Is there a name for this?

[ibanezmonster]

First of all, I can't remember if I've asked this question before...
Second, I'm only bothering to ask this question here, because it's quicker- if I don't get any answers, I'll make an account at some psychology forum and ask.

Over the years, through analysis, I have a pretty good idea of how my mind works... and it just seems to the point to where there should be a name for it.

All my mind thinks about and craves are two things: 1) novelty; 2) achieving huge, crazy goals. When it is deprived of that for too long, it breaks down from painful boredom, like a mind that is starving to death.

As for novelty, it means discovering something that feels completely new, constantly. When I mean "huge, crazy goals," I mean, for example, one of my goals is to become fluent in at least 10 languages within my lifetime. There is more to where that came from, but I won't go on.

It's like Asperger's, but not exactly... I don't have the problem of not understanding social stuff (I took the AQ Test and got a 25, and with a 32 you might have it). It's like halfway Asperger's or something.  Hopefully, I'm not that rare and there is a name for it. 

[Mirror Image]

You think too much. Enjoy your life, Greg. You only get one.

[Opus106]

What are you going to do with a name, Greg? Is there a third goal where you want to be labelled as an outcast/oddity?

[Sandra]

If you ask that on a psychology forum, you'll definitely get a name for it. Psychologists love labels. But truth is most of us like to set goals - some realistic, some not so realistic. When I was younger I always wanted to win a marathon. I ran for months preparing for it. But did I ever win one? I glad I didn't because that would mean I had to spend many years running, and those are years I've spent doing other things I enjoy. Learning 10 languages might seem like a noble dream but you'll need to invest your entire life, which will make that goal a bit less desirable.

[ibanezmonster]

What are you going to do with a name, Greg? Is there a third goal where you want to be labelled as an outcast/oddity?

With a name, people can at least get some reference and understanding. If I had Asperger's, people might know about it because it's nearly common knowledge now, and might as well be more understanding. But if I explained, it's more confusing and I don't think anyone would understand.

Learning 10 languages might seem like a noble dream but you'll need to invest your entire life, which will make that goal a bit less desirable.

I know, though I'll still do it, because I plan on retiring young-ish ~40 years old (it's possible, long story), then spending my days doing this, writing music, learning how to draw, making my own video games, etc. instead of wasting my life working for someone else.

[Sergeant Rock]

I know, though I'll still do it, because I plan on retiring young-ish ~40 years old

That's what I did 

As for what you call your condition, I'd say it was simply "youth."

Sarge

[ibanezmonster]

That's what I did 

As for what you call your condition, I'd say it was simply "youth."

Sarge

Heck yeah, early retirement!
Ehmmm.... "youth"?  Most people I know aren't into intellectual or creative things, but are only into partying and drinking. I don't get it.

[Sergeant Rock]

Heck yeah, early retirement!
Ehmmm.... "youth"?  Most people I know aren't into intellectual or creative things, but are only into partying and drinking. I don't get it.

Grandiose plans and novelty....seems like the very definition of youth 

Sarge

[ibanezmonster]

Grandiose plans and novelty....seems like the very definition of youth 

Sarge

May be part of it, though not everything. Could also explain why so many old people aren't interested in learning anything new, or feel like they can't.

I posted the question in a psychology forum, so hopefully I'll get a reply soon.

[snyprrr]

I plan on retiring young-ish ~40 years old (it's possible, long story), then spending my days doing this, writing music, learning how to draw, making my own video games, etc. instead of wasting my life working for someone else.

Hey, wait a minute...

Take it from someone who was writing scripts when they were 7... you'll be working at a grocery store for the rest of your life.

I think you're just suffering from growing up young and smart in a world that has left you behind. There's a whole generation (or two) out there with the same problem. Do you live in mom's basement? If you don't, you'll have to start there. If you don't, you're already too well off and shouldn't be complaining!

The job market for Renaissance Men is just no there. You're too smart. They don't want you. You'll say something too smart and get fired.



The best job advice I ever got was: Just show up and do a mediocre job. (probably won't help, haha)



Greg Greg Greg... you are not the only one with this problem. Everyday now, more and more college grads join you in the great "What the F do I do now?" syndrome. I've been in this morass a whole lot longer than you, and I can tell you, if you don't sell your soul right away, forget about it. The world is not becoming a MORE righteous place to live in right now.

I'm afraid that the diagnosis you seek may not yield the 'word' that you are looking for. Is it possible that you're like me and are just a SPOILED BRAT? Not attacking, just asking... it IS a valid question these days. I sure am. I won't take shit from anyone, and, huh, look at where I'm at now.

Adice: Take out 50 credit cards, run 'em into the ground, and declare bankruptcy. It's all fiat money anyhow, it's not really stealing... it's 'happy cash'. Take as much as you want, credit report be damned. You only live once... get the most stuff while you can now!

Seriously. This S*** won't/can't last too much longer anyhow... there won't BE 'video games'.

Learn some survivalist stuff... then, when it hits the fan, you can be an avatar for the living stragglers in our soon to be post WWIII world.

Die, vicious cycle, die!!

[Opus106]

Hey, wait a minute...

Take it from someone who was writing scripts when they were 7... you'll be working at a grocery store for the rest of your life.

I think you're just suffering from growing up young and smart in a world that has left you behind. There's a whole generation (or two) out there with the same problem. Do you live in mom's basement? If you don't, you'll have to start there. If you don't, you're already too well off and shouldn't be complaining!

The job market for Renaissance Men is just no there. You're too smart. They don't want you. You'll say something too smart and get fired.



The best job advice I ever got was: Just show up and do a mediocre job. (probably won't help, haha)



Greg Greg Greg... you are not the only one with this problem. Everyday now, more and more college grads join you in the great "What the F do I do now?" syndrome. I've been in this morass a whole lot longer than you, and I can tell you, if you don't sell your soul right away, forget about it. The world is not becoming a MORE righteous place to live in right now.

I'm afraid that the diagnosis you seek may not yield the 'word' that you are looking for. Is it possible that you're like me and are just a SPOILED BRAT? Not attacking, just asking... it IS a valid question these days. I sure am. I won't take shit from anyone, and, huh, look at where I'm at now.

Adice: Take out 50 credit cards, run 'em into the ground, and declare bankruptcy. It's all fiat money anyhow, it's not really stealing... it's 'happy cash'. Take as much as you want, credit report be damned. You only live once... get the most stuff while you can now!

Seriously. This S*** won't/can't last too much longer anyhow... there won't BE 'video games'.

Learn some survivalist stuff... then, when it hits the fan, you can be an avatar for the living stragglers in our soon to be post WWIII world.

Die, vicious cycle, die!!

I'd like a name for that ^!

[ibanezmonster]

Do you live in mom's basement?

If Florida weren't so close to sea level, it would be a basement.

The job market for Renaissance Men is just no there. You're too smart. They don't want you. You'll say something too smart and get fired.

There's a job market for what I want to get into, but for the vast majority of jobs, you have to have experience, which is something I can't get because no one will give me a job in the first place (and apparently, nowadays, if you don't take 4 years of college, somehow you don't know what you're doing). But I'm going back to school in January.

Either way, I had this problem during the time when I went 7 months unemployed. Extreme boredom, and the only escape is through my mind, maybe?...

[Opus106]

There's a job market for what I want to get into, but for the vast majority of jobs, you have to have experience, which is something I can't get because no one will give me a job in the first place (and apparently, nowadays, if you don't take 4 years of college, somehow you don't know what you're doing).

That may be true for a large part, but there are also other instances where that's not entirely the case. For example, I read an article last week about how some companies don't look at only your grades or even if you have them. I wondered if you'd given those Facebook puzzles a try; they were down last week, when I checked.


For the record: I am not trying to dissuade Greg from attending college, in case you misunderstood.

[Sergeant Rock]

I'd like a name for that ^!

I don't know what to call it, but it looks like this




Sarge

[Opus106]

I don't know what to call it, but it looks like this

http://www.newyorker.com/images/2011/02/14/p465/110214_cn-end_p465.jpg


Sarge

[Lethevich]

If you do get the diagnosal you are seeking - and you will if you look hard enough - I feel that I should mention that this might not be as beneficial as you may hope. From my experience with being diagnosed with a social diorder, you will gradually feel it to be a chain around your ankle. For every time I am glad to be able to excuse a problem on the diagnosal, there are ten others where in having to hide it so to avoid even greater awkwardness, it in fact creates its own problems.

After the initial "this is cool" relief of having the way you think explained and excused, in the long-run I wish I hadn't been diagnosed because no matter how optimistically you think, it renders you a cripple forever.

[ibanezmonster]

I got one reply after 2 days, and the person couldn't be more off- though I don't want to reply, because I don't want to be rude.

Also, include learning how to play every instrument to that list. My dad bought a mandolin, and that's like the gateway between knowing guitar and learning violin, because of the tuning. It's a very easy instrument, so I'll have to learn it. 

[Cato]

First of all, I can't remember if I've asked this question before...
Second, I'm only bothering to ask this question here, because it's quicker- if I don't get any answers, I'll make an account at some psychology forum and ask.

Over the years, through analysis, I have a pretty good idea of how my mind works... and it just seems to the point to where there should be a name for it.

All my mind thinks about and craves are two things: 1) novelty; 2) achieving huge, crazy goals. When it is deprived of that for too long, it breaks down from painful boredom, like a mind that is starving to death.

As for novelty, it means discovering something that feels completely new, constantly. When I mean "huge, crazy goals," I mean, for example, one of my goals is to become fluent in at least 10 languages within my lifetime. There is more to where that came from, but I won't go on.

No, I would say that you do not have Asperger's.  You should take any diagnosis from a Music forum with a few pounds of salt.   0:)

Anyway, since you asked...

You seem to have what is politely called Histrionic Personality Disorder: the symptoms you mention are some of the main ones.

I say "politely called," because ultimately it is a variation of attention-seeking, i.e. a variation of good old-fashioned narcissism.

Combined with Hyperactivity and/or Manic Depression, it obviously can be debilitating.

[jowcol]

First of all, I can't remember if I've asked this question before...
Second, I'm only bothering to ask this question here, because it's quicker- if I don't get any answers, I'll make an account at some psychology forum and ask.

Over the years, through analysis, I have a pretty good idea of how my mind works... and it just seems to the point to where there should be a name for it.

Don't name it!  You'll kill it!  Or, in the first chapter of the Tao Te Ching

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.
The named is the mother of ten thousand things.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name;
    this appears as darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery.

[ibanezmonster]

No, I would say that you do not have Asperger's.  You should take any diagnosis from a Music forum with a few pounds of salt.   0:)

Anyway, since you asked...

You seem to have what is politely called Histrionic Personality Disorder: the symptoms you mention are some of the main ones.

I say "politely called," because ultimately it is a variation of attention-seeking, i.e. a variation of good old-fashioned narcissism.

Combined with Hyperactivity and/or Manic Depression, it obviously can be debilitating.

I'm wondering if I'm not saying this right, because Histrionic Personality Disorder is waaaaaaaaayyy off. If you knew me in person, it'd be easier to make a guess.

for example...

These individuals are lively, dramatic, vivacious, enthusiastic, and flirtatious.

This is a complete opposite description of me. I'm constantly tired, don't even know how to flirt, super laid-back, etc.

Narcissism... maybe a little, but I don't think it's really that bad. I push myself to achieve, but I'm not as crazy as Michael Jordan losing at ping-pong and then getting really mad and training to where he could beat the entire Bulls team. MJ might have NPD.



The issue is- to make it more clear- on one side, you have reality, day to day life, and mundane pop music. Then, on the other, you have magical worlds (classical music, anime, etc.), that give a sense of adventure and inspire the intellect, etc.

I'm wondering if it's a form of extreme introversion. It's not approval-seeking or attention-seeking at all. I just want to constantly escape into my own world constantly, and being out of it for a while is painful. Having such crazy goals mean that there is that much more to explore.

A good example: back in 6th-7th grade (~10 years ago), my parents made me go to "Youth" each Wednesday night at church. (in elementary school, it was RA "Royal Ambassadors," which was basically a class of about 10 or so kids, kinda like Sunday school, but we also did a lot of fun things).
Youth was different- it was in the gymnasium, filled with 100+ middle schoolers. They played mundane Christian rock music, and I didn't really know anyone there, unless I was on the rare occasion able to bring my friends. It was horrible.

And to connect with that... ever since I was a kid, and to this day, when they make you greet people around you and everyone puts on fake smiles while shaking their hands (or wait, they're real, how can they be?), I avoid as much contact as possible, because my soul is screaming, "I AM NOT F***ING INTERESTED IN INTERACTING WITH YOU!!!!!!!"