I was wondering, to what extent is obsession related to ADHD? For as long as I can remember, I've always been obsessed with one thing or another. Last year, when I was 16, I was mad about this character from a TV programme. I'd watch it every single day, I had an entire life story planned out for him (due to the nature of the programme, the character wasn't really developed). When I found out that the actor was probably gay, I became depressed for about 24-hours...I just felt horrible. I kept crying all the time...and then, suddenly, it went. I was able to push the idea to the back of my mind and get on with life.

I know these are also symptoms of "being a teenager" as well...:D...but I've been like that pretty much all my life, from mermaids, to twins, to the Spice Girls. Also, I tend to dream A LOT. Pretty much all the time, in fact. I have these pre-set fanatasies in my head that I just lose myself in, and I'm forever translating things on TV or in books into more of these little head-stories. Sometimes involving me, sometimes involving the minor tv/film/video games characters that I've given a life to, sometimes both.

Just wondering how normal that was?
Thank you. :)

(I'm a girl, btw.)

Hi Folded -- welcome to the forums!

Yes, I think that these brief and intense periods of being "hooked" on one thing or another are pretty common for people with AD/HD.

This is mentioned in Driven to Distraction and a few other books on AD/HD, and I get this way myself (and so does my son).

Sometimes the passions last and become permanent, but often they just kind of fall by the wayside after a few years or months or days.

A lot of ADDers on these forums also mention that they daydream a lot. I also daydream quite a bit, but it's more like being lost in my thoughts than fantasizing... although I used to do that a lot as well when I was younger.

Welcome to the forums. You might want to introduce yourself in the New Members section.

As for obsession. Hyperfocusing on tasks or ideas can be part of ADD. I do it all the time. In fact, when I hyperfocus on something productive, I feel I'm doing well. :D Unfortunately, I don't focuse on productive things often enough!

I don't know how obsessive ADDers tend to be as a lot, but I an VERY obsessive and have OCD tendencies. Many ADDers have OCD as a comorbid condition. OCD does not gice you choices... you have an obsession and are compelled to act on it. It is a not very fun thing to have. :faint: Amazingly it is the second most common psychological problem, after depression. A lot of people are OCD and people just think they are workaholics.... :eek: :faint:

I don't think you have ocd.... I think you described an infatuation rather well... You are a dreamer??? Well, that is a good thing , in my opinion. :) You do need to temper your desirte for your dreams with reality, so you can keep a healthy balance... but go ahead and dream and dream deeply. You are a creative soul, and you ought to express it with all your heart. :p


Me :D


I was wondering, to what extent is obsession related to ADHD? For as long as I can remember, I've always been obsessed with one thing or another. Last year, when I was 16, I was mad about this character from a TV programme. I'd watch it every single day, I had an entire life story planned out for him (due to the nature of the programme, the character wasn't really developed). When I found out that the actor was probably gay, I became depressed for about 24-hours...I just felt horrible. I kept crying all the time...and then, suddenly, it went. I was able to push the idea to the back of my mind and get on with life.

I know these are also symptoms of "being a teenager" as well...:D...but I've been like that pretty much all my life, from mermaids, to twins, to the Spice Girls. Also, I tend to dream A LOT. Pretty much all the time, in fact. I have these pre-set fanatasies in my head that I just lose myself in, and I'm forever translating things on TV or in books into more of these little head-stories. Sometimes involving me, sometimes involving the minor tv/film/video games characters that I've given a life to, sometimes both.

Just wondering how normal that was?
Thank you. :)

(I'm a girl, btw.)

Welcome to the Forums! What you're describing sounds real familiar -- when I was a kid I'd watch shows like Star Trek, Robin Hood, The Six Million Dollar Man (boy, that list really dates me!:rolleyes: ) and such and transplant myself into those worlds for fun daydreams! My eight year old daughter who is also ADHD does the very same thing. Now-a-days I tend to get stuck on different subjects I want to read, learn, discuss, think about, ad nauseum. Hallowell and Ratey in Driven to Distraction discuss how ADHD makes it hard to put on the brakes. Once we've found something interesting, it's as hard to stop and is it to start on something boring!;) So it sounds like you're a pretty normal ADDer!:)

Scattered

I've done this all my life. My husband, who is most certainly ADD, is also like this.

Yes.

Right now my obsession is ADD/ADHD. It's a new topic for me. I have been obsessed with learning everything I can about ADD, understandably, in my opinion. I'm driving my family nuts. I live, eat, and breathe ADD forums, papers and books! When I'm saturated, I will move onto something else.

My obsessions usually last until I spend a fortune on whatever I'm currently fascinated with. As soon as gather whatever I just spent a ton of money on and use it once or twice I lose interest. I do this over and over. I'm interested up until my purchases are not returnable then I'm on to something else.

Thank you for your replies! I've always thought this obsession thing was some kind of OCD off-shoot, but now I can see that it's yet another one of the delightful ADHD symptoms. ^ ^ Some obsessions I can hold onto for months, others come and go (last month it was John Prescott...last week it was McFly Slash Pairings...I have a funny feeling that Harry Potter might have a brief spot in the limelight, now I've *finally* given in and watched some of the movies).




MafiaKiddo:
My obsessions usually last until I spend a fortune on whatever I'm currently fascinated with. As soon as gather whatever I just spent a ton of money on and use it once or twice I lose interest. I do this over and over. I'm interested up until my purchases are not returnable then I'm on to something else.
Tell me about it! I spent the whole of 2002 buying Julian Rhind-Tutt DVDs, and now I can't stand the man. ;)

Right, I'm off to introduce myself. Thanks again! :D

I go from one obsession from another. Right now its ADD:) But I have been like that all my life. Even though I am aware of it I still keep doing it.

It's funny; I don't ever completely lose interest. They just kind of fade into the background as another one comes along.

Right now it's ADHD, but that's not likely to change until I finish my dissertation next year.

Obsession with things yes. Online multiplayer games which I would play for 8 hours a day because I was obsessed at being the best when I was younger. Obsession with lifting weights and becoming the Incredible Hulk. Basically anything that interests me, I become obsessed with for a few months and then burn myself out and move onto something else.

Yes, I am 55 and through out my life I have had long periods of PASSIONS for various things and people: collecting (various things), food, sex, drugs, girls, reading, certain bands, music, TV programs, Online Action games, various hobbies, computers, Internet, movies, trading things, making things, learning new skills, helping others, learning about ADHD ...

I always have also had obsessions with food and 'eating frenzies'.

The list goes on for ever. I cook and for a three month period, I tried different recipes for lemon meringue pies every Saturday morning. My family got sick of them in a few weeks but I went on for months.

I often stick with these obsessions until I become an expert at doing something or have all of something there is to collect.

For example, Alfred Hitchcock made 53 movies. I have all 52 of the ones that are know to exist. One is lost and hasn't been seen for 75 years.

Best wishes,

Vic
- An adult recently diagnosed with severe ADHD

Yeah, I do this lol.
My obsessions are usually Video games (I was #3 in the nation at SplinterCell, Pandora tomorrow [As a mercanary] for a time)
But I've noticed smaller things in my life that I'll ruin my day over for some reason.
For some reason I am very attached to my wallet, belt, and watch. Although my theory with these things is that it I spent so much time making sure that I didn't lose them that I became obsessed with keeping them around me.

But if I lose one of those things, I feel naked almost lol.

Also, I'm like a really bad Coke (the drink) addict rofl. I can down a 12 pack a day if I'm not careful.

LOL yes I feel naked without my watch. It doesn't even work right now. Needs a battery but of course I'm procrastinating in getting one. Still I make sure I put on my non-functioning watch every day.

LOL yes I feel naked without my watch. I guess if I was like that, I would feel naked all the time as I seldom can
keep a watch as I always lose them.

- Vic

Same thing here...I have trouble "balancing" my life so to speak. I get obsessed with something (Video games, working out, a person, an idea, a vacation etc.) and cannot stop thinking about it. Then I move onto the next thing.

In terms of "obession" being strictly related to (just) ADHD and nothing else, I'd have to say that it would probably best be described as an example of "hyperfocus" or Selective Attention.

Excellent question. Thanks.

I thought i was a freak, I have more hobbies and interests in my closets, garage and basement that I could start an E-bay store. E-bay helps feed my " i am gonna stick with this forever" feelings. I even have got stuff on E-bay and lost interest befor i got it in the mail. Running has been an interest for me this past hole year. I am proud how i have kind of stuck with it. Right know its my ADD that i am also fixed on. I could be working on my moter bike, bike, trike, bug, cammera/dark room, paintballgun, hunting, fishing camping, backpacking, yogo, tools wood working, small engine repair, go cart, golf, nascar, frizbi golf, playstation, and anything else i trip over.

Steve do you have a brother named Gary??????

I have tractor parts, welders, spray paint guns, hand held lights, small motors, ladders, and lawn mowers scattered all over the yard and through out various rooms in my house. All projects in various phases of unfinished!!!

could be, only makes sence ehh?

:) :)