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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by flip-floppy on September 8, 2006, at 3:11:56
And is fear of rejection and fear of rejecting other people also symptoms of OCD?
Posted by Phillipa on September 8, 2006, at 15:50:30
In reply to Is over-analyzing a symptom of OCD?, posted by flip-floppy on September 8, 2006, at 3:11:56
Sounds more like social anxiety to me. Love Phillipa
Posted by Racer on September 8, 2006, at 21:01:56
In reply to Is over-analyzing a symptom of OCD?, posted by flip-floppy on September 8, 2006, at 3:11:56
OCD is characterized by obsessional thoughts and compulsions. In my case, I do get analytical, at times, to a pathetic degree. (Think: getting out my old college critical thinking text to analize the logical fallacies in Bush's State of the Union address; or being unable to shower, because I hadn't cleaned the floor, and had to do it in that order...)
The fear of rejection/rejecting could be obsessional, or it could be social anxiety. It kinda depends on the specifics, I guess.
Check the criteria, and see if it fits for you. Here is the DSM criteria for OCD:
A. Either obsessions or compulsions:
Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3), and (4):
(1) recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
(2) the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems
(3) the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action
(4) the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)
Compulsions as defined by (1) and (2):
(1) repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
(2) the behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive
B. At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. Note: This does not apply to children.
C. The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.
D. If another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an Eating Disorder; {snip} or guilty ruminations in the presence of Major Depressive Disorder).
E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.
Posted by S.D. on September 10, 2006, at 17:00:28
In reply to Is over-analyzing a symptom of OCD?, posted by flip-floppy on September 8, 2006, at 3:11:56
> And is fear of rejection and fear of rejecting
> other people also symptoms of OCD?re: rejection/rejecting:
No. Social phobia, as Phillipa alluded. Are you also anxious or fearful in other interactions with people, perhaps dealing with an "authority figure" or fearing embarassment when a group of people have their attention on you for whatever reason?A distinction you may read about is between "generalized social phobia" (fear of negative appraisal in a variety of situations/contexts) and discrete type. rejection/rejecting can cover a wide range--if you have this anxiety in many social situations it is "generalized".
Also called "social anxiety disorder" as Phillipa mentioned, although I think the current DSM edition still calls it "Social Phobia".
---re: over-analyzing
Do you mean you analyze most choices/decisions more than is rational/justified/cost-effective/time-efficient? If so, is it because you feel a strong need/impulse to always make the best choice/decision? And if so, do you believe something terrible may happen if you don't (something not logically connected to the outcome of the decision itself), or is it more of a "perfectionism" kind of thing?One of the OCD criteria Racer quoted was "(2) the thoughts, impulses, or images are _not_ simply excessive worries about real-life problems". Do you believe you worry more than most people, or more than you'd like, about many of the problems (chronic or passing) in your life?
Would you describe your over-analysis as having a significant "indecisiveness" component? Do you repeat/rehash pros and cons, or components of what you are analyzing, that you have already considered and come to a conclusion about?
If your over-analysis seems to be a pretty specific and isolated thought/behavior pattern, and you know why you do it (or if you can _discover_ why, since it may be an unconscious thought/belief) --that is, what you fear-- I think you are likely to have good success from applying cognitive therapy/Rational Emotive Therapy to yourself (books are available, or maybe there is a good enough 'net resource).
I have social phobia and also "over-analyze" and worry about a lot of stuff probably a lot. I've done so pretty much always and thought "that's just where I am on the spectrum of (analytical/worried)<--+-->(heedless/carefree)", but at some prompting I'm considering whether the label "Generalized anxiety disorder" (British spelling: Generalised anxiety disorder) also fits me.
Not that the label may matter much, as the same therapy-type (cognitive) and meds are sometimes effective (benzodiazepines, MAOIs, kava, GABA-related/neuropathic pain/anticonvulsant, SSRIs, SNRIs, Azapirones). But it prompted me to focus on anxiety as cause of some things that are obstructing further reductions in my social phobia (social anxiety disorder).
- S.D. (shyInSanDiego)
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