Switching interests
I've had this problem for as long as I can remember. Just a couple days ago, I got fed up of it and decided I needed help on this.
I tried going as far back as I could without just making random decisions and filling in the gaps. I've tried to be as accurate as possible, but it might not be 100% correct.
Basically, what happens is that my special interest keeps changing, and it keeps changing between like a dozen things, literally. Almost all of the times, it involves computers, but that's just because all of my interests are related to technology and science. Sometimes my interests do go outside the realm of technology, design for instance, but its always designing websites or UIs and stuff like that, so it still does involve computers.
Firstly, here's the information I've collected thus far on my interest switches beginning from Nov '13.
(Just FYI : I don't ever seem to have two interests at once, for example, when programming became my interest in late Feb, the earlier interest was no longer something I cared about)
Started Late February : Programming
Started Late March : Electronics
Started Early April : Learning Programming
Started Early April : Cryptocurrencies
Started Mid April : Tech Incubators
Started Late April : Entrepreneurship
Started Late April : Economics
Started Early May : Atheism
Started Early May : Gaming
Started Mid May : Product Development
Started Mid May : Blogging
Started Late May : Astrophysics
Started Late May : Aspergers
Started Late May : Product Development
Started Late May : Learning Programming
Started Early June : Design
Started Early June : Entrepreneurship
Started Mid June : Designing UI/UX
So, I've had 19 changes in my special interest within like 7 something months. And I am sure I am missing a couple changes from the list.
Now as one can guess, this is getting pretty darn ridiculous and infuriating. I just cannot stay focused on a single thing for longer than a few months at most it seems. Also, none of these are brand new arrivals in my lists of interests. All of them have come and gone before. Sometimes new interests do come in, but very few make it into the cycle(ie, they don't recur).
I know my post seems way too detailed and long, and I do apologize for that.
I did know that Aspies could indeed have changing special interests, but this frequently? Oh, and I missed rock collection in the list.
So what should I do about this? I need some advice.
Like many Aspies, the special interests in my life have ranged from A to Z. But, maybe because my systemizing is sooo pervasive, I have always thought of my interests as "special categories" (genealogy, history, law and politics). At first glance, they appear to be four interests, but they also relate to each other and have subcategories. Within genealogy, for example, my interests include familial DNA, development of genetic mutations and haplogroup migration patterns. The same is true with the other categories. If a new interest (like my most recent study of PGP encryption) doesn't fit within an existing category, I give it no more than a few days of attention to give myself a detailed understanding of the topic without becoming an expert in it. This method keeps me on topic and prevents me from wandering from one irrelevant interest to another (at least for too long).
I amn't presuming to recommend this method to you, but you might want to try it out for a month or two.
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Diagnosed in 2015 with ASD Level 1 by the University of Utah Health Care Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic using the ADOS-2 Module 4 assessment instrument [11/30] -- Screened in 2014 with ASD by using the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre AQ (Adult) [43/50]; EQ-60 for adults [11/80]; FQ [43/135]; SQ (Adult) [130/150] self-reported screening inventories -- Assessed since 1978 with an estimated IQ [≈145] by several clinicians -- Contact on WrongPlanet.net by private message (PM)
It's hardly a special interest if it only lasts for a couple of weeks. Just because you are researching something doesn't make it a special interest. Special interests can change, but they last for years between changes. Your special interest might be something that the fleeting interests you mention are part of - seems more like you are looking at particular aspects of some overarching theme (maybe something to do with starting your own tech business)?
How old are you? If you are at or past puberty, it could be an age thing. During my childhood/adolescence I used to obsess over only 1 - 2 things at a time for years at a time (for example, being interested in the two anime Rurouni Kenshin and Inuyasha from age 11 to 14) but I suddenly stopped having these kinds of interests at the age of 21.
Starting about a year ago, I have had a group of less intense interests that I cycle through every couple of days, weeks or months. It's rare that I introduce new interests into this cycle. Additionally, most of them fall under a similar theme (specific fictional characters).
I don't know if they even qualify as Asperger's-level interests anymore, but I have been repeatedly told by my family that most people in the world have a variety of less intense interests. My mom says that even the people on shows like My Crazy Obsession or Totally Obsessed (anybody remember that one?) probably have interests outside of whatever interest is featured on TV, but the shows make it appear that their entire lives revolve around their one specific interest in order to get ratings.
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