When Thoughts Take Over: Part I
Disclaimer: This is not an extensive or exhaustive list of all the different variables or diagnostic criteria that can be referenced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) for mental health disorders. The DSM-5 has approximately 300 conditions and 70 revised conditions in the DSM-5-TR. This post is to serve as brief examples for psycho-educational purposes only and is not a formal replacement for a Diagnostic Assessment or psychotherapy. This information should not be used out of context or to self-diagnose.
This post consists of two parts:
Part I – thought patterns in the neurodivergent community. That is, people whose brains function differently in comparison to the majority of their peers from a neurodevelopmental perspective.
Part II – thought patterns in the neurotypical community. People whose brain’s function similarly to the majority of their peers from a neurodevelopmental perspective.
“When our thoughts take over it can be all-consuming. They can continue to run through our minds during the day, prevent us from being fully present at work or with our loved ones, and make it difficult to sleep at night (etc.). If our thoughts continue to build without any real intervention, we can start to spiral, be sent into a state of panic, or become physically ill.”
Part I
Neurodivergent Thought Patterns: Brief Examples (ASD, OCD, ADHD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A common thought pattern experienced within the Autistic community is Perseveration, also known as involuntary fixation. For instance, perseveration is when someone has a difficult time shifting their focus or behavior from one subject and-or activity to another. Moreover, if a child loves trucks, only ever talks about trucks, and struggles to transition away from any topic or activity related to trucks; that is perseveration. To be clear, being in love and demonstrating an extreme passion for something (like trucks) is not an issue what-so-ever! The issue is the level of difficulty and distress being experienced by the individual while trying to transition to another topic of discussion and-or activity that impacts their daily life (e.g., transitioning to different learning material in school, implementing bedtime routines, engaging in other social interests that can help build connections with their peers, etc). When we are stuck in a perseverating pattern it can impact multiple areas of functioning and create internal distress.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Another example of a neurologically impacted thought pattern would be obsessive-compulsive thought patterns that are typically seen in OCD. Obsessive thoughts can include intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that trigger feelings of upset. Obsessive-compulsive thought patterns can be more internal (i.e., obsessive thoughts on replay) or external (i.e., obsessive thoughts followed by acting out the compulsion in an attempt to self-soothe). Compulsions are behaviors an individual may engage in to try to get rid of the obsessive thoughts. These compulsions are time-consuming and significantly impact their daily lives. Furthermore, someone with OCD can have more of an obsessive thought type with very limited compulsions or it can be a mixture of both. It’s important to note the differences between the buzzword “obsessed” (e.g., really liking something) vs. clinically significant levels of obsession which are typically distressing and painful.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): For someone with ADHD, what is often confused is whether or not someone’s mind is racing because of anxiety or if there is an underlying neurodevelopmental issue when it comes to attention span. ADHD symptoms will vary greatly depending on each person, as will the disorders mentioned above. However, common characteristics of ADHD include (but are not limited to) impulsiveness, difficulty prioritizing tasks, issues with time management, low frustration tolerance, trouble staying on tasks or feeling overwhelmed with too many tasks, and difficulty planning. Many times, anxiety can result from the aforementioned ADHD symptoms as society typically looks down upon having issues in those areas. Though, in this scenario, anxiety may be more of a secondary concern whereas ADHD would be the primary.
As mentioned above, this is not an exhaustive list of neurodevelopmental disorders or of what may accompany one’s full neurological makeup. If anything, this article is a very stripped-down and overly simplified explanation at best. It’s also important to take into account that just because someone may be symptomatic of a certain disorder does not mean that they meet the threshold for the full diagnostic criterion of a specific disorder.
This is why it is important to seek an experienced mental health professional who is thoroughly trained in understanding the complexity of comorbidity and differences in nuances so they can provide an accurate diagnosis (es).
What does it mean by nuances and comorbidity?
Sometimes certain symptoms can LOOK like one thing but actually be another. Or, it could be a combination of factors all happening at once. Below are some examples of common ways symptoms can be easily misinterpreted.
Trauma and high anxiety symptoms can look like ADHD but are not.
ASD can look like OCD but is not and-or certain symptoms could be indicative of having both or multiple co-occurring disorders.
Medical issues, like Hyperthyroidism, can look like anxiety but is not necessarily rooted in one’s psychology.
The list goes on.
In short, please do not self-diagnose. There are too many different variables and layers of complexity to be diagnosing yourself, or others, without an extensive background in mental health and you could be implementing the wrong treatment or be hindering effective results. If you are looking to educate yourself or to adopt mental health self-care practices into your professional life, many CEUs are available. If you are in search of solutions for your own personal self, find a trusted professional who is knowledgeable in your areas of concern, take pride in seeking second opinions, and line up the support that feels right for you!
Stay tuned for Part II where we discuss some common thought patterns in the neurotypical community.
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