Does talking about the same topic make me autistic?

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Zelda64
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06 May 2020, 1:09 am

I am already diagnosed with APD and mild ADHD. I was told I do not have autism. I really do not fit into an of the autistic symptoms except regarding special interests. For example I love Nintendo, Disney, and the general entertainment industry. Whenever I able to bring these topics up at an appropriate time I will. For example, I when I become friends with someone I will intensely talk about Disney to them but, after that I stop as it gets repetitive. Some of my friends though that are interested in Disney or Nintendo though we will talk about this stuff all the time. These are defiantly strong passions of mine but, the reason I do not think these would be considered special interests though is because they do not take over my life. If someone is not interested in my topics at all after I ask I wont bring it up to them. I also my interest arent a necessity to me, they are just something that make me extremely happy and I am quite knowledgable about. What do you think, does this sound like it could be a link to me having autism.



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06 May 2020, 2:48 am

It doesn’t “make” you autistic but it is consistent with being autistic. It is also consistent with ADHD as they are very similar conditions.



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06 May 2020, 4:52 am

Welcome to Wrong Planet.


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Dear_one
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06 May 2020, 6:55 am

I don't think that Disney exposure causes autism, but it does seem to destroy independent imagination.



AceofPens
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06 May 2020, 8:01 am

It doesn't make you autistic. If that was the case, all of Tumblr would have to be diagnosed en masse. However, obsessions with certain topics to the point of dysfunction is a symptom of autism. And I don't mean dysfunction in the casual sense of "I'm neglecting my homework because I want to read more 1970s nutritional studies." I mean causing severely disruptive behaviors, like impulsive buying, monologuing, and hyperfixation. If some of your interests are intense enough to cause executive dysfunction or emotional distress, they could very well be a clinical trait. Otherwise, it's not unusual for a person to be very enthusiastic about certain interests. You seem to know when it's appropriate to bring it up in social settings, so as long as they aren't causing you any problems, I wouldn't consider it an autism trait. You're right to make a distinction based on their severity.


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QuantumChemist
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06 May 2020, 11:05 am

As others have said, it is a sign that you might be on the spectrum, but do ones not guarantee that you actually are. Do you have any of the other symptoms, like sensory issues? Having a special interest is one thing, going to the extreme where you eat, sleep and breathe your interest is another. I was that way with fireworks as a kid. Even to this day (forty years later), I cannot mention fireworks around my family members without them acting like I said the f-bomb. It started me into the field of chemistry at a very early age. I no longer have that push for fireworks because I learned how to make them better than what Is commercially available. Sometimes gaining true knowledge can kill the original special interest.

If you suspect that you might be on the spectrum, it may be worth going through a professional diagnosis. You will have to decide if it worth it or not. I am self-identifying as being on the spectrum, but did not get a professional diagnosis due to cost, my relative old age (mid-40s) and being fairly self-sufficient. In my case, i could not justify my return on the investment required.



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06 May 2020, 11:15 am

Welcome to WP. The way you describe how you talk about Disney does not sound like an Autistic hyperfocus to me. I am not an expert in any means but to me it just sounds like a wonderful love and passion for Disney which many people actually do have.

The biggest indicator to me in the way you describe it is the way that you seem to always be fully aware in the nonspoken cues that the people listening to you are emitting and you are able to respond to those cues. Again, I could be wrong, but to me it does not sound Autistic.

And an Autistic special interest usually affects our lives much more intensely. Like sometimes I can go for like ten hours straight and forget to eat or even not be able to stop to go to the bathroom when I am engaged in a special interest. I can also talk about it non-stop for like six hours straight and not realize that the person listening has other things to do.


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06 May 2020, 8:57 pm

No, but creating multiple threads asking the same question might get you warned if it becomes a trend.

Also, welcome to WP. :clown:


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