Hey, guys! There's an issue I've been having since I was really little (I'm a teenager now). I've been thinking for the past year that there's something wrong with me, but haven't been sure what and I've been too embarrassed. Now, though, I'm a senior and it's really interfering. These are my symptoms:
1) An obsession with alphabetization (I think that's a word). I'll take my hundred or so DVDs of TV shows and write a LONG list of each episode, and put them in order by alphabetizing the name of the episode. I've alphabetized all of the books in my three book cases by author, all of my CDs by artist, movies by title. If they aren't right, I have to correct it or I can't stop thinking about it. All of my 2000 or so songs on my ipod are listed alphabetically, and I'm listening to each one in that order. I also download a lot of podcasts, and if they aren't all named in the same manner, I go through each one individually to change the names.
2) An obsession with numbers. I have been playing the game Spyro since I was 9, and I know it so well I can do it by heart. Each level has a certain amount of money, and I can't leave until I get every single last one. I come up with certain "rules" for myself as I play the game, a certain order to do things, and if I accidentally do it wrong, I get anxious and have to stop, erase the whole game, and start over. A year or so ago, I had to list every level and the amount of money I was getting from it to be sure I had everything. Last night, when I really realized I needed help, I was playing Spyro for 7 hours. It isn't just the game, though. I can spend the same amount of time reorganizing my bookcase to be just so.
3) Daydreaming for hours on end. This one is the one I'm most embarrassed about. I try to focus on something, but it's like my mind gets taken over by a certain storyline. Some days are better than others; when it's bad, I can skip meals and stay in my room for days.
The first two may sound more perfectionist than illness, but they are just as disruptive as the last one. I skip homework, I skip projects until the last minute, even occasionally beg off being with friends so I can organize a list. I've had all of these since I was little, but I convinced myself that I could handle it. Just focus better. Now, I'm a high school senior trying to prepare for college and I can't do it. I've tried to just stop, but it doesn't work.
Does anyone know what this could be? I'm going to see a psychiatrist soon, but I'd like some thoughts because it all sounds weird to me. I kind of lean toward OCD; my boyfriend thinks ADD. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
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