Obsessions

Welcome everyone to Deeper Waters where we are diving into the ocean of truth. I’ve been spending this month writing on Autism Awareness Month. Today, I plan to discuss the topic of obsessions.

Many Aspies get obsessed with things very easily. It can be an attachment to an object, many of which I can remember growing up, or it can be an attachment to an interest. In some ways, this can be good. For instance, I have a great drive to learn about apologetics.

There are times that it can be neutral as well. The obsessiveness can affect one’s memory on such matters easily. Regular readers of the blog know that I am a total Smallville fan and some of you know that I have every episode title memorized in order. Yes. That’s more than 200 episodes.

When I was growing up, I used to collect the little matchbox cars and I would place them all on an end table. If my mother for some reason moved one when I was away, I am told that when I came back, that I would know exactly which one had been moved and I would be quite upset. I don’t remember this, but I have no reason to doubt it.

When an Aspie has a healthy obsession, it will usually be on a topic and they will want to know all about that topic that they can. There was one day my wife saw some geese outside of our place of residence. She said they were Canadian Geese and I asked her how she knew, to which she immediately shot off a number of reasons to which I could only say “Okay. I’m convinced.”

Of course, there are times that an obsession can be negative and we have to realize that. For me, as an example, I often get obsessed with a negative idea or fear and I cannot seem to shake it. This will be talked about more when we discuss what it means to be overanalytical, but I can spend a long time worrying about something that everyone else already concludes is an established fact.

This needs to be kept in mind when dealing with an Aspie. For instance, if you’re in a church service, an Aspie could bring some sort of object that could bring some comfort to them. You might really want to think before saying anything along the lines of “Is this something I really want to make a big deal over?” If it isn’t, then why not let them since they can have some calmness and serenity in a place where they might be uncomfortable. (Why might they be uncomfortable in church? It’s a social situation and frankly even if it wasn’t, we need God to make us uncomfortable at times.)

When it’s a negative obsession, help the person through it. My own counselor is quite good at this. For many counselors, flooding is not recommended. Give them little steps at a time until they’re ready to make the steps that they need to. Remember, seek first to understand with someone who’s different.

Again, the soul is worth it.