Do all people who have autism have a special subject

Hi, I agree with extraneous in that it’s different for women. From the research that I’ve done our obsessions seem to be more extreme versions of an interest that most women would have rather than the classic obsessions with trains etc. Women’s special interests tend to change topic too over the years rather than remaining static, I know personally, I tend to spend a few years on one thing then move into something else.   Also when I have a special interest I research it a lot, when I was a child I would talk about it a lot. Obsessions I had as a child included my pet gerbils! (Think I bored the guy next to me senseless talking about them constantly when I was 9); Gymnastics (I used to practice for hours every night); Take That (there was not a bit of my bedroom or bedroom furniture not covered in posters of them). A few examples of special interests I’ve had as an adult Include ancient Egypt and the pyramids at Giza (Graham Hancock is the author of a few good books about them); The brain and Neuropsychology (probably why I did GCSE, A-level and BSc Psychology); Medieval/Tudor history (this combines with another long term interest of mine, books, I have over 3 tall bookcases of them and more in the loft!); jewellery making (I still make jewellery but it’s a hobby now not an obsession) and my current one is researching Aspergers (that’s been going for a few years now c/o only just diagnosed at the end of last year). Oh and I’m very ashamed to say I’ve had fixations on guys since I was about 6!! Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Hi, I agree with extraneous in that it’s different for women. From the research that I’ve done our obsessions seem to be more extreme versions of an interest that most women would have rather than the classic obsessions with trains etc. Women’s special interests tend to change topic too over the years rather than remaining static, I know personally, I tend to spend a few years on one thing then move into something else.   Also when I have a special interest I research it a lot, when I was a child I would talk about it a lot. Obsessions I had as a child included my pet gerbils! (Think I bored the guy next to me senseless talking about them constantly when I was 9); Gymnastics (I used to practice for hours every night); Take That (there was not a bit of my bedroom or bedroom furniture not covered in posters of them). A few examples of special interests I’ve had as an adult Include ancient Egypt and the pyramids at Giza (Graham Hancock is the author of a few good books about them); The brain and Neuropsychology (probably why I did GCSE, A-level and BSc Psychology); Medieval/Tudor history (this combines with another long term interest of mine, books, I have over 3 tall bookcases of them and more in the loft!); jewellery making (I still make jewellery but it’s a hobby now not an obsession) and my current one is researching Aspergers (that’s been going for a few years now c/o only just diagnosed at the end of last year). Oh and I’m very ashamed to say I’ve had fixations on guys since I was about 6!! Does any of this sound familiar to you?

That explains a lot. 

My special interests were forever fluctuating as a teenager. At the age of eleven it was singing, then at the age of fourteen I developed a thirst for acting. I went on to study Performing Arts at college but I had a lot of trouble with the written assignments, so I didn't progress onto the next year. I was also part of a local drama group which I loved. Then at the age of seventeen writing became my special interest and it is still with me now, although for the past couple of years it hasn't been so much an obsession as it once was. Another one of my special interests is Greek Mythology. This came about due to story I was working on, and it remains still. 

I remember when acting was a special interest to me, and I became really obsessed with an actress I liked. I'd have pictures of her everywhere because she made me happy. I know it seems pretty worrying and looking back at it now know how mad that seems. The obsession with her has ceased quite a lot since then. I still like her work and her as a person but it's not as concerning anymore. I got the chance to meet her at a convention last year and she was so lovely. The only bad part of it was when she tried to talk to me and my brain wouldn't connect with my mouth and I ended up feeling terrible. 

How did you find studying? I like learning things but I find it hard to take in anything, so this has perturbed me from studying. I'm not great with exams, either. I think the pressure gets to me. 

Totally relate to it, I was obsessed with cats for a while as a child and could reel off all the info on breeds etc - I adored my pet Tortie. I was interested in soul music when I was a teen, I still spend hours classifying and reclassifying my now much wider music collection into ever more obscure genres and subgenres. I was interested in gay film history for years and ran a website obsessively tracking down and listing films with lesbian characters or subtext. In the 90s I got interested in the internet and open source software, then digital rights. If I had time now I'd be researching neurology.