Ok so I don't know how many of you experience this but I'm gonna guess at least a few may understand what I'm talking about.

Being the way that I am, I tend to be rather passionate about things that I love whether that be a person, thing or an activity that I'm interested in. Problem is, when I am interested in whatever it is, I tend to get obsessed and over-focused and it engrosses me and takes over my life a bit. I can't think of much else much of the time and all I want to do is spend time with that "item of interest" ... Mind you, I dont' have a problem with being obsessed with things. I rather enjoy it. Aside from people, I don't see it as a problem, I still get along in life and get things I need to done.. etc. (I say aside from people for the obvious reasons this can cause problems in relationships.. but you know that)

The problem I have with these obsessions is that many times, indeed invariably, I cool off, burn out, or fizzle out .. however you wnat to put it and then just slowly have nothing to do with it for awhile. Recently I'd been completely engrossed in Skyrim, an rpg I play on computer. I was doing everything related to the game, playing, reading, modding items for the game ... everything. That's since gone by the wayside.

I have rekindled my love for Anime and Manga (japanese animation and comics) which by the way I've loved very much for over 25 years. While I was married and together with my wife the past 13 years, the subject was deemed taboo by my wife and she forbade me from watching it, as she basically considered all of anime pretty much evil. :/ Anyway.. so I let that go for her. The love for anime never left me, I just stopped collecting, watching and having anything to do with it. But of course, I must add that anime and manga have had a very strong influence in my art and style. Which is another passion of mine. art.

Lately I've felt pretty consumed by watching anime and in between, doing art related to the animes that I've been into. I've become obsessed and again, I have no problem with that. but I have this fear, that it will disappear and I will leave it aside like other obsessions. It really bothers me because I really would like to become a manga artist, maybe an anime artist.. I don't want to lose this passion and it really bothers me fearing the loss of the super focus on it.

Any of you have this fear, that when you're into something completely that you'll lose that passion, obsession that you love so much?

Thanks for listening I know this is kind of a ramble.
~S4

[Phreak]

I certainly know what it's like to have a single track mind with an all encompassing focus with skant regards to anything else - followed by sudden burnout or sudden loss of interest for no reason

[The_little_didgee]

Right now, I am obsessed with mushrooms. I usually go on a hunt every 2 or 3 days. After that, I try to identify my specimens. Identification is fun and can be very challenging, especially since one mushroom may resemble 10 different species. So far, I have found about 15 different species.

I also fear losing my interest, because it is quite fun and relaxing. It is a great escape from stress. It helps me interact with others, something that is not easy for a lady with Asperger's. People find my obsession interesting and will ask me questions.

People tell me, I talk too much about mushrooms but I don't care. It fulfills me and gives me something fun to do.

P.S. I also enjoy drawing them.

Originally Posted by The_little_didgee

Right now, I am obsessed with mushrooms. I usually go on a hunt every 2 or 3 days. After that, I try to identify my specimens. Identification is fun and can be very challenging, especially since one mushroom may resemble 10 different species. So far, I have found about 15 different species.

I also fear losing my interest, because it is quite fun and relaxing. It is a great escape from stress. It helps me interact with others, something that is not easy for a lady with Asperger's. People find my obsession interesting and will ask me questions.

People tell me, I talk too much about mushrooms but I don't care. It fulfills me and gives me something fun to do.

P.S. I also enjoy drawing them.

thanks didjee. I actually suspect I am Aspie too. I have two kids dx with it and much of what my 13 year old is going through its like my childhood. so yeah I understand all that you're saying. social interactions etc.

[poptart316]

I don't really have obsessions, I wish I did.. I was big into music for a while, esp local/underground stuff and loved going to shows but I lost interest in that a while ago, I never fit in with the crowd so now I associate that with the music and kinda hate it.

[TheRealFDeal]

I have lost all passion in anything I ever cared about because of depression. I seriously worry that I will never feel passionate about anything again. I think I can identify with obsessions, though maybe not on a scale of an Aspie . Your passion and interest in anime and mange may lessen a bit over time, but if you have been interested really for 25 years, I don't think it's ever going completely away.

I never realized there was anything "evil" about anime. Should I be afraid of you now, CE?

Originally Posted by TheRealFDeal

I have lost all passion in anything I ever cared about because of depression. I seriously worry that I will never feel passionate about anything again. I think I can identify with obsessions, though maybe not on a scale of an Aspie . Your passion and interest in anime and mange may lessen a bit over time, but if you have been interested really for 25 years, I don't think it's ever going completely away.

I never realized there was anything "evil" about anime. Should I be afraid of you now, CE?

yes, you should fear me now. hahahaha thanks I'm sure you're right, I know it will probably not go away altogether.

[Ultra Darkness]

I have been obsessed with Sonic the Hedgehog (the games, not the character so much) for the past four years. My interest has only just begun to wane, but I can't really say that when all I have to do to rekindle it is to play a game or draw a picture, so...

[UnderTheRose]

i have this fear alot.
extreme all-encompassed interest in something. Babbling about it to anyone who will listen, losing sleep over it.. and then... gone!
Gone.. totally.
Even sometimes a new friend.. sooo excited, love spending time with this person.. and then.. .i forget they exist.
Is it like SUCH an over abundance of emotion we pour out that we empty ourselves too quickly?
--- note-- i took the aspie test and only scored 100, so not aspie, but i do have this tendency to the point where it causes me some anxiety. Was told that it could be during a mild-mania that this obsession goes on, or something like that.

[Happy Camper]

I also play skyrim on my pc every now and then.

I get obsessions but they always seem to fade away. I bought an expensive camera last year but spent far more time just reading about how to use it and how dslr lenses work. Earlier this year I lost myself trying to figure out...everything. I was supposedly manic but I was hell bent on figuring out how the universe works. That obsession fizzled out, but at least I wasn't bored.

What I hate more than anything is not having anything to do or focus on. I feel like that volleyball Wilson from Cast away. I don't know where I'm going.

[UnderTheRose]

In the past two years i have been hellbent on learning to knit, sew, photography (all petered out after initial obsession)
But even larger in the last 4 years --- started and abandoned my own home business, joined a seminary to become a priest (still kind of in that but my 'stick-to-it' has totally died), started many large websites that ive left to rot, began to lead Meditation groups and then abandoned that... list goes on.