diagnosis. . .
Brent said:
A particular result might have one of many causes. Murder and suicide have the same result, but the different causes are very important.
I agree. I believe it is powerful to understand causes. And
sometimes it may be nearly impossible to change a resulting effect without understanding its underlying cause.
But human behavior seems complex; so a lot of times we plain just don't know. And the main way we identify causes is by working backwards from solutions. Most medical "breakthroughs" are found in this way.
If you go to a doctor for a diagnosis, and the doctor knows what she's doing, she'll identify a bunch of possibilities consistent with symptoms and proceed to try to rule some out by doing the easiest, safest, and least expensive tests first. Or even prescribe solutions to see if they work.
That is why I try the most obvious and straightforward -- and safest -- approach to a solution first. So I advocated changing the way you look at inboxes and clarifying connections between actions and goals. And setting a timer before you go into this state. This is essentially a straightforward cognitive-behavioral approach; it's simple and safe to try it; it can't hurt and it might help. And if it helps, you now have a good idea of the behavior's cause.
If the safe, straightforward solution doesn't work, you are still closer to understanding the cause since you have identified a factor that is not it. At least not all by itself. The Thomas Edison approach.
Brent said:
Or, look at it this way: As a thought experiment, what might cause this behavior besides procrastination?
I still don't understand the behavior(s). I see 2 different things in your posts:
1) The web surfing example in the first post. This one still looks to me like it might have a simple, straightforward cause and solution. This is the behavior most of us in this thread have tackled because as described it seems solvable.
2) The excessive focus thing. Much tougher. I still don't understand this. Take your bathtub example: the only thing I could come up with was ?????? Don't understand. I understand the idea of excessive focus in principle, but I can't relate. And I don't think most people will relate because it is not a common problem; the common problem is not focusing enough.
Not understanding this problem, I was unwilling to take a stab at it. Really need more facts; logic is no good when it depends on all assumptions and no facts. So a thought experiment? Maybe first-pass hypotheses to elicit more facts. . .
1) Some neurochemical brain dysfunction. Could be caused by a drug or supplement. Definitely not ADHD: the opposite of ADHD. ADHD is helped by drugs that increase dopamine in certain brain areas. Many, many,
many drugs and supplements increase dopamine and could cause excess focus of attention
for you. For example, if you happen to be taking Ritalin. Or 'fat burners' or 'energy' supplements, caffeine, tyrosine, vinpocetine, glucosol, vanadium, gingko, NADH, St. John's wort, alcohol, opiates, cocaine, nicotine, amphetamines, etc., etc., etc. And of course all supplements that specifically claim to "enhance focus."
2) Some sort of fugue state -- but it sounds too mild.
3) Obsessive-compulsive disorder? Sounds similar but too mild.
Aerobic exercise is a powerful modulator of brain function too; it seems to help just about any brain dysfunction, so you could try that too.
[Disclaimer: you must of course see a health professional about any of these possibilities.]
