Friday, November 14, 2008

Do you have AOCD? Take this test to find out.

If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions you may need to be treated for Adoption Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (AOCD). You should immediately consult with family, friends, and especially fellow adoption blogger.

 Repeated actions over and over - Do you ritually check adoption blogs and forums MANY times a day; especially at the most unusual/inappropriate times like during work or before your coat and shoes are off when you get home from being out for any amount of time?
 Involuntarily persistent thoughts - Do you wake up every morning and go to bed each night (and most hours in between) thinking about adoption? Or do you find yourself trying to steer conversations onto the topic of adoption because it is the only topic you can seem to concentrate on for any period of time?
 Arranging and having things orderly - Do you keep a tracker and/or spreadsheet tracking wait times and referrals (if you use a color coding system, add two points to your score)? Or do you check other peoples trackers and/or databases to count where you are "in line"?
 Aggressive or horrific thoughts - When people say "Hang in there!" and you smile and say "thanks", would you rather hang them? Or when people say "Good things come to those who wait", do you wonder if they have ever had to wait for something this important (we are talking about a baby, not dessert)? Or after someone says "Everything happens for a reason", would you like to smack them and say "I'll show you my reason!"
 Uncontrolled emotions - When you see beautiful black babies at the grocery store do you become overwhelmed with emotion? Do you get disappointed when someone doesn't comment on your blog, even when you know lots of people are reading it? Do you scream into your pillow for, what seems like, no particular reason?
 Repeated doubts - Do you wonder if your adoption will ever happen? Do you wonder if your file got lost/misplaced somehow, so technically, you are not on the "waiting list"? Do you ever think that they might forget you are waiting and skip your referral?
 Demanding reassurance - Do you depend on regular updates and correspondence from your agency for your sanity? And if you don't hear from your agency, do you email and/or call them to subtly remind them that you are still waiting?

22 comments:

Jenny said...

Yep that is me!

Jenny

Melissa said...

I knew it! I'm sick! Up until this point, I haven't yet considered that my file might get lost, but NOW I'm thinking about it! Thanks a lot!! ;)

Lorie said...

You just described me to a tee!! Except that I fear my case worker will charge me with harassment!!

Knowing someone else feels/acts this way means I'm NOT going crazy!!

Here's hoping for referrals on Monday.

Lorie

Carolyn said...

I love this post and yes I do have AOCD and I am not ashamed to admit it. It is nice to know that others share this illness as well!!


Carolyn

Janice said...

Ha, ha, ha...I ticked a couple of the boxes. I'm not full blown AOCD yet but I can see it happening. It's so exciting when a family gets a referral and then as soon as I read about it I have to keep checking for the next one. That's my addiction.

Sarah Rodgerson said...

The first step is admitting the problem - Yes, I do have a very bad case of AOCD, thanks for helping me realize it! Not sure if I've ever posted a comment on your blog before, but now you know that I read it regularly! Great post...

Sarah

Natalie and Chris said...

That is definitely me. I thought I was the only one, which is why I would never ask the question of others, but wow, I'm sick, at least I now know what I have...lol

Thanks Natalie

Julie said...

Yes! I could use a prescription for my AOCD! Nice to 'meet' you.

Ranavan said...

My name is Rana and I have AOCD! I have it bad - it is getting to the point where I am so off in la la land I have taken to knocking everything over - milk, tea, juice, pots of coffee - yup knocked over my husbands pot of coffee the other day - sigh!

Barb said...

Uh oh. AOCD with capital letters!!!

Barb

Anonymous said...

Hi. I found your blog from the comment you left on my blog. Thanks by the way! I love getting comments. I really enjoyed this post. Although we are still early in the process I could relate to most of it right away!

Chad, Laura, Sara and Seth said...

Hey Sarah, would love to check in to your blog from time to time; if you are interested in another stocker email me lcmorrison@shaw.ca

Laura

Sarah Rodgerson said...

No problem, sending you an invite right away!

Sarah

Tammy said...

Uh-oh...6 out of 7...I just haven't been stalking the agency yet...give me 5 months, when I'm closer to a referral. :)

Think we could get AOCD acknowledged as an official disorder and have our doctors prescribe trips to tropical climates as treatment while waiting?

Could I post this on my blog for my family/friends?

Chad, Laura, Sara and Seth said...

Tammy, post away - I think the more we can all share our stories (good, bad, funny, sad), the more real it can be to the people close to us who are trying to understand.

Laura

The Warren Family said...

check, check, check, check and check....yep that sounds like me.
hahaha...too funny! It is nice to know I am not the only one with this condition.

Shannon (-:

Jess said...

wow... I didn't realize I had a problem! Thank you for pointing that out to me so I can get help!

Tammy said...

Thanks Laura! :)

Juanita said...

I think that's great! It's reassuring for the people who are feeling the same way, I imagine, and it's especially good for those of us who haven't walked in those shoes to know how/what/why you feel. Thanks for sharing!

Maria said...

Hi, thanks for posting this, it made me feel good, that I'm going crazy but thank god I'm not alone!!
Maria

Hi from Ruth! said...

HA - thanks for the laugh. Great post. Definitely have this disorder, too!

Ruth

Dana said...

hahahah. I love it. It describes every adoptive parent out there.
Did you read the BDO blog (you should, there is an update!!!!)