A small footnote about dealing with people with OCD.: seanan

A small footnote about dealing with people with OCD.

...or at least, dealing with person with OCD.

It's no secret around here that I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; I manage it on a daily basis, and I do a pretty good job. It's why I can accomplish as much as I do, given how little time I have. But it does mean that some things are non-negotiable for me, even as I politely tell people that they don't have to do them.

One of those things is responding to comments.

Sometimes, when I get overwhelmed, kind and concerned and loving people try to grant me comment amnesty. "You don't have to answer this." BUT I DO. I answer comments because I have to answer comments, or I literally cannot forget that I have left them unanswered. It may take me a long time. I may answer so far in the future that you've forgotten commenting. But unless I was the one who said "comment amnesty" (and sometimes not even then), I can't leave the majority of comments unacknowledged.

(This came about, ironically, because someone got very very very angry at me for not answering comments, and left me with a terror of being screamed at again.)

So please, don't tell me I don't have to answer you. That will just stress me out more, and move answering your comment to tell you that I do so have to answer higher up my priority list.

This has been another day of Seanan, living with OCD. Have a cookie.

ETA: Because I apparently wasn't clear: I love comments. I enjoy answering them. What stresses me out is other people trying to declare comment amnesty on my behalf. I can't process that, and so it just makes me unaccountably tense and unpleasant. So please, comment as normal. Just don't try to tell me I don't have to answer you, 'cause really, I do.

desperance

March 14 2012, 16:10:39 UTC 5 years ago

New comment

Noted. I will try only to comment when what I have to say deserves a response; otherwise just assume I'm reading and cheering you on and keeping quiet to save you that extra thirty seconds.

And we'll see you on Saturday! I'm supporting Caitlin Kittredge at Borderlands at three, but we'll definitely hang around for your launch later. Yay...!

lysystratae

March 14 2012, 16:19:15 UTC 5 years ago

Ditto on the comment part :)

March 14 2012, 16:40:57 UTC 5 years ago

Hee. We could form a club. We're Not Talking To Seanan. We could have buttons and everything.

archangelbeth

March 14 2012, 17:11:38 UTC 5 years ago

Bumper stickers! With a "(because she's awesome)" beneath.

adelheid_p

March 14 2012, 17:37:21 UTC 5 years ago

I'm in!

seanan_mcguire

March 14 2012, 17:33:49 UTC 5 years ago

Honestly, I like comments, and I like answering them. What stresses me out is people going "oh, don't bother answering me" or "this doesn't need a response," because then I feel dictated to in my own space and a bit like a failure at the same time.

Please don't go away. :(

March 14 2012, 18:05:00 UTC 5 years ago

Sweetheart, I promise, none of us is going away. Well, you're going to Seattle just as I come to CA, but that's a different issue. And okay, this is also noted. Silence will not ensue. I'll just try to be either easy or interesting to respond to. Or both.

March 14 2012, 18:06:53 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, good. <3

tikiera

March 14 2012, 18:20:02 UTC 5 years ago

I didn't realize that stating no need to comment was going to cause you distress. So I am glad for the warning. It kinda defeats the purpose of trying to diffuse stress if you cause it, so knowing is happy. :)

dulcinbradbury

March 14 2012, 18:40:17 UTC 5 years ago

I'll just try to be either easy or interesting to respond to. Or both.

I agree with this plan. I mean seriously... who would want someone to stress over answering their "First!" comments (or something equally vapid).

Honestly, I think the internet would be a better place if people did that as a general rule.

Log in

A small footnote about dealing with people with OCD.

Error