Struggling
02-19-05, 07:56 AM
I have a friend...(lol, I think I've referred to him before :p ) and I am going to suggest to him that he gets some help...but first I'd like some opinions on whether ya'll think he should.
I think he displays some symptoms of overfocused ADD. But he doesn't really display many of the core characteristics of ADD...so it could be OCPD or even something else...or nothing...that's why I need your opinion.
Keep in mind that I don't see him on a daily basis (we are 3 hrs apart) but we are very close and I talk to him several hours a day.
Of the core symptoms...I don't think he has any :confused: He is very organized, very successful, very analytical...almost to a fault, he's very focused on things so distractability and short attention span don't really apply. He's got several degrees and made it through University w/ honours...so being able to study and think and concentrate is not an issue. But he does proscrastinate to the point where it becomes an issue...as in deadline is looming (or past due) and he's stressed out because he's now got so much work to do. And...he has that ADD thing where if he's not interested in something he just can't do it. So...reading a long paper on something he's interested in is more than do-able...reading a long paper on something he's not he can't.
Some of the "over-focused" displays I see...(these are taken straight from Amen's book!)
He worries excessively...he over-analyzes everything to the point where he can't make a decision...or making that decision becomes stressful in itself. ...because what if it's the wrong decision. Maybe a bit of perfectionism?
Is oppositional and argumentative....not always ...but when something sets him off, there is not anything I can do to calm him down ...this is where a lot of things come out...like his inability to see, hear, or believe another side....he has an opinion (which is more like a reaction or feeling or emotion when dealing w/ me) and very few things can change it.
He has a tendancy to get locked into negative thoughts. He has very low self esteem...and anything that goes wrong he generally brings back to himself not being good enough...or that it is a direct result of him, and it's his fault, and he's a loser and all of this stuff...which isn't true. It's like...sometimes he gets stuck. And he also holds onto hurts...he never gets over even the slightest thing that hurts him...he might forgive, and move on...but it will always be an issue and will come out eventually.
He also has abused drugs....as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety and a "panic" feeling.
Does this sound like enough to suggest that he get help? :confused: I want to suggest he get help...but I want to be able to arm him w/ a general idea of what he needs help for.
I think he displays some symptoms of overfocused ADD. But he doesn't really display many of the core characteristics of ADD...so it could be OCPD or even something else...or nothing...that's why I need your opinion.
Keep in mind that I don't see him on a daily basis (we are 3 hrs apart) but we are very close and I talk to him several hours a day.
Of the core symptoms...I don't think he has any :confused: He is very organized, very successful, very analytical...almost to a fault, he's very focused on things so distractability and short attention span don't really apply. He's got several degrees and made it through University w/ honours...so being able to study and think and concentrate is not an issue. But he does proscrastinate to the point where it becomes an issue...as in deadline is looming (or past due) and he's stressed out because he's now got so much work to do. And...he has that ADD thing where if he's not interested in something he just can't do it. So...reading a long paper on something he's interested in is more than do-able...reading a long paper on something he's not he can't.
Some of the "over-focused" displays I see...(these are taken straight from Amen's book!)
He worries excessively...he over-analyzes everything to the point where he can't make a decision...or making that decision becomes stressful in itself. ...because what if it's the wrong decision. Maybe a bit of perfectionism?
Is oppositional and argumentative....not always ...but when something sets him off, there is not anything I can do to calm him down ...this is where a lot of things come out...like his inability to see, hear, or believe another side....he has an opinion (which is more like a reaction or feeling or emotion when dealing w/ me) and very few things can change it.
He has a tendancy to get locked into negative thoughts. He has very low self esteem...and anything that goes wrong he generally brings back to himself not being good enough...or that it is a direct result of him, and it's his fault, and he's a loser and all of this stuff...which isn't true. It's like...sometimes he gets stuck. And he also holds onto hurts...he never gets over even the slightest thing that hurts him...he might forgive, and move on...but it will always be an issue and will come out eventually.
He also has abused drugs....as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety and a "panic" feeling.
Does this sound like enough to suggest that he get help? :confused: I want to suggest he get help...but I want to be able to arm him w/ a general idea of what he needs help for.