Why do Aspies have obsessions?

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What is it that makes people with Aspergers so focused and obsessed on things?

I suspect it's an inability to focus on other things more so than an positive enforced obsession. Sort of like how we tend to become oblivious to everything around us when we are dealing with sensory overload.

I've always thought of my special interests as a sort of refuge from an environment that was too overwhelming and refused to understand me or reach out to me in any way. For instance, one of the reasons why I like the Cars movies so much is bcuz I was going thru a hard time when the first movie came out (2006) and I came to think of the Cars characters as my imaginary friends and guardians. I had some die cast toys of the characters that I would talk to about things I couldn't talk about with anyone else.

^yeah when I was little, thats what I used to think as well. My imagination was a refuge from the outside world and it probably was at the time.

I think it has to do with the way the autistic mind is, we hyperfocus on things and we cant think of multiple things at once. Thats the reason why aspies have a hard time multitasking. So our brains revert to our obsessive nature. But I think due to the difficulties we face, we end up finding comfort in our obsessions.

I don't know, I wish we didn't have to have obsessions or be a neurotype that is commonly prone to having obsessions. I know people say ''you can stop becoming obsessed with something by focusing/distracting yourself on to something else like reading a book or something'' because that stupid cliche doesn't work on me. I do like to have obsessions because it gives me something to write stories about (which I enjoy doing), without having to make up characters but also without having to use people like celebrities or relatives or friends as characters, so writing stories about the people I'm obsessed with are more enjoyable to write about, for some weird reason. I know I can write stories about them but not see them, but if I don't see them my obsession starts fading away then I don't feel like writing stories about them.

I just wish I didn't have obsessions to begin with. I just wish I was a normal person who didn't have such an intense obsession with bus-drivers, then I won't have to suffer the heart-breaking devastation of my bus service going into First Group one day.....

ps - why the hell does the advice ''read a book'' always annoy the hell out of me, since ''reading a book'' is really boring to me and I'm one in a million Aspie who doesn't read books to distract me from life's problems?

When other things get too much, we feel anxious or don't know what's going on, obsessions are something we know and are safe.

I just get really, really, really interested in something and don't want to think about anything else.

I like being obssesed about things, it makes me feel excited. NT's call us imature, but they are jelious because we have a stronger feelings

I guess it's our way of "coping" with the disorder or the problems the rest of the world has with us. It's kind of like how people with chronic mental illness are often very religious, like that young lady with OCD I once saw on TV who had crucifixes in every inch of her room and was constantly praying that she wouldn't do something like molest children even though she never really would do such a thing.

It's just the way that our brains are wired. I also agree with the previous posters that it seems to be a coping mechanism for us.

Obsessions are needed to advance the world. Great inventions, discoveries, works of art, etc...

When I have nothing to obsess over is when I am in the most danger of a serious depressive episode. Fortunately, my main special interest is something healthy and practical. I work on cars. I design them on paper, find the parts and build them. I do everything from internal engine work to stereo installs to wiring to paint and body. I even do almost all of my own welding and fabrication work too. When I am working on one of my cars I can forget everything that is wrong with my life because solving the problems at hand gets my full attention. At that moment, all is right with the world and I am at peace.

Heck, I have been severely depressed about a romantic rejection lately and the only bright spot has been getting one of my oldest cars back on the road and ready for the drag strip. I spent the last few days replacing the rear suspension and fuel tank and shortly I will be installing a limited slip differential and rebuilding the rear axle in the process. When I get done with my work for the day, I feel happy and satisfied. It's the only bright spot in my otherwise sad, lonely life right now and I need it for my sanity.