Posted on September 23, 2009 - by Brett
Self-diagnosed opposite ADHD
I pay an incredible amount of attention to detail in every aspect. I would say too much attention. Today, I come home and I was fed up with the way the front yard looked. Have been frustrated with it but decided to take care of the overgrowth in the garden and trim the trees and bushes.
Another example: I realized about 10 years ago that I don’t like the site of needles. I thought it was the fact that I couldn’t handle blood, but I like watching Mixed Martial Arts and I cut meat up all the time. I use to work at a butcher shop. It’s not blood that’s the problem. My wife got her nose pierced and I end up passing out. I was out for an hour. My friends carried me out of there like I was passed out drunk but I didn’t have a thing in me. I hate needles! Why? I imagine the feeling that they give me if they were sticking me. While watching movies, if a needle shows up on screen, try as I may to stay awake, I pass out. Someone talks to me and tells me they got stuck with a needle the size of a straw – that’s all it takes and I imagine it and put myself in the situation. Attention to too much detail.
I am a software support guy. When someone is complaining about the software, sometimes I don’t really stick to the Burger King policy: Your way, right away. I get defensive. Why? Because I feel they are frustrated with me because I feel the software is a part of me. When someone criticizes my work in a negative manner, it is ultra hard to keep “business with business” when it is my work, me, that is being negatively criticized. It nearly got the best of me today. I had to take a “smoke break” outside and just sit on the sidewalk (I don’t smoke, usually just drink a coke and it’s a coke break). When I get hot, I start getting vivid, detailed and descriptive thoughts of what I have the potential of doing to someone to show them my frustration! Crazy as I sound, you’ve probably been there (or maybe it is just me!). I take things too personal and don’t know how to make it “just business”.
What is the answer to this? How do I supress this sensitive and graphic mind of mine that grabs ahold of every detail? Or should it be supressed? I will never be able to just get away from the negatively criticizing people regardless of what job I do. I’m always told, “Don’t take it personal. Don’t sweat it.” That doesn’t work for someone like me. Does anyone relate to this situation?
