ADD and OCD

JPKAS wrote:Isn't there a type of ADD where you actually focus too much on certain things? That seems like an OCD type thing to me. You can also hyperfocus, so to me it's not too much of a surprise for these to coexist. I think ADD tends to be less orderly, whereas OCD tends to be neat..but I really think it can depend on the person......ADD people have obsessive thoughts right? I don't know if they have the compulsion side always,though. Maybe that's a difference.

One psychiatrist that I quote a lot, who has brain scans to back up his work, calls this Overfocused ADD. Dr. Amen's 6 types of ADHD differ in what parts of the brain show what levels of activity (http://www.amenclinics.com/clinics/information/ways-we-can-help/adhd-add/). They all have in common problems in the prefrontal cortex. And so not all ADD sufferers have serious problems with obsessive thoughts. And JPKAS, based on that 101-point test you took, it doesn't seem like you have extraordinary OC problems (by your low ACG and BG scores), but I've seen others rate themselves very high in all 3 of those areas.

Other studies with a different type of neural imaging are supporting his work. I'm really hoping this type of science becomes more common to allow more targeted treatment, rather than the common trial-and-much-error practices still predominating.

realitycheque wrote:

JPKAS wrote:Isn't there a type of ADD where you actually focus too much on certain things? That seems like an OCD type thing to me. You can also hyperfocus, so to me it's not too much of a surprise for these to coexist. I think ADD tends to be less orderly, whereas OCD tends to be neat..but I really think it can depend on the person......ADD people have obsessive thoughts right? I don't know if they have the compulsion side always,though. Maybe that's a difference.

One psychiatrist that I quote a lot, who has brain scans to back up his work, calls this Overfocused ADD. Dr. Amen's 6 types of ADHD differ in what parts of the brain show what levels of activity (http://www.amenclinics.com/clinics/information/ways-we-can-help/adhd-add/). They all have in common problems in the prefrontal cortex. And so not all ADD sufferers have serious problems with obsessive thoughts. And JPKAS, based on that 101-point test you took, it doesn't seem like you have extraordinary OC problems (by your low ACG and BG scores), but I've seen others rate themselves very high in all 3 of those areas.

Other studies with a different type of neural imaging are supporting his work. I'm really hoping this type of science becomes more common to allow more targeted treatment, rather than the common trial-and-much-error practices still predominating.

surely it's possible for more than one of the ADD types described here to be present in an individual? or maybe the different symptoms (hyperactivity in an inattentive type, hyper-focus in an inattentive/classic type, etc.), all of which have the potential to manifest, can be triggered/appear under different circumstances?

anyway, regarding obsessions vs. compulsive obsessions... aren't they the same? the difference may be that the compulsion aspect in OC is within the individual's conscious awareness. an obsession is essentially a compulsion as the individual feels the need to return to and focus on the object of obsession as though it were an addiction; addictions are seen in impulsive individuals, an impulsive behaviors are like uninhibited responses to compulsions. in my own experience, impulsive behaviors (such as returning to obsessions or interrupting others) occur when there is a compulsion of which i am unaware--too quick to catch? if i am aware of the compulsion and act on it anyway, that's my own refusal to cope with the compulsion in a non-destructive way because the anxiety is too straining (such as turning to addictions, which is basically OCD).

the difference between "obsession" and "addiction" is the availability of the object in question, i think. obsessions are immediately available inside the head, so obsessive thoughts are like impulsive behaviors in reaction to extremely quick compulsions. in the case of addictions, we're usually talking about a substance outside of ourselves. since there's effort to be made between the compulsion to achieve the substance and the actually achieving the substance, there is a frame of time in which the compulsion is consciously felt and acknowledged, and we start to obsess about the addictive substance until we find it; then, disregarding rationality in favor of escaping anxiety, we impulsively indulge. the sequence of events is essentially the same as those in obsessions, just drawn out by the impossibility of an immediate response. so all obsessions have a compulsive motivation, are tiny addictions of the mind and exist to counter anxiety until the object of obsession is obtained (the addictive behavior/substance). BUT i'm a theory nut, i may be missing some factors.

I only have uh...Obsessoins most of the time when I'm depressed. xD;. Well...no...nvm..XD. Hahah I am obsessed with learning about myself and I do tend to bring every conversation back to myself......and I'm obsessed with my drawing....and a certain anime show (though i have definitely cooled it down on that). And I tend to get 'stuck' on certain topics like I just want to keep talking about them. O-O;

Let me TRY to speak more intellegently. I am a smart girl I just don't...I'm 19..does that make me a woman? ..Lets go with girl That makes me feel more comfortable. I'm a smart girl I just don't always come off as one xD;.

In mental diseases the person always seems to have a general focus aka obsession. I think most people will exhibit at least some characteristic of any given mental disorder, but it's when the focus of that disorder is an obsession and takes over the said person's life that they can be classified as having it... For example, narcissicistic personality disorder (see ha! I edited it from narcic...can't spell it suddenly..narcissism.) . Well I am certainly conceited and ....eh...I can be selifsh, but I am not obsessed with my self esteem or with praise and it isn't to the point where I will treat others badly just for my own gain. (forgive me if I have misunderstood any illnesses I mention). Or...even.. uhm, Histrionic. Obsessed with attention. Everyone likes attention...people often do things to get it,but it is when you are constantly trying to get it that you can be histrionic. It's like a person with a mental illness just gets stuck in certain patterns of thoughts and behaviors and is obsessed with a certain thing.,...


Since the brain is like a computer, it makes sense that there can be similariies seen in the different kinds of illnesses and it isn't always easy to get a right diagnosis, whereas sometimes it seems so obvious.


Maybe OCD people just obsess over a multiude of things rather than just the given things other disorders do. Anyway, it's not too shocking for me that someone can have both.

hm... narcissism itself, i think, is more all-encompassing and is present in most personality disorders. the way i see it narcissism means to live in a world of projections--a world of mirrors. obsessions themselves, therefore, would be projections of the ego. don't you find that you sort of assimilate your obsessions into your identity and that they become part of you?

I think I meant narcisstic personaltiy disorder. >-< sorry eep! I guess I should edit that.

I guess..I think it's hard to seperate what you do from who your are sometimes.

for sure, everyone is a narcissist to different degrees... i don't really think that 'narcissistic' personality disorder is the best way to describe that particular set of behaviors. it COULD be, if it were more widely emphasized that all PDs are

riddled with narcissistic functions in addition to simply 'ego' functions since 'narcissism' carries such an inappropriately negative connotation.

lol but then again, i'm just obsessed with words XD

It's alright! XD. Yeah maybe it wasn't the best way to describe it. Sometimes I have trouble getting out what I mean into words :C. I mean..like that yeah like you said ego . Feeding their ego is their obsession. Whereas for histrionic it's attention..and the other personality disorders have theirs too.

Ack I don't want to be stepping on the toes of anyone who feels like that isn't their obsession and they have that disorder,but from what I've read that's what I get from it. It's probably much more complicated than just that.

too much attention feeds the ego in those who need the fodder, though feeding the ego isn't the obsession but rather the function behind the needs. but right, there are factors behind the ego's overcompensation too.

I pride myself in being smart, but your words just made my brain explode. Fine the ego is the obsession and and and feeding is what....they ..need..

Ah screw it *lays head on desk* I don't think I'm getting through very well. I can't seem to find what I want to say ! D:

Your thoughts can be 'stuck ' on things and that in turn affects your personality which in turn explains a disorder..in a way......bwah . People who have a disorder their thoughts tend to be more focused on a certain thing than other people's....I guess is what..I'm ..trying to say

Ack I 'm still trying even if I just gave up! haha. Figures. i always do that. "Oh I'm done" ".....You know you aren't.." "Ah dang i tyour'e right ' *goes on and on*