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My fourth quiz asks readers questions related to what their interests have been like through the years. I answer my questions below.
Self-questions
1. How restricted would you consider your interests in the earlier years? For the most part, I would consider them super restricted. While my brother was into sports and a variety of different things children his age would enjoy, I would fixate on certain foods, TV shows, computer games, video games, maps, time and calendars.
2. Was there a term you would use to describe getting too into stuff? My parents and ABA therapists would use the term "getting stuck" when I fixated on something too much and had a hard time moving on to something else.
For example, a therapist would offer me to play Snakes n' Ladders with my brother or a peer in my mother's daycare, but I would go on about a calendar in the room.
3. Would you get into seemingly the most random things? Yes, especially in my early childhood.
When I took a bath, I would focus on the eyes on Loreal shampoo.
When out on the street, I would think about the types of street lamps (At five, I would even go up to them and hug them).
When in another person's house or a public building, I would overanalyze the place's layouts and stuff that were in the rooms.
4. Were you ever into stuff other kids were into at the time? Depending on the topic, I would sometimes say so. The topics of lamps, maps, calendars, seasons and time were unorthodox, but I often would play the same video games, computer games and watch the same shows that my peers were into.
5. Were you ever bullied for your special interests? Not often. However, in my pre-teen years, I was addicted to RuneScape, which was uber popular then.
While some people heavily shared this interest (I even had a couple of peers say they pulled all-nighters over playing it. Yes, at 11 years old), there were others who berated me for it and even told me to shut up about the game.
6. How did your family manage your special interests? My parents would let me take advantage of them just as long as I didn't get stuck (I too often did during any 24-hour period). Therefore, they would let me know I was stuck.
Afterward, I would move to an activity that I wasn't as into before getting into my special interest again. This cycle would often continue like a clockwork.
7. What do you feel are the benefits to special interests? In a world where it is hard to fit in with people because of autism, my special interests positively distract me from those problems.
For example, I was isolated and bullied a lot in high school, but I could eventually recharge by tracking the present weather pattern.
Special interests can also often help people on the spectrum get into their career paths.
8. What are your special interests today? Weather, music and disability acceptance are my three primary special interests. I play "Wonderwall" by Oasis below on my keyboard.
9. Do you have a more diverse range of interests now than when you were younger? I would say so, but not necessarily by a whole lot. I can say I am more open to talking about things I'm not particularly interested in compared to my younger years.
10. What do you do if you think you are too into something now? I acknowledge it and move onto something else for a good balance. If something bad has happened, however, I too often dwell on it for days.
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