Good Vibes and Omming for Robert

@Robert Gentel,

OK

I sort of understand.

Quote:

I actually kind of thrive on stress because it isn't boring and that isn't good for me physically at all but I value my mental health more than my physical health and I'm sometimes more stressed relaxing than I am relaxed when I'm stressed. It's hard to describe, I know I'm stressed and can feel it physically but it feels good to me it makes me feel alive to have tons of pressure and challenges.

No, I more than understand, Robert.

Especially the part about valuing mental health over physical health.

I understand where you're coming from.

And I also know it's hard to be any different if that's the way you're wired.

1 Reply

@msolga,

Woulda never pegged you for OCPD myself if that is what you mean. I have almost every single of the indications (just not the miserly part) to varying (strong) degrees.

Edit: here they are.

- Is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost
- Shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)
- Is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity)
- Is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification)
- Is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value (this less so because of my lifestyle choices but I have a hoarding nature)
-Is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things
- Adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes (this I don't have at all, I only felt this way when I thought I was going to get married, but I usually am thoughtless with money)
- Shows rigidity and stubbornness

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@Robert Gentel,

I think I understand, and that's all I'll say.

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@Robert Gentel,

You know, relaxing isn't about doing nothing for many folk...it's about doing something different. Often something quite physical and engrossing. That's why I was rabbiting on about sport, or activities like...I dunno...orienteering, sky-diving, scuba etc at some point a while ago.

By speed, I meant what hyperactive kids sometimes get.

And yes, it makes sleep hard, and suppresses appetite at higher does, so it is likely a game not worth the candle for you.

I am clearly mis-remembering. I thought you'd said something about taking it a bit, and feeling less driven and bored.

But I'll shut up, because you said it was getting too personal.

1 Reply

@dlowan,

dlowan wrote:

You know, relaxing isn't about doing nothing for many folk...it's about doing something different. Often something quite physical and engrossing. That's why I was rabbiting on about sport, or activities like...I dunno...orienteering, sky-diving, scuba etc at some point a while ago.

I know and I try to get into them (was trying to get back into basketball last year). Returning to sports is always on my todo list as well. But I do a lot of other less healthy activities to blow off steam.

Quote:

I am clearly mis-remembering. I thought you'd said something about taking it a bit, and feeling less driven and bored.

I think I know what you mean, I said that uppers sometimes don't really make me go up if I'm already up as far as I can go and can bring me down when they come down.

And yeah, every recreational drug makes me less bored. That's the point of them all innit?

Quote:

But I'll shut up, because you said it was getting too personal.

Eh, no biggie and I've already copped to it now. I am Robert and I have a raging case of OCPD. Anyone who knows me isn't too surprised.

1 Reply

@Robert Gentel,

Dunno what I've got, if anything at all, exactly, Robert, but I certainly understand about feeling driven.

Above & beyond the cause of duty. Often find myself in that position.

Familiar territory.

I put it down to political passion, myself. Which is not a bad thing at all! Smile

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@msolga,

I edited in the indications for my OCPD up there but here is the one-sentence version:

Quote:

The primary symptoms of OCPD are a preoccupation with details, rules, lists, order, organization, and schedules; being very rigid and inflexible in their beliefs; showing perfectionism that interferes with completing a task; excessive focus on being productive with their time; being very conscientious; having inflexible morality, ethics, or values; hoarding items that may no longer have value; and a reluctance to trust a work assignment or task to someone else for fear that their standards will not be met.

That sound like you to you? It can be more mild than my manifestations (e.g. you can have as little as 4 of the indications in the larger list I posted earlier while I have all but one of those and all of these core indications), which can be extreme when I am not suppressing it well.

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@msolga,

And I might take some rules as sharp.

But I get you associate yourself, by knowing yourself, with this acronymic disorder.

I hope you don't put yourself in a box, Rob. (and many other names, I just don't know.)

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@ossobuco,

ossobuco wrote:

But I get you associate yourself, by knowing yourself, with this acronymic disorder.

I hope you don't put yourself in a box, Rob. (and many other names, I just don't know.)

This isn't a newfangled "acronymic disorder" fad if that is what you mean. And I don't really see it negatively at all, it is my best quality as well as my worst quality. It just is what it is.

It is what makes me an incredibly productive person, and what makes me a bit nuts. It's a limitation and a gift I just work with.

1 Reply

@Robert Gentel,

Bits of it could apply, but not most, really. "Morality, ethics, or values" certainly ring a bell.

I am definitely not good about flexibility, about the things that really matter to me. Matters of strong principle. I won't argue that.

However, in the face of overwhelming opposition (to a minority position I might hold) , I will now try & find a way to withdraw, as diplomatically as I can ... & build up my resources again. Because the alternative is ... well, self destruction. I've had a few such close encounters in my very heady youthful political days & I learned from them. Because I had to.

Does that make any sense?

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@ossobuco,

I give up, you may really know yourself, Robert.

I have no clue what to suggest, except maybe write about it. Even revel in writing about it.

1 Reply

@msolga,

Yeah it does, but I suspect your strong drive isn't pathological. More of a strong will, lots of drive thing without it being a personality disorder.

But those traits I listed pretty much define me whether I like it or not, I only get to try to have a say in how much. So I can only agree with all your advice (it really is spot on except for not understanding that I can't really change) but can't always bring myself to apply it.

1 Reply

@Robert Gentel,

Quote:

And yeah, every recreational drug makes me less bored. That's the point of them all innit?

Not for me!!!

I am happy if they make me less ANXIOUS and mellower!!!

I am happy with my manic-ness (I don't get bi-polar sort of manic...just zipping and flying manic) but I am chronically anxious...I am sort of a functional (mostly ) GAD.

1 Reply

@Robert Gentel,

I always say, of myself too, that we have the strengths of our weaknesses, and the weaknesses of our strengths.

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@dlowan,

GAD has always seemed like an alien concept to me, because I thrive on the anxiety and hate the mellow part.

And you are most definitely functional, I didn't notice and I am usually a pretty good armchair shrink for that kind of thing.

1 Reply

@Robert Gentel,

Huh?

The rituals are a MAJOR part of that label, and I don't think you are a slave to compulsive rituals, are you?

Unless they have changed it very recently.

Now I am going to have to look up the DSM IV R when I get to work!

1 Reply

Glad you're feeling better, Robert. I was extreeemely worried. Extreeeme worry is a different list from regular worry.

Not gonna get into all the other stuff. Can't relate really. But I do want you to do what you feel is right for you--while you maintain your health.

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@msolga,

Bits of almost every personality disorder fit all of us!!!

It really does have to be several of them, long-lasting, and really greater than the norm!

We're all mad, you know.

1 Reply

@ossobuco,

That post of mine wasn't anti Robert. It was lousy for creating a large space, for which I apologize.

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@Robert Gentel,

Ha! Get the functional kinda sorta Borderline thing did you?

That's why I just can't work with borderlines any more. Wore myself out containing myself as well as them!

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Good Vibes and Omming for Robert

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