Special Interests and Losing Interest in Them

I have been thinking a lot about special interests lately.

I guess my special interest is my field of work. All I ever wanted to do since high school. After university and work, including two higher degrees I seem to have lost the 'special' part of my interest.

After obtaining a doctorate a few years ago I lost interest in studying. My knowledge of my subject matter is there but my brain cannot be bothered in studying further.

Is this because subconsciously somewhere in my autistic brain I have decided that enough is enough for this interest. It is like a switch was turned off. I used to live my subject nearly 24/7 but after the doctorate I did not have the energy to continue. I used to think it was because of the amount of work and study I did that I was knackered but now years later I have lost interest.

The question for folks on here is:

Have others felt the same way about one or more if their interests? Will I recover this interest or is it gone for good.

Maybe just maybe I have been in burnout since the doctorate was completed.

Parents
  • I find it depends on the driver for the interest.

    One of mine was similar to you in that it was my job, but it got toa point where I knew enough and wasn't learning any more, so it has become mundane and I find it hard to engage now. Maybe that's because my brain enjoyed the challenge of learning more than the subject....

    Others I find have stuck for much longer, like fishing and learning guitar (I think the later will drop off if I ever feel I got "far enough" though.

Reply
  • I find it depends on the driver for the interest.

    One of mine was similar to you in that it was my job, but it got toa point where I knew enough and wasn't learning any more, so it has become mundane and I find it hard to engage now. Maybe that's because my brain enjoyed the challenge of learning more than the subject....

    Others I find have stuck for much longer, like fishing and learning guitar (I think the later will drop off if I ever feel I got "far enough" though.

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