💥 Special Interests Aren’t Indulgences
Here’s something I teach my clients every single day:
💬 Your special interest isn't an indulgence. It's part of your mental health plan.
Whether it's dance, anime, Greek mythology, houseplants, butterflies, Pokémon, or spreadsheets—if it lights up your brain, it matters.
A beautiful article from The Psychologist recently reminded me of this truth. Amber Raynes, an autistic psychology graduate, wrote about how tap dancing wasn't just a hobby; it was her voice, her calm, her confidence. Tap dancing was how she regulated herself and communicated when words wouldn't come.
This deeply resonated with me.
🧠The Science of Special Interests
We talk a lot about special interests in autism, but we don't discuss nearly enough how essential they are for ADHD brains, too.
The theory of monotropism explains that autistic minds deeply engage with interests because they offer profound pleasure and focus. ADHD folks also experience this through hyperfocus.
When I worked with children, they took immense joy in sharing their interests in therapy, often expressing relief and excitement because others rarely listened to them. Even today, I’m endlessly fascinated by the niche interests neurodivergent creators share on TikTok and other platforms.
🚨 Special Interests Aren't Optional—They're Essential
Too many neurodivergent individuals—especially those who mask their struggles at school or work—are taught that their passions are distractions, or worse, are shamed for them.
But these interests aren't just hobbies. They are your medicine.
In my practice, I treat special interests as essential, not as rewards, luxuries, or afterthoughts, but as lifelines.
Your special interests help you:
Regulate your nervous system
Build confidence and self-esteem
Socialize safely and authentically
Hold onto joy when life becomes overwhelming
Prevent and heal from burnout
Amber shared how she stopped dancing in college and quickly approached burnout. Losing her special interest meant losing joy, stability, and balance.
🔊 A Word on Selective Mutism
Amber also described her experiences of going completely nonverbal in unfamiliar environments—not by choice, but due to anxiety and masking. She refers to this as situational mutism, a phenomenon more common among neurodivergent people than many realize.
This topic deeply intrigues me. When I worked with anxiety, I was one of the few therapists who worked with selective mutism in children. At the time, I knew nothing about ADHD or autism from the framework I now do!
It made me wonder how selective mutism might overlap with neurodivergence.
Were these children possibly neurodivergent?
If anyone studying or experiencing this would like to share insights, please drop them in the comments. I want to learn more and amplify your experiences.
Remember, neurodivergent communication isn't always verbal.
It can look like dancing, drawing, writing fanfic, or organizing bookshelves by color. All forms are valid, powerful, and essential.
If you’re interested in research, here’s a good place to start:
📚 Grove et al. (2018)
Title: Special interests and subjective well-being in autistic adults
Authors: Rachel Grove, Nicholas Roth, Debra Hoekstra
Journal: Autism Research, 11(5), 766–775
Findings: Autistic adults engaging in special interests reported higher subjective wellbeing, emotional regulation, identity formation, and improved mood.
🗣 Advocacy Call to Action
To teachers, clinicians, coaches, and caregivers:
Stop framing special interests as distractions.
Start treating them like essential mental health and restorative tools.
To neurodivergent people:
Your passion is not a problem.
Your hyperfocus is not a flaw.
Protect your joy. Schedule and prioritize time for your interests.
And if anyone ever made you feel that your passions don’t matter—this is your reminder: they absolutely do.
Who am I?
I'm Kristen McClure, MSW, LCSW—a therapist with 30 years of experience, a child and mental health advocate, and a neurodivergent-affirming coach. I run a therapy practice in Charlotte, NC, and have developed a comprehensive, neurodivergent-affirming program for ADHD and AuDHD women.
The Flourish neurodivergent affirming support group for women is built on my Flourish 5S Empowerment model. This is a scaffolded learning model designed to help you unmask and support yourself. Not fix yourself.
Every woman is welcome to my groups and scholarships; sliding fees are available if you can’t afford them.
You’ll learn tools to practice self-compassion, adjust your self-talk, and build rhythms that actually work with your brain.
Every woman is welcome to my groups and scholarships; sliding fees are available if you can’t afford them.
You’ll learn tools to practice self-compassion, adjust your self-talk, and build rhythms that actually work with your brain.
👉Learn about the Flourish Model and Community Here
👉 Get into the group. Just put our name on the list for the next cohort here
👉 Therapist/coach curious about the Flourish model? I really want to allow others to have access to these materials and use it themselves. Please! Get on the list for the next affordable coach training here.