Bodybuilders and the "Addictive" personality - a connection?

[Mike Dura]

I think there is and this is a common view. There's a term you find in common lexicon called OCD or obessive (thinking too much about something), compulive (acting on that obssessive thought) and disorder. Now people who really live this lifestyle are thinking quite a bit about building or refining their bodies and they are certainly acting on it. Yet, other symptoms present themselves. Sexual or drug addiction, for example. I've had problems with both myself.

[dedic8ed1]

Yeah a friend of mine has ocd and it's really annoying at times everything has to be perfect or he goes nuts.But when I'm training I'm kinda the same way with my body and diet but don't we have to be to acheive greatness.Check out that MTV special on ocd it's pretty crazy the shit these people it's actually very sad.

[Mike Dura]

What I find interesting is what one can call a sickness or a vice can be seen as a virtue if it's done in a way deemed socially acceptable. A successful biz. man can be OCDish and an empty shell of a person yet highly esteemed because he contributes in a way that is valued by his culture. But at the extremed, OCD can make someone rigid and innefective. Personally, I easily pick up "habits" like smoking (sad to say) but in the gym I get myself into better shape than most of those around me.

Yeah a friend of mine has ocd and it's really annoying at times everything has to be perfect or he goes nuts.But when I'm training I'm kinda the same way with my body and diet but don't we have to be to acheive greatness.Check out that MTV special on ocd it's pretty crazy the shit these people it's actually very sad.

[zaggahamma]

I think I have a slight case of it myself...my wife will prolly say "slight?" as at times my veggies in the counter kind a resemble the movie sleeping w enemy...if i can just dial my diet in to the same degree

[chest6]

Well Im obsessive over my diet and working out..I.e. if Im somewhere and food isnt available and its been more than 2 hours I will have a meltdown

Same goes with lifting. If Im somewhere and its lifting day and theres no gym nearby and Im gonnna miss it..meltdown time

But I think a lot of guys on this board are like that too..I dont really think its a bad thing..

[DDDNTZ]

Well I am totally OCD, but not in a turn the light switch on and off 20 times kind of way. I just obcess about little things all day long. I also used to have a nasty addiction to pain killers, so I have also pondered this same question.

[Mizfit]

Everyone has OCD characteristis - it's how you deal with them that can either be a postive or a negative.

[Mizfit]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.

Obsessions are defined by:

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.

Compulsions are defined by:

1. Repetitive behaviors or mental acts 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.

In addition to these criteria, at some point during the course of the disorder, the sufferer must realize that his/her obsessions or compulsions are unreasonable or excessive. Moreover, the obsessions or compulsions must be time consuming (taking up more than one hour per day), cause distress, or cause impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (Quick Reference from DSM-IV-TR, 2000).

[zaggahamma]

Everyone has OCD characteristis - it's how you deal with them that can either be a postive or a negative.

i've never heard that before but i believe it and i know in my case it's never caused me to be counter productive...it usually is a matter of neatness and ends up saving time in the long run....I ALWAYS KNOW WHERE MY KEYS ARE!
I feel sorry for those who have to wash their hands 222 times before they can leave the BR and then repeat

[dedic8ed1]

Well I am totally OCD, but not in a turn the light switch on and off 20 times kind of way. I just obcess about little things all day long. I also used to have a nasty addiction to pain killers, so I have also pondered this same question.

Painkillers/that's dependency not OCD.I had a prob with percocet myself and xanax glad that shits over.

[dedic8ed1]

What I find interesting is what one can call a sickness or a vice can be seen as a virtue if it's done in a way deemed socially acceptable. A successful biz. man can be OCDish and an empty shell of a person yet highly esteemed because he contributes in a way that is valued by his culture. But at the extremed, OCD can make someone rigid and innefective. Personally, I easily pick up "habits" like smoking (sad to say) but in the gym I get myself into better shape than most of those around me.

Interesting brother I think I agree 100% very good point.

[DDDNTZ]

Painkillers/that's dependency not OCD.I had a prob with percocet myself and xanax glad that shits over.

I was using the pain koller addiction in reference to the addictive personality, not OCD.

[KhrisiGirl]

Well Im obsessive over my diet and working out..I.e. if Im somewhere and food isnt available and its been more than 2 hours I will have a meltdown

Same goes with lifting. If Im somewhere and its lifting day and theres no gym nearby and Im gonnna miss it..meltdown time

But I think a lot of guys on this board are like that too..I dont really think its a bad thing..

Some of the females too. I lay out all of my supplements for the day the night before. Put my protein in their shakers and of course have all of my food cooked for the next day. Not to mention the stuff you wrote. My husband hates it. Says I am anal. But he hates the muscular look on females so that is another story in and of itself!
~Khrisi~

[MatrixGuy]

I actually have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Everything has to be neat, straight, tidy, i have to shut doors, fold towels correctly... it drives a few people insane.

[Mizfit]

]


People don't realize it, but OCD is actually rarely in excess forms, on it's own.

it is often a piggy back disorder for other issues as well.

Depression, ADHD etc...

[novastepp]

i know when it comes to food and training and rest, if i dont get enough when i need it. i get all antsy and shit.

[Flagg]

Everyone has different forms of OCD.

A friend of mine can't have a TV station on a Prime Number for instance.

I have a weird obsession with the numbers 2, 3 and 5.

Example..if i tap my left knee twice, I have to tap the other one three times so it's a total of five taps.

[steve0]

i got OCD like a mother when it comes to diet,training,sleep,work..ECT
I got more eating issues then a highschool cheerleader.

[Mizfit]

It's when it interfers in ur normal every day life that it is a problem and should be treated.

[chest6]

i got OCD like a mother when it comes to diet,training,sleep,work..ECT
I got more eating issues then a highschool cheerleader.

yep those are my main problems. Nothing serious like going back to check doors to make sure they are locked or anything..

[goodcents]

I have it really bad. Example: if I rub my right hand against a wall by accident, I have to go back and touch the left hand exactly the same way I keep trying to make the hands on the clock match up. You should see how long it takes me just to reply to a threadIf I spin the chair in one direction, I have to spin it in the other direction the same amount of times.The movie aviator was almost exactly like what I go through, except I don't have the germ phobia, just everything else

[goodcents]

yep those are my main problems. Nothing serious like going back to check doors to make sure they are locked or anything..

it takes me forever to leave the house or go to bed, I have to check the stove and door like 50 times or more

[zaggahamma]

it takes me forever to leave the house or go to bed, I have to check the stove and door like 50 times or more

thats rough bro...i wonder if they have meds that help of have you tried...hopefully there are some without too bad sides

[Carlos_E]

Everything has to be neat, straight, tidy, i have to shut doors, fold towels correctly... it drives a few people insane.

Come and clean my house.

[goodcents]

thats rough bro...i wonder if they have meds that help of have you tried...hopefully there are some without too bad sides

I don't want to do meds, I tried anti depressents once, made me feel "uugghhh" didn't like it (it also has sexual side effects trust me) I just deal with the shlt and accept it.

[zaggahamma]

I don't want to do meds, I tried anti depressents once, made me feel "uugghhh" didn't like it (it also has sexual side effects trust me) I just deal with the shlt and accept it.

I thought maybe not cuz you never mentioned it...i just feel for ya bro...looks like yer still doin aight tho.

[stayinstacked]

I saw a special on OCD on CNN or something one time. This one girl was obsessed w/ cleanliness. It was so riduculous, she washed her hands every 5 minutes at least, she wouldnt wear clothes more than one time usually, she had a huge walk in closet full of brand new clothes that were going to waste. She opened every door handle or Knob with her foot, turned her shower water on with her foot too. She had a brand new Ford Explorer sitting in the front yard that she wouldnt drive because it was "contaminated" so her parents bought her a brand new car. It was beyond ridiculous, this girl was so obsessed w/ cleanliness i thought she'd surely drive herself nuts!!!

[zaggahamma]

I saw a special on OCD on CNN or something one time. This one girl was obsessed w/ cleanliness. It was so riduculous, she washed her hands every 5 minutes at least, she wouldnt wear clothes more than one time usually, she had a huge walk in closet full of brand new clothes that were going to waste. She opened every door handle or Knob with her foot, turned her shower water on with her foot too. She had a brand new Ford Explorer sitting in the front yard that she wouldnt drive because it was "contaminated" so her parents bought her a brand new car. It was beyond ridiculous, this girl was so obsessed w/ cleanliness i thought she'd surely drive herself nuts!!!

yeh it's weird how it ties in with other phobias like germs and shiat...man i'm glad i only count a few times in my head and it doesn't involve every thing i do...a weird little thing i do when i cook with the microwave is cook things for 33 seconds 44 ....1min 11 sec.....I claim it is efficient because i only have to keep my finger on one button....unless i know the extra time is gonna fvck something up that's how i do it

[Kristofer68ss]

ocd here.

not over the edge OCD.

I do the supplement and food thing. Especially getting everything ready for the next day.
If i dont or cant eat after a couple hours I start getting wigged out and angry.
When i drive in the car, if one window is down 1 inch, the others have to be down 1 inch too.
I have others I know I just dont notice.
Luckily I dont have the cleaning disorder. I would never get any rest.

I too have the addictive personality.

I am a recovering drug addict and alchoholic.
8 years sober in october.

We are an addictive society. We have been brainwashed(just watch TV for an hour) and fed addictive drugs all our life. Sugar and caffeine for starters....

Well off to count the cracks in the hardwood floor again...

[SMYL_GR8]

Body Dismorphic Disorder is what "they" usually attach to Bodybuilders, Anorexics, etc. and these people show an incresed tendency towards suicide.

Unfortunately, this disorder, OCD, ADHD, etc. DO NOT EXIST. But without these labels, pharmaceutical companies can't make their money.

[guest589745]

What I find interesting is what one can call a sickness or a vice can be seen as a virtue if it's done in a way deemed socially acceptable. A successful biz. man can be OCDish and an empty shell of a person yet highly esteemed because he contributes in a way that is valued by his culture.

That pretty much sums it up. Thats just how it is.

[collar]

i have this disorder thats for sure.

[zaggahamma]

me too
me too
me too

[IronReload04]

I have a slightly significant case myself. I am a meticulous food nazi with diet, but i wouldnt say abnoxially anal. As far as lifting, if i am weak, it used to be depression city, but now it dont even phase me because time and time again, i always bounce back. in fact, every single, EVERY SINGLE time i have a bad day, personal record city next time.



But i have a hell of a time turning off the stove, locking doors, and this is the worst for me, turning off car lights. Everything has to be done in 3 sets of 3. so i lock the door essentially 27 times, turn the lights off 27 times, and turn the stove off 27 times.

I'm slightly germ a phobic. i wash my hands all the time, however i will eat out of a bowl 8 times in one day and not wash it once until im done for the night. so i guess that all kind of evens out.

But like the other guy was going through, thinks have to be evened out for me, besides the 3 sets of 3 rituals, things have to end in an even number. i cant have one cookie, gotta be 2. and same thing with the chair, one spin around must equal an opposite spin around to get back to the starting point


lololol thats all pretty ****ed up, but nobody really knows about this but me. if i am in public, or with somone, then these rules dont apply lol.

[C_Bino]

I saw a special on OCD on CNN or something one time. This one girl was obsessed w/ cleanliness. It was so riduculous, she washed her hands every 5 minutes at least, she wouldnt wear clothes more than one time usually, she had a huge walk in closet full of brand new clothes that were going to waste. She opened every door handle or Knob with her foot, turned her shower water on with her foot too. She had a brand new Ford Explorer sitting in the front yard that she wouldnt drive because it was "contaminated" so her parents bought her a brand new car. It was beyond ridiculous, this girl was so obsessed w/ cleanliness i thought she'd surely drive herself nuts!!!

I think she did drive herself nuts bro. I saw the same thing and her sister spoke about it and said that sometimes she would get so miserable about her OCD she told her sister she just wanted to kill herself. Really crazy.

I think bodybuilding does become an obsession but not really bad because you are doing something you enjoy and making yourself better (even if it is only in your own eyes and not the general publics'). I mean as soon as you get up you immediately think about going to the kitchen to eat or going for cardio...everytime you finish something you think about what has to be done next, that next meal or set or whatever it may be. You go through the whole day never resting or just forgetting about it, it is ALWAYS on your mind. Then you finally go to bed and wake up to do it all over again.
I LOVE IT.

[Mizfit]

Body Dismorphic Disorder is what "they" usually attach to Bodybuilders, Anorexics, etc. and these people show an incresed tendency towards suicide.

Unfortunately, this disorder, OCD, ADHD, etc. DO NOT EXIST. But without these labels, pharmaceutical companies can't make their money.

Glad ur so knowledgeable - i for one know that OCD and Specifically ADHD do exist.

I don't need a pharmacuitcal company to tell me or make me beleive it exists - i live with it every day.

[SMYL_GR8]

Glad ur so knowledgeable - i for one know that OCD and Specifically ADHD do exist.

I don't need a pharmacuitcal company to tell me or make me beleive it exists - i live with it every day.

I do not doubt that you live and contend with certain mental characteristics that are parafunctional to your life. I merely meant that there is no actual DISEASE associated with these characteristics and that they require no medication to erradicate. I absolve people of these things on a monthly basis with no medication. I was not stating my opinion. My statements are based on statistical facts. No offense intended.

[Sage]

when i run a cycle i am addicted to sex, but its not a bad thing since i am lovin it. when was in a relationship my Ex couldn't wait until i got back on it.

looking good is a hard god damn work and comes with a price which most are willing to accept and pay for.

[Mizfit]

I do not doubt that you live and contend with certain mental characteristics that are parafunctional to your life. I merely meant that there is no actual DISEASE associated with these characteristics and that they require no medication to erradicate. I absolve people of these things on a monthly basis with no medication. I was not stating my opinion. My statements are based on statistical facts. No offense intended.

My quality of life has improved since i started taking medication for ADHD.

Before i started taking it as an adult i had quite a few issues at my job -

Some times mind over matter is not enough - if you don't live with any type of condition then you wouldn't be able to understand.

Fact to me is your dealing with people on a daily basis who do not necessarily truly suffer from these disorder, but might be experiencing a small lapse where they are having difficulty dealing with things. - Fact doesn't exist that these disorders do not exist - it's all circumstantial. For everyone one doctor that doubts it, there is another that doesn't. Bith sides gather evidence and 'fact' to back up their points.

[SMYL_GR8]

My quality of life has improved since i started taking medication for ADHD.I don't doubt that

Before i started taking it as an adult i had quite a few issues at my job -I would expect that

Some times mind over matter is not enough -Mind over matter is not what I am referring to if you don't live with any type of condition then you wouldn't be able to understand.I understand it enough to cure it without meds

Fact to me is your dealing with people on a daily basis who do not necessarily truly suffer from these disorder,Sorry, you are incorrect here. Their traits are "textbook" ADHD, but it is not on a daily basis. It's not my full-time job but might be experiencing a small lapse where they are having difficulty dealing with things. - Fact doesn't exist that these disorders do not exist - it's all circumstantial. For everyone one doctor that doubts it, I never doubted that there is a parafunctional condition. It is not a disease if it can be treated withoud meds and it CANthere is another that doesn't. Bith sides gather evidence and 'fact' to back up their points.

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