Im attracted to powerful emotional music,movies, etc.

[TheChemicals]

But appear detached and impersonal around people. What in the world is that all about?

[rockydaydreamer]

Not sure.. I literally spent 20 minutes trying to think of a good answer.

For me, my mind tends to loop things over and over and that might even be a factor to why I rarely ever watch or see anything twice. As for emotions, I have an overactive imagination filled with bubbly emotions, but the real world tends to bore me and even upset me.

I find neurotypicals ("normal people") the most boring and the ones that are fun, I swear they got ADD.

[-nyr0c-]

-virtual hug-

I can obsess for months over just a character from a movie. A character. Or even just something a character did/said. Movies, music, and books are just so much more engaging than people for me (at least most of the time.) I think that's why I rarely leave home. I long for the day where I will be able to interact with others in a way that's as exciting as watching a certain scene from a favorite film of mine, but I know that's very unrealistic. For me, people are at their most interesting whenever there is something to talk about with them. Otherwise, I don't like be around even my family sometimes if we can't think of anything to talk about. It's just... uncomfortable to sit and do nothing.

I think I get it, Chemicals, but I might not. =/

[sarek]

I think I have seen entirely too much RL drama in the past few years to ever be interested in a movie again.

[Slo-mo a-go-go]

I hear ya ~chemicals

I have be drowning in emotion or I'm unaffected and quite stoic

[Monkey Bean]

When I think about how an ADD person might express emotion, what you are saying makes a fair bit of sense, Chem. Generally, I don't think most of us are inherently effective at expressing powerful emotions. For whatever reason, maybe years of having the lack of executive functions blocking in or preventing the proper processing and execution of expressed feelings, there is a certain intensity of emotion that builds up inside. Powerfully moving music, movies, poetry, or whatever, is like an outlet for that buildup. Like, those are things I feel inside, but could never adequately express. Instead, in the real world, I keep a lid on my emotions so they don't come out as too extreme or inappropriate. Some days it's all I can do not to grump around being ticked off at everybody, or to say cross, irritable things, or to say something I think is super witty, but is actually kind of mean. But then later on, every stupid poignant moment that I passively absorb from some movie or whatever, it resonates strongly inside.

My other thoughts on this, is that the ADD person may tend to experience a lot of continuous sort of unhappiness or discontentment, and that these outlets are a distraction from the misery. I think that's why I use so many gadgets and devices, because I need something to distract me from unhappiness and discontentment.

[Slo-mo a-go-go]

Originally Posted by Monkey Bean

Generally, I don't think most of us are inherently effective at expressing powerful emotions.
I think that's why I use so many gadgets and devices, because I need something to distract me from unhappiness and discontentment.

Nicely thought-out and put, ~MonkeyB, & true, true

[Unmanagable]

I'm not comfortable displaying "deep" emotions when in the presence of others. I was raised being taught "you just need to toughen up and not let stuff get to ya'", "don't let people see your weakness", etc. I don't have a lot of success healthily expressing emotions to others face to face. I often build walls as a way to hopefully "protect" myself.

I think releasing emotion via music, movies, and other various outlets is sort of a path of least resistance for me, and one of my most successful coping mechanisms. I can still have that much needed release and don't have to deal with anyone or explain anything.

[MikhailTal]

I feel exactly what you mean. I think I have an hypoactive body. My body and mind, especially my mind, need stimulation. Powerful emotions stimulate my mind enough to feel a bit more human I think. Real life rarely delivers me that kind of stimulation.

[OmarAlZidjali]

Im exactly the same. I dont exactly have many friends as I moved from my hometown to a new country and I've found i really hard to barely have any friends but ive sort of been able to keep myself company. I find that music helps me a LOT! theres a specific kind of music that I listen to which helps me big time. My cozins friend told him about it and ended up telling me about it. So, it might help u out in weird and emotional times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUXhCWRdm3M&feature=plcp

theres many more songs that he's done which are pretty much like this but, I obviously cant post them all here but u get the idea dont worry, we're all in this together u noe?

[shamrock]

Originally Posted by Monkey Bean

maybe years of having the lack of executive functions blocking in or preventing the proper processing and execution of expressed feelings, there is a certain intensity of emotion that builds up inside. Powerfully moving music, movies, poetry, or whatever, is like an outlet for that buildup. Like, those are things I feel inside, but could never adequately express. .

I think that is well worth highlighting. It may also be linked to substance abuse too.

[Slo-mo a-go-go]

Originally Posted by OmarAlZidjali

Im exactly the same. I dont exactly have many friends as I moved from my hometown to a new country and I've found i really hard to barely have any friends but ive sort of been able to keep myself company. I find that music helps me a LOT!

yes, I never thought of it in those words, but that's a great way to express my non-lonely solitude time.

Not that I don't get lonely or tired of my own company but I can't express to my roommates this reality. I've really only experienced this since I got dx'd & rx'd stims.

Thanks Omar!

[LeoJ]

"I'm attracted to powerful emotional music,movies, etc, but appear detached and impersonal around people. What in the world is that all about?

I am the exact same way.

[Flory]

I think its the expectation to reciprocate emotions or act upon them and the various ins and outs of doing so....I can turn a sad song off but can I focus long enough/give the attention needed to help a friend that's crying/down, I can let the angry song do the speaking for me but if I let lose its a very bad idea etc...sometimes human emotion is just a mine field so I can see why you avoid it as much as I can see why I do at times and why your preference is movies, music etc, its just the ability to feel without the need to react/act or whatever (for me anyway) !

[spunkysmum]

I don't know, but I think I probably do the same.