You helped me to understand you by telling me of your autism. Have you any idea really that this is a gift in many ways? You are intelligent, more so than you may know. Autistic people, do obsess, often in very very educational ways. The trick is to focus that energy and intelligence in a way that is positive and not negative. You arn't loosing any brain neurons, you are making them all the time. You have something the normal joe doesn't have, and you can use it for your betterment. I know an autistic gentleman, have known him since he was a child. I directed him into the field of paleontology, which to this day, he has obsessed over, but learned all the material I could offer. He may wind up doing that as a career. He is just 19 years old and brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!! All I did was help focus that obession into something he wound up loving. I don't know if I can' help you to focus differently. But I do want you to know that I believe you can. My friend did, and he is turning out to be a really cool individual. Thank you for telling me about yourself. The other mental condition, I would have to educate myself on. I only know from experience that autistic people are very very intelligent!!!!!!! ginnie