First post

Hello everyone,

This is my first post on a mental health forum.

I am going to see someone seriously very soon to try and find a name for whatever is affecting me but I would love to hear from someone who already has my symptoms, perhaps they can shed some light on what is different about me. I would like it if someone could explain how they deal with these issues and what illness they have.

I seem to have a lot of the symptoms of ADHD, unable to stop fidgeting (a body part is always moving, my leg normally but I also tap the caps lock on and off every sentence, sometimes more) easily distracted, unmotivated etc... I also have these insane compulsions that I have never seen anyone about because every time I think about it, I feel too embarrassed.

My compulsions feel very different, sometimes I get a small compulsion to dangerous things for silly reasons, an example of this would be getting out of a moving car because 'I'm almost home', another example would be walking off a two story ledge in a shopping center because 'it's quicker than the stairs', I don't act on these compulsions but I know they are there and I have to actively think about not doing whatever it is they are suggesting I do.

I have another type of compulsion where I get an insane obsession with any random topic, if I've seen something and found it interesting I learn about it as fast as I can and as much as I can, which can be good because I get to learn a lot but is also very damaging, for example, it damages my ability to save because I am constantly buying things for new hobbies (i've gotten a little better with this lately) and it damages my reputation because people see me as someone who can't follow through with projects when I can be quite determined when it is an actual project and not a temporary obsession.

The worst thing is the waste of time these obsessions create, today I was in a particularly obsessive mood and went to see Iron Man 3. Seeing movies when I am in this frame of mind is always a mistake, after getting home I starting looking up how to build a voice recognition system which led to another obsession, and another. I've swapped between three obsessions in the past few hours.

I'm desperate for advice if anyone has been through this, I had always assumed it was OCD but sites seem to think that OCD is more when you check the locks several times and do repetitive actions.

OCD can have many symptoms, and although no one here can diagnose, maybe you should mention this to your doctor? If it is OCD, there are successful treatments available. You may want to check our OCD forum.
obsessive-compulsive/
Would you like me to move your topic there, and leave a shadow thread here, so you can have the benefit and support of both forums?

It's good that you know not to act on your compulsions, but I can imagine that they're distressing for you. Please, see a doctor who can get to the root of the problem, and a conclusive diagnosis and let us know how you get on?

masquerade wrote:OCD can have many symptoms, and although no one here can diagnose, maybe you should mention this to your doctor? If it is OCD, there are successful treatments available. You may want to check our OCD forum.
obsessive-compulsive/
Would you like me to move your topic there, and leave a shadow thread here, so you can have the benefit and support of both forums?

It's good that you know not to act on your compulsions, but I can imagine that they're distressing for you. Please, see a doctor who can get to the root of the problem, and a conclusive diagnosis and let us know how you get on?

I am going to see a physiatrist for a diagnosis soon.

I would appreciate it if you could move this post there for me, yes, thanks!

Will you let us know how you get on?

Yes, I'll move the post for you. You can find it in both forums.

masquerade wrote:Will you let us know how you get on?

Yes, I'll move the post for you. You can find it in both forums.

Will do, and thanks for your help.

Hey there,

I think you've made a good decision to go to seek professional help for this and it's fantastic that you're able to come onto a forum like this and open up about it. Thanks for sharing your experience.

It's difficult. I understand. I have something similar. I function by obsession but mine last a month or so of intense reading, watching and making, most people find it quirky and strange, eccentric and cool. But it can be dangerous and draining.

Same thing with the compulsions. Again most people consider it quirky and strange, eccentric and cool... But it can be far from it.

Before I went into therapy I found this webpage which helped me as I prepared for therapy and (some of these activities I continued as I was still in therapy) and were really good for me. Here is a link you can follow if it interests you!

http://www.trastornosobsesivos.com/inde ... e-disorder

I wish you the best of luck!