Personality traits

[Imagyx]

http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/TMS_Personality_Traits

This page has opened my eyes wide.
I have almost every personality trait listed on that page.
And I don't say that some of every item applies to me, it's the whole package.
I didn't ever think of most of them in a bad way, I actually thought
it's good to have these traits. Maybe that's kind of perfectionistic as well, trying to have
every trait there is.
Everyone who is new to TMS should read that page I think. It helps accept the diagnosis a lot,
but at least gives more insight to one's personal past, triggers and appearance of symptoms.

I'll list some of these items that apply to me here:

• When you work on a project, does everything have to be perfect?
• Do you have a clear picture of how you want everything to be?
• Do you always have some sort of task that needs to be done?
• Do you ignore your own needs and feelings to accomplish a task?
• Do you think that there is a right way to do something and a wrong way?
• Do you routinely change your plans to satisfy the schedule or needs of others?
• If a group of people are planning an event, do you say what you want to do, or do you just go along with what others want?
• Do you think that the world would be a better place if everyone had your views?
• When making plans or decisions, do you worry that you might make the wrong choice?
• Do you like being around people who have different views from yours?
• If people saw you express your emotions, do you think they would think of you negatively?
• Are you embarrassed to cry in front of your friends and family?
• When there is a small thunderstorm do you assume that there will be tornadoes?
• When your family members go somewhere do you worry that something terrible might happen to them?
• Have you found that little events can make you react in an extreme manner?
• Do you routinely get "road rage" or extremely angry/frustrated when you are driving?
• Do you have a short tolerance for people who make mistakes?
• Do you find being alone or isolated frustrating and undesirable?

Yes yes yes...
Some of these are extremely active in me:
Do you always have some sort of task that needs to be done ?
Yes, more than one task, more like a dozen.
Do you think that the world would be a better place if everyone had your views?
I have a lot to critize on our world and for every matter I have my own point of view how to make it better.
Are you embarrassed to cry in front of your friends and family?
As I posted in some other thread, there's very few people I can even speak to about emotions.
When your family members go somewhere do you worry that something terrible might happen to them?
I'm always concerned about what might happen to my girlfriend when we're not together. This is not only anxiousness, but also dependency I think.
Have you found that little events can make you react in an extreme manner?
The tiniest things even, and on a daily basis.
Do you routinely get "road rage" or extremely angry/frustrated when you are driving?
I think this goes with the legalist trait as well. Yes.


Thanks a lot for that page.
Now for a question:
What can I do ? This is who I am, my very core I think...
Need for change or just acceptance or is there more to do with this knowlegde ?

 

[Jamie]

You're asking what you can do but I'd like to point out that you've already begun to do it. You recognized the personality traits in yourself and shared your concerns here, which sounds like a big step (I know it was for me). So often, we try so hard to make something happen or change something about ourselves... in other words, a task oriented approach which feeds into the the personality trait of always having something to do. I think its great to take action steps in a positive direction, as long as they don't contribute to the stress. I have found that the daily practices are a great help... and keep reading. I feel a little more enlightened with every article and personal story I read.

I don't think these personality traits are the core of who we are. I think they are just learned behavior to help us deal with life's events and past events.

Thank you for your post. I really appreciated it.

x Jamie

 

[Imagyx]

Thank you for your kind answer Jamie.

I feel a little more enlightened with every article and personal story I read.

What you say applies also to me, reading lots of articles, stories and suggestions for getting better.

...a task oriented approach which feeds into the the personality trait of always having something to do.

After reading about all these personality traits yesterday I thought very often "now you're doing it again...".
Maybe I'm already trying to hard, because it's day 20 of the SEP and I understand and accept so much but
didn't get the relief like some of the fast-cured TMSers out there.
Like Forest said in one of his videoblogs, one can try to hard to recover.
It's just that I want to lead a normal life and I've always set my stakes too high.
I get more and more to the point where I think that just being happy should be enough, whatever I achieve in life.

Have a nice day.
Chris