OCPD - been trying to write an essay for 2+ months, help.

It's supposed to be 800 words and I have had so many revisions and I just keep losing track of what I'm trying to say and overfocusing in every work session I do! I have inattentive ADD as well and I can't find the balance needed between too much focus and not enough so I can crack this assignment. I keep writing and rewriting and thinking in circles until I barely understand what it's about any more, it's like I can't get my thoughts straight when I try to look at the big picture, I can only understand the details. I wrote an outline and everything but I'm having a lot of trouble 1. sticking to the word limit & 2. actually finishing the damn thing because I am being so meticulous with it but I don't know how else to be!

I'm about to finish a 2,000+ word paper myself, and I know how frustrating this can be!

My suggestion to you is to try not to look at the big picture, but look at the essay in smaller pieces. When you feel like one piece serves its purpose as it should (whether it be a paragraph, or a couple sentences, whatever you like), just move on. This is what works best for me.

I know it's not much help to say "just let go," but that's sort of what you need to do to get through these rough patches - don't let your overwhelming anxieties stunt your workflow! Honestly, it's clear just from your short post that you are a competent writer, so don't for a minute think that your work will be inadequate.

You WILL get this done, and it WILL be fine.

Thank you! The other day I had a breakthrough where I just sat down and typed the whole rough draft. I actually remembered all the details I needed to from the months of trying to write it, so it went smoothly on the page in half an hour, only a few hundred words over. I struggle with adding too much information, part of my tendency to "overachieve" and "do more" than the assignment asks...which of course in the case of essays is actually a bad thing. The next daunting step is editing, so thanks for your supportive message, it means a lot and I'll remember your points when I'm wrestling with the thing. Those are some helpful tips. Oh, and congrats on your paper! That must have been a beast to finish and I'm sure you felt amazing after.