repoman

I am writing this from my point of view, but I am really trying to get help for everyone who may be similar to me here.

I have the problem of being noit able to detach myself from tasks (even if they are useless or even detrimental) to such an insane degree that I am beginning to think that maybe I actaully am clinically obsessive-compulsive to at least a mild degree.

This has gotten me to think that it is almost as if maybe my brain has more of less of certain substances or is more or less ersponsive to these substances than other people.

I have the incredibly frustrating tendency to spend my attention on things that are not socially appropriate and I think of the same topics taht I DON"T want to be thinking about anymore. I also find it hard to tear myself away from tinkering on minor problems (computers etc...) while the rest of my life has larger problems that need to be maintained bit by bit.

There are even times when I am actually having a part of me say, "stop working on this now, you have time later...take notes if you need to.. just take care of other business or relax." but the impulse is so strong I can't stop till i am finished. I nearly feel like Gollum.

Its like my brain on a sort of off kilter auto pilot while I'm helpless to watch to a degree. ?

Can an Electricity analogy be helpful in this? There might be someting off with the levels of resitance in the neurons or synapses Maybe letting yourself succumb to OCD like behavour create "ruts" in particular neurons reducing the resistance of those neurons relative to others. This may be way out there, but I hope someone out there can give me some input.

Another question is about the drugs that are for OCD and anxiety; can it be thought they tweak with the analogues of the "resistances" and "voltages" of of the brain in targeted areas or the neurons that are overused because of OCD or anxiety? The result of this would be that "current" would be shunted to different areas and the brain would then have different patterns producing different thoughts.

My whole rough idea rests though on the resistance of neurons changing from level of use.


I have been thinking of getting some pharms which I've done only once for about a month ten years ago. Either that or some powerful herbs or maybe just herb.

Also, if I could harness my probable OCD to the purpose of getting myself into kick ass ahabits, thatwould be great. The best abit would of course be to have variety and economy of concerted effort be my new OCD habit. What if the habit would not be staying up until 3 am fixing my videocard drivers, but instead be to drive myself to into the target zone of doing jsut enough to get failry good returns on my efforts bit by bit and then switching to the next task refreshed? Could someone like me make this a meta obsession? I hope so, casue I am sick and tired of living this disconnected , tiresome and inefficient way!!!

I hope tjhis has enough science to be in in SS. I will be doing some research about the brain/drugs/electrical circuits analogy on the weband posting it here. I just wanted to see if this idea interests anyone here before I did.

Anyway, sorry if I ranted tooo much.

doghouse

I don’t think the precise mechanism of OCD is understood. I would defer to any poster that actually knows what they are talking about, but my understanding is that one theory is the symptoms are caused by impaired inhibition of certain neuronal circuits in the brain that mediate emotions. The neurotransmitter serotonin is normally involved in this inhibition. This theory is based on:

1. Functional imaging shows increased activity in this circuit in patients with OCD. This abnormal activity subsides with successful treatment.

2. The effectiveness of drugs that increase activity of serotonin.

3. Therapeutic destruction of certain structures in this circuit can alleviate the symptoms.

So in a sense, your electrical circuit metaphor makes sense. A specific electrical circuit is normally dampened by input from another circuit. With the loss of this inhibitory input, the circuit is over active. Drug therapy serves to restore this normal inhibition. Of course the brain is not simply an electrical circuit, because chemicals and chemical receptors are involved in the connections between cells.

Oh, and my personal opinion would be forget trying to treat yourself with herbs or anything else. If this is bothering you to the point of wanting to try something like that, you should see a physician. The first step is an accurate diagnosis.

Corwin

See a physician, but bear in mind that a fair number of them are pill pushers.

SSRI's are the most common treatment, and concerns about side effects are often ignored. There are herbal treatments which are just as effective for mild cases without the side effects.