my life has been 1 obsession after another and i want to break the cycle...

In summation, you have obsessive interests or fixations, have trouble maintaining social relationships, and accumulate (sometimes impractical) knowledge for knowledge's sake, have trouble maintaining eye contact and communicating in social situations, and difficulty controlling your finances.

And these things go all the way back to your childhood.

I'm curious, have you ever been tested for Autism Spectrum Disorder? The ways you describe yourself sound almost exactly like me before I was diagnosed with Asperger's. Not that I don't do all that stuff now, but having the diagnosis and learning appropriate coping mechanisms has helped tremendously.

no. im 31 so too old for that and someone would have said something when i was younger. thought that did come up a few times when i was googling obsessions to see what i could do...

I am a parent of two now grown children with Aspergers, a high functioning form of autism. Suspect my father, a literal rocket scientist was too (he worked at NASA). I have more than 5 cousins with severe forms of autism and several more less affected, but still functioning with the challenges of autism.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with the suggestion that you consider ASD as a possible (in fact, your posts indicate PROBABLE) insight into the challenges you have experienced throughout your life.

You are NOT too old for "that". I'm 48 now & was not diagnosed until age 45. At your age of 31, you are in the PRIME range of those individuals whom did not ever get tested for, no less diagnosed with the disorder. Andwhole I personally no longer feel it is a disorder, I use the term to reflect a somewhat socially socially accepted term.

Do urself a HUGE favor and don't dismiss the suggestion. Educate yourself on ASD's. I think if you invest of yourself to take this time, you will be quite surprised? Really. Have nothing to lose by looking into it.

Then, if you have further questions or concerns, make sure you bring them to a qualified healthcare provider who can help you make any determinations or most importantly, avenues to take in supporting you overcome your challenges as you present they are in this forum.

God bless you in your journey. Many are out here rooting for you ....

but ive been to loads of counsellers and been to the doctors loads im sure this would have come up by now? and is there any fix for it?

i think the current obsession is dying away now anyway and i am determined to NOT get caught up in another 1. as soon as i can feel it happening im going to try fight against it because its just a waste of time, i just hope i can...

I'm 35 and was diagnosed just under a year ago. All my life I've had social problems, weird habits (flexing and un-flexing my fingers repeatedly, touching my nose a lot, making odd sounds kind of under my breath, etc.), flitted from one obsession to the next, became hyper-focused and fixated on an area of interest only to grow bored with it and wonder why it ever even was interesting. I accumulated vast amounts of information for no other reason than to *know*. (I read the dictionary from cover to cover. A few dictionaries, actually.)

The thing is, Asperger's had been described in the literature but didn't really exist as a diagnosis until I was in my late teens. I was never screened for it or tested for it; I was just labeled 'gifted' by the school administration and "that weird kid" by my peers. It was my giftedness that got me through my early adult years. people tend to overlook a few eccentricities when you're always the smartest person in the room. Still, I had trouble holding down jobs because of my inability to navigate (and complete distaste for) office politics. I have a job today because I own my own business... a handyman business because making things and fixing things are among my many obsessions. And it helps that I'm a perfectionist.

Seriously, 31 is not too old to be on the spectrum. It's not something you grow out of, but you can learn how to manage it and even put some of the positive aspects (intense focus, unique thinking, internal motivation, high fluid intelligence, being highly logical, etc.) to good use. I had talked to quite a few people, too, and finally got tested for ASD after ruling out, among other things, ADHD, depression, even psychopathy. The testing basically (for me) consisted of an interview with a psychiatrist specializing in spectrum disorder. There is a huge written test that many people take, and often interviews with family members or people who have known you since childhood are included, but in my case the doctor said (after about 20 minutes of talking to me) that those things would be unnecessary, that I was "definitely on the spectrum."

There's no medical test, and most doctors--and even psychiatrists who don't specialize in spectrum testing--don't know what to look for. As far as fixing it goes... no, there's no pill or direct treatment (though you can treat the often co-morbid things like anxiety, hyperactivity, and depression). But many of us on the spectrum lead full and vibrant lives once we learn some coping skills and embrace who we are.

There's a test on PsychCentral you can take that may help you decide if you should get tested or not.
Autism / Asperger's Quiz

Hi there,

I can relate!

I have always had interests drift in and out of my life. I played an instrument for 10 years, I took tennis lessons for four years, I was really into parakeets for a while. I collected rocks for a while, then Beanie Babies.

I am not involved in any of those hobbies any more, and different ones have taken their place. I'm sure that some things I enjoy right now, probably won't matter as much to me in years to come. There have been a few interests that remain the same, and occasionally I'll pick up an old one again, but really it's like pulling cards from a deck and putting them back when I'm done. I don't see it as anything bad, I see it as having a full and interesting life with lots to keep me occupied.

I don't think that in itself is a problem. Interests can come and go as we grow up and change as people. Personally I think that it's really cool that interests change - in a way, doesn't it show that we're changing and growing as individuals, enough so that what once fit us, no longer captures our attention?

However, it sounds like the intensity of your pastimes (also called hobbies, interests, activities) is possibly what upset you? I can understand that. It sounds like the above posters have given some good advice if you want to pursue the possibility of having autism.

More than that, I guess I could suggest you seek balance in your life. Make rules as to how much money you're willing to spend on a hobby, or how many hours you can play a game, and periodically reward yourself for sticking to them.

Frankly I might spend a weekend binging on video games, but it helps me unwind from a busy life, and as long as it's not negatively impacting anything, it's okay. I think you are okay. If you choose to pursue the possibility of getting diagnosed and making some changes to fix the issues that come from your "obsessions," then I wish you the best of luck in finding the support and care you need.

the test came up with 36/likely but if theres no cure/fix then this means im stuck like this forever?

also i have never been called gifted or smart. i've always been the opposite tbh

and i also collected beanie babies in my late teens/early 20s, bought loads and spend way too much then just sold them all because i didnt have the room and i was too old for toys, getting a bit of money back was good too but it wasnt that much

Hey magical loser,

I used to do that. I also think I now understand where it comes from and know what to do about it. If you're like me, obsessive thinking like that comes from the same root process the root process that causes depression. Have a look at this and see if you recognize yourself

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...n-escaped.html

If so, there is an easy thing to try.

By the way, you just coined a new word!

def: "interfear"

1. To prevent a process or activity from continuing or being carried out properly due to fear.

example: My agoraphobia is interfearing with my social life!

- vital

thanks i will read that when i get a chance...

i keep thinking the current obsession is going away because im trying to ignore it but then it comes back in full force im hoping if i keep pushing it away it will eventually never come back...

how are you love?

ok now thanks

i hope you feel better.

i do, i dunno if thats just coz im on anti depressents now

Developing obsessions is a personality trait I have always had. Antidepressants don't help, because I have ASD.

All my obsessions have been fairly benign except for one that was odd and embarrassing. I went out of my way to hide it from others including my family for about 15 years. It caused a lot of stress even though the item was soothing. The obsession finally went away after a few nasty hospital stays, since I brought the item with me. After I was discharged, it reminded me of all my horrible experiences. This association made the obsession recede. It was liberating.

antidepressants seemed to have tamed it but its still there, i dont think its causing me so much frustration... it does sometimes though but not as much and i can ignore it most of the time