[ef81]

Hi
I am trying to work out if I have some type of psychological disorder. I get obsessed with things to the point of ignoring other things, or to the point where I research something for hours and I haven't noticed the time passing. Now I know people would say ocd or something but it seems more random than that. To give an example, today I got obsessed with the news on television, I kept going on and on about it so much that I didn't actually hear my partner tell me she was sad. She says this is not unusual for me and she knows I love her but sometimes she doesn't feel it because I don't express love the same way she does and it upsets her. In my mind the news that I was going on about was the reason for everything and it was the root cause of every problem and was going to affect the future so negatively. She just wanted a hug and it just didn't occur to me that she was even sad, I didn't even notice, because my mind was totally focused on the news report on telly. I am sick of being like this, I want to be more how she wants me to be, because I do love her, but I am guessing, to everyone reading I just sound like an unloving awful partner. I try to show my love by doing things, telling her, being patient and supportive when she is anxious etc but it seems I am incapable of always being there for her how she needs, or recognising when she needs something without her telling me. Can someone suggest why I am this way, I am reluctant to go and talk to my doctor about such things, it would seem petty and a waste of his time, but this is causing hurt to the person I love and therefore making me feel unhappy also, so I just want to come up with answers, maybe a name for whats wrong with me, so that I can figure out how to combat or change the way I am.

[Altered Moment]

Welcome to PC

If you are a guy this doesn't sound like anything unusual or even if you are a girl. Being in tune, empathetic, understanding of others needs is often something we have to learn to do. Also the other person does have a responsibilty to communicate their needs in a healthy way.

Psychological Tests and Quizzes

Relationships & Communication - Forums at Psych Central

[psychfan1]

It sounds like a narrowing of attention perhaps? Tuning out a bit from the surroundings, either by spacing out or hyperactivity?

If it's causing distress or affecting everyday functioning then it's important to get an opinion on it. It could be a bit of extra dissociation - a bit of discontinuity in awareness and time. Seeing a professional would put your mind at ease if it is nothing, but if it's making you unhappy then it is something. Sometimes they can suggest small changes which would improve things for you rather than putting a specific diagnosis on it.