just not that interested in it as much anymore i mean i like it but not as much the thing is now whenever i hear of a new fan book about it (especially one having to do with accademics and philosophy and pshycology and symbolism behind the book) i want to buy it even though im probally never gonna get around to reading it

I'm sure you'll find something new to enjoy as a special interest. Growing out of Harry Potter in your twenties is nothing to worry about. Instead of buying more fan books etc you don't think you're likely to read, resist the urge and save it -- you can spend it later on your new interest!

When it comes to fiction, I tend to obsess about one series/character for a while and then move onto something else. Eventually, something will spark my interest in it again. I've found that if you obsess about one thing for too long you risk overdoing it, it's inevitable.

My special interests have changed as I've grown older, although some have stayed the same.lolOthers kind of 'evolved'. Like Captain Planet was my special interest as a kid and also when I was early in my teens. While I still love the show and Cap is my most favorite superhero, my interest has evolved into more broader environmentalism, most especially energy efficiency and protecting wildlife. I also used to be so into Pokemon when I was younger, but not so much anymore. I hardly think about it, really. Or like royalty. I was absolutely so interested in Queen Isabel I of Castile, and although I'm still interested in royalty, I now focus more on different things, like the Stuarts, Mary I of England, like that.

Right now my most special interest is in the kings of Scandinavia, although it's difficult to find info on them. One of my coworkers went to vacation to Norway and Sweden. I asked her if she found anything on them in English, if she could bring me something, and if she'll take lots of pictures of the palaces if she goes there.

It's just part of growing up.

I'm in much the same situation as you are regarding my special interest in Tim Burton and Johnny Depp movies. I still like them a lot, but I am not as passionate about them as I was a couple of years ago when I first discovered them. For the past several months I have felt like it may be time for a new special interest, but I can't seem to completely let go. Every time I try, it causes me to become very upset.

Both my mom and my psychiatrist have said that I feel guilty for not being as passionate about those movies as I used to be, and that's why I still hold onto them instead of allowing another interest to take their place. Could it be that you feel guilty about not being as passionate about Harry Potter as you used to be, and that's why you still hold onto it? My psychiatrist has suggested that I try to find other things to enjoy alongside my interest instead of trying to make myself stop completely. Maybe that's what you could try too - find an interest to enjoy alongside Harry Potter instead of trying to stop it completely. Just a suggestion.

Now that I'm all grown up I still have the urge to buy all those Lego Technic models I could never afford when I was younger.

Why yes, I do that. I am not certain that it's an autistic thing per se, though. There are two big special interests from my childhood I keep 'trying' to get back into, namely drawing and biology. But it doesn't really work out for me.

Aw that's sad. Please don't get upset about getting a new special interest. And Ravenclawgurl, it's perfectly normal to drop a special interest that you've had for a while.

Every time I find a new special interest myself, I get REALLY excited, rather than becoming all "guilty" about my old interest.

For example, as some of you may know I was REALLY into Looney Tunes around when I first joined WP, I particularly loved Daffy Duck. Gradually, during the beginning of 2011, I think, I realized that maybe Looney Tunes wasn't really my obsession anymore. For about six months or so, I got into some really silly cartoons on the Internet, while not being totally absorbed in any "proper" cartoons in particular. Seeing as part of my life revolves around animation, this "mid-period" was quite unusual for me.

Anyway, I eventually fancied looking up clips of a cartoon I'd watched a bit of and enjoyed when I was younger, "Pinky and the Brain." Pretty soon I realized that PatB was WAY better than I had EVER realized, as my sense of humour has since developed to understand the more subtle humour in the series that I didn't get when I first watched it. I have been obsessed with Pinky and the Brain since late September 2011.

I've actually watched a few Looney Tunes episodes again in the last few weeks, more for nostalgic than interested reasons, although there are moments I still REALLY enjoy. Basically, letting go of one obsession just means that you can view it/read it/hear it/whatever it in a slightly different way afterwards, while being interested in and obsessed with new and exciting things!

I think its fairly common to cycle in and out of new special interest. I know I certainly do. Its always a little sad as they start to fade and you haven't found a new one yet. Fear your AS will lead you to another eventually but I think, once a sspecial interest always a special interest. Its not like we "lose" our old ones, we just take on new ones.

You seem to have a very healthy attitude regarding the cyclic nature of special interests. I'm envious! My mom has told me to think of the acquisition of new interests as "a new adventure", instead of dwelling on past special interests.

That's kind of the attitude I adopt. I can understand why it would be hard to let go of Tim Burton and or Johnny Depp films, seeing as you've loved them for so long and they're awesome.

QFT and awesome content... (twilight campaign, still makes me giggle)