Living with an All-or-Nothing Brain

Hello my favourite besties!

Have you ever found something you love and suddenly it is all you can think about?

A topic, a hobby, a character, a game, a story — something that makes your brain light up.

For many autistic people, this can be known as a special interest.

A special interest is not just a hobby. It can become a deep connection. It can be something

you research, talk about, create around, and find comfort in.

For me, one of my biggest special interests is writing and books.

And honestly, it makes a lot of sense.

Books are worlds you can step into. Writing lets you create your own. There are characters to

understand, stories to build, emotions to explore, and endless things to learn.

A normal conversation about books can easily turn into me talking about characters, plots,

writing styles, ideas, or random details I have discovered.

And the funny thing is — when you have a special interest, you do not just like the thing.

You need to know everything.

You want to know how it works, why it works, the history behind it, and every tiny detail that

other people might not even notice.

But special interests look different for everyone.

Some people are deeply interested in Marvel — knowing every character, storyline,

connection, and detail across the universe.

Some people love LEGO — building, collecting, designing, and understanding how different

pieces come together.

Others might have a huge interest in FIFA or football games — knowing players, stats,

teams, and every update.

Then there are video games, where someone might completely immerse themselves in

different worlds, characters, strategies, and stories.

From the outside, people might wonder, “Why are you so focused on that?”

But that is the thing about special interests.

They are not just random obsessions.

They can bring comfort. They can help with stress. They can give you something familiar in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming.

They can also be a way to connect with people.

Finding someone who loves the same thing can feel amazing because suddenly you do not

have to explain why it matters — they already understand.

Of course, there can be challenges too.

Sometimes a special interest can take over your thoughts. You might struggle to switch focus

or stop talking about it when other people are not as interested.

But having a special interest is not something that needs to be “fixed.”

It is part of how some autistic brains experience passion, curiosity, and joy.

And really, isn’t the world better when people have something they genuinely love?

Whether it is books, writing, superheroes, building, gaming, or something completely

different — those interests can become a little piece of who we are.

And that is something worth celebrating.

Love,

Your autistic bestie.