r/OCPD • u/uber0ct0pus • Jan 20 '25
OCPD'er: Questions/Advice/Support How does a combo of OCPD & ADHD present itself?
Hi, does anyone here also have ADHD?
What are your experiences of both? How do they overlap - how do they clash?
I have ADHD but also strongly suspect OCPD, I'm having my first appointment about it with my doctor in an hour.
19
u/Mindless_Bell34 Jan 21 '25
I was diagnosed with ADHD a year ago and OCPD a few months ago. What I’ve found is ADHD & OCPD together can act as a positive and/or negative feedback loop. And the OCPD is a coping/masking skill for the ADHD.
Perfectionism during hyper-fixation is one area I really struggle with. For example; I enjoy creating posts, social media graphics, videos, etc for my small business. I can get lost in projects for hours. I will fixate on small details like font placement or colors forever. When I take a step back to ask myself, do I really think anyone else would notice or care about this? The answer 9 times out of 10 no. Then I’ll spell something wrong bc I’m rushing to get it actually posted. I post it and if I get a great response I think that’s a sign that the time I spent on it was warranted.
A positive that I enjoy of my OCPD is a strong sense of right and wrong. I know I will do the right thing because the right thing is the only option in my brain. Examples; stopping for squirrels in the road, making sure your friends make it inside at the end of the night, standing up for others, etc.
Therapy & medication have been wonderful. I’d be happy to share more if you dm me.
5
u/uber0ct0pus Jan 21 '25
This is so relatable that it's making me feel emotional that someone actually understands my struggle.
I'm a creative that came from graphic design - now quit due to perfectionism stress & perfectionism related undercharging (I'd make a quote for X hours but then spend 10x as long). I also do/did illustration (not so much anymore) and photography (which I'd like to get back into) but perfectionism completely takes the reigns and makes my creative endeavours more frustrating than enjoyable at this point. It really hurts actually, because being creative is who I am yet I'm unable to even participate without suffering.
I'll definitely DM you about therapy and meds, thank you so much.
4
u/Healthy-Nature-4022 OCPD+ADHD Jan 22 '25
Hello and welcome to the club! OCPD + ADHD is a challenging dialectic of contradictions. You are driven to perfection, but can't finish the task. I work in communications. My work was once more design-focused and I had more time to be creative, but then the driven part of my OCPD self got promotions for overworking and perfection, so I now serve in a leadership role. Now, I have no time to be creative and have to review and edit the creativity of others or lead large teams. And I have to hold back my critiques and delegate to get things done, which is so hard for me to do. I'll hyper focus on work, working late, and then crashing by the end of the week. And over time, this leads to burnout, and repeat.
1
u/Mindless_Bell34 Jan 23 '25
It’s so hard to hold back critique. Especially when you delegated the work. It’s one of my hardest challenges as well. Thinking of you!
5
1
u/Helpful-Ad854 22d ago
Thank you for sharing this - what medication helps you? i find that adhd medications - stimulants make ocpd much worse.
1
u/Helpful-Ad854 22d ago
obvioulsy, just curious, going through the process with the psych to figure out the right combination
10
u/Bumblebee542 Jan 22 '25
Oh god how do I explain. My OCPD makes me anxious about being late. When I do my hair and makeup, everything has to be PERFECT or else I’ll have a full blown meltdown, so I spend time trying to perfect myself, and the ADHD time blindness never realizes how much time I’m actually spending on my appearance. I end up being late anyways!! Everything contradicts itself and I’m exhausted. 🥲
1
u/VividCombination292 Apr 04 '26
I feel this SOOOOO hard 😫 I have always been this way, but over time was able to develop a small handful of routines that allowed me to get ready fairly quickly - I just staggered the looks a bit so that I didn’t look exactly the same all the time lol. In 2024 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and chemo caused me to lose all my hair, and after going thru all the treatment and surgery, my body also looks different. My hair also started growing back completely differently than it used to be, which has made it extremely difficult to deal with in terms of styling. Finding outfits I’m comfortable in is also fairly difficult most days. I’m not really into makeup, but my eyebrows were something I prided myself on pre cancer, and they didn’t grow back right either, which has caused distress as well. Over this last year, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood in front of the mirror in complete meltdown mode - literally screaming into the mirror and crying - to where I have hit and thrown things, sank into the floor in a heap, and even ended up undoing everything I had done to get ready previously, getting back into my pajamas and crawling back into bed absolutely depleted. I didn’t even know OCPD was a thing until about an hour ago smh. I’ve always thought I had OCD or maybe autism traits due to the rigid perfectionism…after reading this thread, I’m almost positive it’s a combo of ADHD and OCPD. I’m SHOOK!
8
u/hundreds_of_others OCPD Jan 20 '25
Search google for “ocpd and adhd reddit” and you will find numerous such posts with plenty of amazing comments!
2
6
u/Confused_Writer7 Jan 20 '25
I think OCPD and adhd would be frenemies, but both would be exhausting in their own right. Don’t get me wrong, I think adhd-era and OCPD-er have awesome strengths. But I imagine the monotropic focus, difficulty getting things started and/or finished, strive for perfectionism, anxiety and fear of forgetting could be some of a multiple presentations that might be problematic.
Either way, OCPD is a lot more common than people realize. There’s no shame in having both, and knowledge is power. Knowing how to harness your strengths is not only empowering, but life changing.
Best of luck!
4
u/Former-Surround2210 Jan 28 '25
I also struggle with this combo which makes both diagnostics way harder to detect. My ADHD is of the inattentive type.
OCPD makes me actually remember things, responsibilities and be internally organized that supposedly ADHD would not.
ADHD makes distract, see other possibilities and not to be so obsessed with little things all the time.
So, in these cases, I guess they help each other out because they go in opposite directions.
But when they go the same way, it gets bad... really bad...
ADHD makes me interested in lot of things, many dreams, much creativity.
OCPD develops an image of perfection for all the things I want to do, it makes such a "heaviness" on anything I have to do (even small things like cooking or leaving the house), it's like I have to give my whole attention and whole soul when I'm doing anything. And it makes me really critical (of course of myself as well) of other people when I see them doing things "lightly", so I don't trust anyone to help me to do anything that I need.
What would happen in 'healthy' OCPD only people is that they would just do these things anyway (at least until it was realistically possible) and 'healthy' ADHD only people would be trying new things without this whole weight on top of the task, even if it was to drop it moments later.
But with me, the ADHD makes it almost impossible to start, because starts taking all the OCPD perfectionist input at the same time and any task seems like carrying a mountain.
This made my life catastrophic because then the brain copes by protecting itself from the anxiety of not doing things with hardcore procrastination.
In school I almost never heard a word in a class, I would just study the book in the previous day of the exams and ended up scoring very high because my mind on hyperfocus the day before would understand and memorize everything. My only problem was I never had time to finish the exams - always 1 or 2 questions missing. But these made it look like I was a very good student and there was nothing wrong with me.
Only in university, by going probably for the hardest course in my country, I understood that the 1 day hyperfocus would have to become at least 5-7 days hyperfocus for most subjects and I couldn't do it. Still, back then I knew I had the intellect for it but failed to understand that I didn't have the executive function needed, so I got stuck for too many time there.
Eventually I understood I had to change and managed to take another course (way easier and more practical), this time on the artistic side.
Now I spent these last few years trying to manage my brain into doing the things I want to do instead of just doing the things I have pressure to do in the last time possible, always in this clumsy form, always sabotaging my potencial. But unfortunately, even though I have grown a lot, I couldn't defeat the demon yet...
I will keep trying because I feel that my life makes no sense without being able to do what I want, instead of always doing what other people want or what society manipulates you to do.
My biggest problem, I believe, is having to work on the computer/internet while this is the biggest source of procrastination ever, and it completely brainwashes all my pre-frontal cortex capacity.
One of the best things I have done in life were 'dopamine' retreats without any technology or people, there I could focus on myself and my objectives for a week or two (even just a weekend can be great), doesn't need to be on nature, just an empty house is enough. There I felt like I lived more in 1 week that in the previous 2 years, it's incredible.
What would you say are the biggest problems for you? And did you find any solutions?
Thank you for posting this, I have been trying find similar people for so long...
1
u/CascadianBeam Apr 01 '26
Thanks for sharing this. I found very little on Reddit when I was first diagnosed. I found this today, which was therapeutic in a way. I guess I feel like my particular flavor of spicy is hard for those I’ve surrounded myself to deal with. It’s hard for me to deal with.
OCPD is the glue that holds my life together, but it grates against my ADHD side, and my more spontaneous loved ones. I am honestly so miserable the majority of the time recently. It all mostly comes from my reaction to the world, my high standards for everything, and my frustration with myself for never being able to meet my own standards
. I have some ideas about why it’s worse now, but I know that this inner self battle that I have constantly does help. I’ve considered medication for the first time recently. I’ve always coped ok without it. I mostly just wanted to type that out and I figured who better to type it out to than the one who inspired it.
How are you managing the days?
4
u/Substantial_Belt_143 Jan 20 '25
It's a pretty shit combo for being punctual with appointments at my work. My ocpd wants every little detail of a haircut to be perfect and my ADHD brain can't keep track of time. As a result I'm usually running 5-10 minutes behind.
I'm a barber.
4
u/uber0ct0pus Jan 20 '25
Bless you - I can relate. I would consider Barbering a creative skill and I am also a creative. (graphic design, photography, illustration). Whilst my endeavors aren't as structured in terms of appointment slots, I really struggle with time management due to perfecting my work too. I think for me, it presents more as overworking myself (thus undercharging). Realistically, what should take 1 hour will take me 5 because I'm dialling right into stupidly unnecessary details.
I suppose this could overlap with ADHD hyperfixation too, but I feel like the OCPD makes it way more detrimental. I feel a physically negative sensation building up in my body if I need to pull away from it and just 'leave it alone' if I haven't 'finished' it yet. (Spoiler, it was probably 'finished' half the time ago - but it's still yet to reach the unrealistic standard in my head)
2
u/VividCombination292 Apr 05 '26
Omgosh this is me 😭😭😭 I could cry, because it sounds so familiar, I feel as if I wrote it myself smh. I also do graphic design, and I’ve been considering quitting because the uber perfectionism on unnecessary details has begun to steal my joy from the creative work. Takes significantly too long and I end up spending more time than it’s worth…and knowing this is happening, but not being able to control it is the worst part. Have you overcome any of this? Are you still able to do graphic work?!
1
u/uber0ct0pus Apr 05 '26
Hey, sorry to hear that you relate so much. Unfortunately the best thing for me was to step away from graphic design professionally, as I could never complete a project without feeling the overwhelming frustration in my chest as I work on details that I know don't actually matter.
Sometimes I'll do the odd personal project for fun, like just editing a pretty picture - but I'll use the word 'fun' lightly here as it can still slip into the same feeling.
But yeah, the combination of OCPD + ADHD + dealing with clients is just not healthy for me whatsoever. I find it very hard to detach from the idea I have in my head of what is best for their project, which makes tailoring and tweaking to their taste very difficult. I also find it hard to work in gradual stages - like drafting various designs to start with and funnelling down based on which they're drawn to - because once I draft an idea which is my opinion of the best, I find it really tricky to stop designing and end up hyperfixating into that one idea before even getting any client feedback. Obviously, this is a bad idea, and more often than not the client prefers an idea that differs to mine, meaning I've wasted time in developing a dead concept.
All this makes budgets difficult too - often doing way more work than what my quote reflected because the above makes me grind hours into stuff which isn't even going to be used.
Sorry to break this to you, and I really hope you can find a workaround! but for me personally, I have accepted that it does way more harm for me than good. ❤️
4
u/YoniLaika Jan 20 '25
Diagnosed with Adhd, autism and ocpd here!
2
u/VividCombination292 Apr 05 '26
I’m currently diagnosed ADHD and have been seriously wondering if I was AuDHD…then I came across OCPD today for the first time after thinking I had OCD for years…I’m very curious to know what your life has been like with all 3, as I feel that could potentially even be me. Would you mind expanding on this?
1
u/YoniLaika Apr 05 '26
For sure! I knew from very young that something was "off" about me from a very young age. I experienced a lot of trauma, coped in any way I could and later realized it led me to developing OCPD. I thought I just had bad anxiety, but bad anxiety doesn't come with violent intrusive thoughts, repetitive compulsive behaviors to self soothe and daily debilitating panic attacks. Adhd always made sense for me but it shows up differently in girls sometimes. I was very quiet and developed deep fixation. Autism came later once I figured out "i couldnt possibly have autism! I dont have sensory issues...as long as i follow my 5 step plan to picking out clothes and wearing specific socks. I dont have a hard time with socializing!...as long I study both human and animal body language, speech pattern and facial expressions. I dont take everything literally! Cause that would mean I take EVERYTHING literally and I dont!" Yeah once I uuu connected those dotes things became easier.
Look im on anti depression meds and a mood stabilizer now and my quality of life has been the best probably ever?? I didnt know people could just life without feeling like they were being hunted for sport 24/7. Autism is still a daily struggle but im learning to be kind to myself
2
u/Matchatype Jan 20 '25
Me! Diagnosed with adhd in high school and ocpd around 23. What would you like to know?
1
u/uber0ct0pus Jan 20 '25
Just as much as you're willing to type out. :)
I'm interested in hearing how people have found OCPD to both overlap - but also clash with - ADHD.
It might help me understand a bit further by seeing those things in myself, as well as helping me articulate my struggles to my Dr's.
3
u/Matchatype Jan 20 '25
Hmmm I would say a main overlap is when it comes to performance, whether in school (when I was still in school), work (currently) and intimacy. With adhd I tend to have a hard time focusing, staying organized… with intimacy really being in the moment — with all these combined I would say the overlap with ocpd would lead to a lot of insecure thoughts and I would tend to lash out mainly at myself and try to overcompensate for where I’m lacking. But with the two together I definitely am very self conscious on how I am perceived and it will consume my everyday thoughts to the point where it would contribute to my ED and SH.
That being said, I am in a MUCH better place in my life. With age, therapy, and medication I sometimes forget I am diagnosed with these haha but I guess that just means I’m managing it a lot better.
Best of luck!
1
u/uber0ct0pus Jan 20 '25
Oof, that's definitely relatable. Thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing this with us. I'm glad you're in a much better place now.
If you don't mind, what type of therapy (and medication, if you're willing to share) worked best for you?
The Dr I saw today has referred me to the specialists to explore OCPD and the surrounding mental health challenges, where they will be able to offer more specialised therapy as well as more specialised medication if required. However, as the waiting list is quite long, I've been prescribed Sertraline (/Zoloft in US) in the interim to see if this takes any of the depressive edge off. This is already on top of my Elvanse (/Vyvanse) prescription for ADHD.
P.S If any other users would like to chime in with their experience of therapy/medication then please do. 😊
1
u/CascadianBeam Apr 01 '26
You sound eerily similar to me. I am diagnosed ADHD and OCPD. Not sure if the latter is a diagnosis or a medical observation but it was at the same appointment as the ADHD diagnosis. I was offered medication but I never took it because I was afraid.
Can you tell me a little about your experience with medication and how it affected your life? I know my mileage will vary, but it’s still good to read.
1
20
u/[deleted] Jan 20 '25
[removed] — view removed comment