Negative Feedback Loop

Hi undiagnosed,

Reading back through the last few posts, I've got a much clearer idea of what you're talking about now - and I think you're right, the catastrophising and irresistible need to examine the same event or person for ever smaller flaws, is a separate thing from depression.

I've been talking to a couple of people recently on the 'WrongPlanet' forum about just this kind of behaviour.  

The way I experience something similar, is this...

I end up pacing in circles, lots of muttering and gesticulating - very animated, very anxious.  Because I've missed some of the social cues, I'm replaying an event over and over again, hoping to fill in the blanks.

But without insight into the other person's state of mind, most of the blanks can never be known for sure.  So, it's like my mind tries to "number crunch" through every single possible permutation of things that might have happened - hoping that the correct interpretation events of will just jump out at me when I find it (which of course, it never does).

The things that I still can't explain, I'll blame on the person I'm focusing on if I already feel negative about that person, otherwise I'll blame myself.  This is even when nobody has actually accused anyone of having done anything wrong!

And the relief when someone sets it right by reassuring me what really probably happened, it's such a weight lifted off me.  I'll be a bit exhausted for a little while, but my mood can bounce back very quickly.

This interview with Tony Attwood speaks about the catastrophising trait...

www.youtube.com/watch

Close to what you were thinking of?

Hi undiagnosed,

Reading back through the last few posts, I've got a much clearer idea of what you're talking about now - and I think you're right, the catastrophising and irresistible need to examine the same event or person for ever smaller flaws, is a separate thing from depression.

I've been talking to a couple of people recently on the 'WrongPlanet' forum about just this kind of behaviour.  

The way I experience something similar, is this...

I end up pacing in circles, lots of muttering and gesticulating - very animated, very anxious.  Because I've missed some of the social cues, I'm replaying an event over and over again, hoping to fill in the blanks.

But without insight into the other person's state of mind, most of the blanks can never be known for sure.  So, it's like my mind tries to "number crunch" through every single possible permutation of things that might have happened - hoping that the correct interpretation events of will just jump out at me when I find it (which of course, it never does).

The things that I still can't explain, I'll blame on the person I'm focusing on if I already feel negative about that person, otherwise I'll blame myself.  This is even when nobody has actually accused anyone of having done anything wrong!

And the relief when someone sets it right by reassuring me what really probably happened, it's such a weight lifted off me.  I'll be a bit exhausted for a little while, but my mood can bounce back very quickly.

This interview with Tony Attwood speaks about the catastrophising trait...

www.youtube.com/watch

Close to what you were thinking of?