Let's Talk About Special Interests 

Special Interests. Things people don’t typically bring up in conversation when asked “what do u like”. I like to think it’s just a part of our brains liking something that we may resonate with

My main struggle is whether or not my - interests - count as - special interests - and what the difference between liking something and special interest even is. For me, I guess I’ve had different “phases” or interests throughout my life, but until recently I thought everyone was the same way, especially since I often had friends who were the same way with the same interests (ex. In high school my friends and I were VERY into the game pop’n music). Now I’m like “what do u mean not everyone is like this?” xD

I agree, this is the best part about being autistic.

thank u for helping me 2 years later 🙏🙏

Good job. Keep going with your video journey.

This is as raw as it gets for me. I feel like I've been talked out of so many of my special interests as an autistic person. I can remember at least a few comments from family it almosts seems like they were coming off as snarky. I don't say I can fully blame my family back then because autism wasn't in the criteria for people born female at birth, but now I look back and I'm like, so were they just trying to get me worked up? I remember from like the ages of 9 up until my teens I was really into Michael Jackson, and my grandparents would keep asking for information I'm like ok so this happened for it to be this way, and this is how the media is etc. They were like she knows so much. I had a feeling at the time that came off as a bit snarky. Because for one any questions they had they'd come up to me and ask me. They later asked me about David Bowie. A question I was unsure about, because again I spend this amount of time on other interests. I'm like sure I enjoy Bowie but I'm not gonna go deep into Bowie. I later wind jo getting into my chemical romance and nonstop playing the Ramones on repeat on my playlists. Britney Spears I remember she was a big one for me. Something about that whole issue got me bothered myself cause other people had different views on that, and that was a whole nother can of worms. I'd be on Tumblr forums etc just looking at my favorite pages for hours on end. I remember when we actually had amino that app was so bad looking back at it now. I think autistic people are prayed upon online a lot. We still have to even watch our backs. I didn't know there was this set of rules when I came to Tumblr till someone told me. I'm like ohhhh... Cause I have problems reading the room to communicate with people. I'm like do I send that text message or start that chat or do I leave it be? Or am I gonna regret not starting that chat?

The function of *'emotion regulation'* is probably why normal people emphasize the 'imPaCt oN soCiEtY' - as *sensations and interactions at school and workplace 'chip away' at the wellbeing of the person 'on the spectrum'* , _requiring_ them to engage in the 'special interest' for hours in order to restore their vital reserves and stimulate again a self-determined interest in the world. I like the obervation that the 'special interest' may _imply_ a more profound interest of which the actual 'special interest' may be somewhat of an 'image', maybe like a first iteration of a question - although I don't mean that in a 'psychologizing' sense. Burnetts 'Little Princess' e.g. isn't about a 'nostalgia for feudalism', but actually about how social class *stigmatizes* people and how *a character that is not **_alienated_** from itself* will prevail under unfavorable circumstance. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jFnLh1JDqog.html Burnett has explored that *theme* also in her story of 'The Secret Garden' when she contrasted the orphaned upper class English protagonist from the splendor of the 'British Raj' in India with lower class maids and gardeners in Scottland: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1ESVngpn1aA.html *Similar features* - yah, the more different love interests one had, the more one likes people - as there may always be someone who reminds of fond memories...

I love dogs too, they are super cool! I'm also autistic and style their hair for a living. I've always felt super lucky to fall into something I love so much. ❤ Wishing you the best in your life, thank you for making your videos.

Hi! Stumbled upon your channel today and very glad I did. I’m a black woman suspecting I have ASD. Very sorry to hear about your experiences getting a concrete diagnosis. I saw your two part vid and was very angry for you considering I went through something a little similar. I have an appointment with a psych (black woman) that specializes in ASD and hoping I can receive some greater understanding of myself and my behaviors. Hoping I’ll be listened to and understood. Very glad to come across vids from black women. It’s reassuring and just comforting. I subscribed and appreciate u.

I am a retired school Psychologist in LA and most of my preschoolers and students-dinosaurs/planets/shapes/knows every street in Los Angeles/knows how to travel Los Angeles via the bus lines/NASCAR drivers and sponsorships!

Got my diagnosis of ADHD and Asperger’s (ASD) back in December. Great video. My special interest years ago was Meteorology, and I loved (still love) maps, and now it’s pens and pencils and notebooks, which is a spin-off from my interests into drawing cartoons and comics! Thanks for reminding us that it is okay to be us!

Celebrities were my special interest a lot in HS I had a special interest in Young Money 😭 the whole group, Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, one of the ones that lasted the longest was Bruno Mars. I remember this guy in High School I saw in the hallway kinda looked like Bruno Mars to me and I formed a crush based on that. I also used to write Bruno Mars Fan fic lololll😭 I remembered when I had a crush wether it be a celebrity or just someone at my High School I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from talking about them all the time and I felt like I was annoying my sister but couldn’t stop myself lol. She was often the only person I could talk about it to a more full extent. I had a special interest in the Barbie Movies I always wanted to collect them all and I’d organize them in order of release. I’d binge watch all the ones I had every once and a while in order of release. My fave one to rewatch was the 12 dancing princesses. I think I also had a special interest in princesses I remember I liked it so much I’d put my name as Princess on my paper 😂. Victorious the TV show was another one as a teen.

you should have more subscriber ... Im one now ;)