Why Am I So Indecisive?

Is being indecisive a mental issue?

Is Indecisiveness a Disorder? – The first thing we might want to consider regarding indecisiveness is what it means for our mental health. We don’t generally consider indecisiveness a psychiatric disorder. However, an extreme inability to engage in decision-making called aboulomania can severely affect a person’s ability to function in everyday life.

Whereas an individual with occasional indecisiveness can still make some of their decisions with ease, people with aboulomania may feel anxious for every single decision they need to make. Although indecisiveness is not considered a psychiatric disorder, it is a symptom of certain conditions such as major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD (Lauderdale, Martin & Moore, 2019).

But why is indecisiveness so prevalent under certain psychiatric conditions? Neurobiologists consider decision-making to be a two-step process: valuation and choice. In the valuation step, the individual finds how much they can gain with each option. This task is handled primarily in a brain area known as the ventral prefrontal cortex (Lebreton & Lopez-Persem, 2022).

Is being indecisive ADHD?

ADHD indecisiveness or decision paralysis is a term used to describe repetitively going back and forth on decisions for no apparent reason, sometimes even over very small matters. Adults with ADHD might be more likely to experience ADHD indecisiveness due to ADHD impulsivity.

Is indecisiveness a symptom of anxiety?

How anxiety causes indecision – and bad decisions – Anxiety can result in an inability to make decisions at all – and an inability to make good decisions. If you struggle with anxiety, you’ll recognise that old evolutionary ‘fight or flight’ feeling that kicks in when you’re having an anxiety attack.

• That rush of adrenaline and racing heart that provides everything you need for survival – and switches off everything else, including your ability to make decisions.
• There’s solid neuroscience behind the reasons for this.
• Decision-making happens in the pre-frontal cortex – the front part of your brain.

According to research published in The Journal of Neuroscience (2016), anxiety decreases activity in this area. Basically, anxiety slows down and disengages the specific part of your brain that you need to make good decisions. It’s no wonder you feel stuck in indecision! While anxiety can cause indecisiveness, it may, at times, also have the opposite effect.

You might make quick, rash decisions in an attempt to avoid anxiety – or because you’re not able to think straight due to your emotional state. A study published in Nature Neuroscience (2015), showed that anxiety can make it harder to accurately process all the information you need to make a good decision.

Finally, anxiety can also lead us to make the ‘safe’ choice. This may be the right one – but it may not. And if your anxiety has led you to make bad decisions in the past, this may make you even more anxious about decision-making.

Is being indecisive OCD?

Introduction – Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often exhibit indecisiveness, pathological doubt, and avoidance of uncertainty ( Rasmussen and Eisen, 1992 ; Reed, 1985 ; Tolin et al., 2003 ), even when the task at hand is unrelated to their primary symptomatology ( Hamilton, 1957 ).

OCD was once called ‘la folie du doute’ (‘ the madness of doubt’ ), highlighting the central role of self-doubt in its symptomatology ( Janet, 1908 ). The nature and etiology of these deficits are poorly understood. Decision-making studies, across psychology, economics, and neurobiology, generally assume that individuals aim to maximize some subjective measure of expected value ( Rangel et al., 2008 ).

They also recognize that several interrelated but independent processes, including valuation, attention and action selection, are involved in making a value-based decision. Recent neurobiological research has linked one of these processes, computation of subjective value ( valuation ), to activation in the ‘valuation network’, or ‘reward network’, which includes the ventral striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex ( Bartra et al., 2013 ).

It is an open question whether and to what degree individuals suffering from mental illness comply with this assumption. Within this framework, indecisiveness and self-doubt may be attributed to impairments in one or several value-based decision formation processes. Consider impaired valuation: when alternatives have distinct subjective values, choice is straightforward ( Supplementary Materials; SM S.1, Figure S.1.a ); choices may become difficult, however, if the subjective values of the options are imprecisely specified (noisy valuation, Figure S.1.b ), or if the options are of similar subjective value (a flat value function, Figure S.1.c ).

Of note, the circuitry that is linked to valuation ( Bartra et al, 2013 ) is abnormal in OCD ( Maia et al., 2008 ; Menzies et al., 2008 ). This raises the possibility that abnormalities in valuation may contribute to decision-making difficulties observed clinically in patients.

Impairments in value-based decision formation may cut across traditional diagnostic boundaries ( Insel et al., 2010 ; Dichter et al., 2012 ), which calls for measures that can detect both an overall impairment in value-based decision formation and particular abnormalities in distinct disease states.

With this in mind, we investigated the behavior of individuals with OCD in a decision-making task that allows characterization of different aspects of the process. We employed the Risk and Ambiguity task ( Levy et al., 2010 ), which has been previously validated in healthy individuals ( Tymula et al., 2012 ; Tymula et al., 2013 ).

The task, which consists of choices involving uncertain monetary gains or losses, has several important features. First, it clearly specifies the decision problem on each trial, and provides no feedback about outcomes. This contrasts with more complex tasks, such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT; ( Bechara et al., 1994 )) that additionally require participants to construct a representation of the decision problem based on limited information and that provide feedback, which allows learning.

Performance on our task therefore reflects valuation and value-based choice processes (e.g. attention and action selection), independent of learning ability. Second, the task allows estimating the degree to which participants’ choices are consistent with the assumptions of subjective-value maximization.

Value-guided decision-makers are expected to adhere to a few simple and intuitive principles, such as choosing one option over another if it is clearly more valuable and to be largely consistent in their choices, unless the available alternatives are close in their subjective values ( Figure S.1.b, S.1.c ).

Our task directly examines those issues, independent of participants’ individual attitudes towards uncertainty. Third, the task distinguishes between two forms of uncertainty, which have proven to be dissociable in previous studies ( Levy et al., 2010 ; Tymula et al., 2012 ; Tymula et al., 2013 ; Camerer and Weber, 1992 ).

• A risky decision is one in which the outcome is uncertain, but the probabilities of the various possible outcomes are known.
• An ambiguous decision is one in which the outcome probabilities are themselves uncertain.
• Previous research has shown that individual risk attitudes are largely independent of individual ambiguity attitudes ( Camerer and Weber, 1992 ; Huettel et al., 2006 ; Cohen et al., 1987 ; Tymula et al., 2012 ), stressing the significance of examining both in clinical populations.

Tasks that probe decision-making under uncertainty without making this distinction, such as the IGT, may obscure abnormalities that are restricted to one type of uncertainty. Thus, the task allows evaluating risk and ambiguity attitudes in OCD and, independently, impairments in value-based decision formation processes (valuation and value-based choice).

Can indecisiveness be cured?

Indecisiveness has many causes. But you can get better at making decisions, big and small, with practice and time. Whether it’s a major decision, such as choosing a life partner, or a minor decision, such as what to eat for breakfast, being indecisive can significantly impact your life.

Difficulty in making decisions can be caused by several factors, such as a fear of failure and a lack of confidence or information. Indecisiveness can also be a symptom of mental health conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

If you experience indecisiveness and making decisions is a constant source of stress and anxiety, you’re not alone. There are effective methods that can help with decision making. There are many situations that may cause indecisiveness. Here are a few.

What personality type is indecisive?

4. We struggle with indecisiveness – Out of the IN personality types, INFPs and INTPs struggle the most with indecisiveness. These types can see endless possibilities, which makes it difficult for them to gain the closure they need to move forward. INPs may struggle to identify a strong sense of purpose and direction.

• They are aware of the many options available but lack confidence in their ability to choose the best option.
• This indecisive nature makes it difficult for INPs to transition their goals from concept to reality.
• When they do try to take action, IN types are often frustrated by the practical obstacles they face.

This can cause them to give up and withdraw into a world of isolation and autonomy. Since these types are so independent, this withdrawal feels natural and comfortable. Spending time alone with their thoughts, ideas, and imagination is a space many IN types would hide away in forever if it were an acceptable option.

However, if their discomfort with the practical realities of the outside world prevents them from taking actions that lead to growth, their knowledge and ideas are nothing more than just that — knowledge and ideas. Tip: Practice being assertive and vocalizing your opinions. Start by writing out why you feel strongly about something at work, school, or in your personal life that you’ve gotten pushback on recently.

Then ask a friend or loved one (preferably someone who is a different personality type) to listen to you explain it and provide feedback on your communication style. You may also consider practicing public speaking with a group like, The more confident you become in expressing your ideas, the more confident you can become in the idea itself.

Is being indecisive a red flag?

3. Decisions, decisions – If your date struggles to plan out what you’ll do together, consider if you’re willing to take the reins in a relationship. Clear indecisiveness is one of the red flags that your date battles low confidence. Although it may seem like someone who doesn’t voice their opinions is simply laid-back, they could actually lack self-assurance.

Are depressed people indecisive?

When we think of depression, we typically think of prolonged sadness, lethargy, disturbed sleep, and suicidal thoughts. However, depression has effects beyond your energy level and mood. One of these effects is that depressed people have a harder time making good decisions.

1. Interestingly, antidepressants don’t appear to improve decision making even when they improve mood.
2. Depression affects your decision making in several ways.
3. When we say depression leads to poorer decision, it means that the decisions lead to outcomes that have less positive impact on your life over the long run.

The first way depression leads to poor decisions is that depressed people tend to be more indecisive. They have more trouble making any decision at all. One reason for this indecisiveness may be an attempt to minimize regret later on. If someone makes an active decision that leads to a bad outcome, she tends to feel worse than if the decision had been out of her hands.

• Not only has something bad happened, but she is responsible for it happening.
• Delaying or refusing to make a decision is a way of accepting the default option, so even if turns out badly, at least you’re not responsible for it.
• This is connected to another feature of depressive thinking, pessimism.
• Depressed people are more likely to believe that a situation will turn out badly.

If they think an active decision will have a negative result, they are less likely to make it. This is compounded by the fact that depressed people, as part of their pessimistic thinking style, believe they have fewer resources to deal with problems and are also likely to have fewer resources to deal with problems in the future.

So, for example, if someone is depressed and is offered a promotion, she may be more likely to decline because she believes she will fail in the new position. This is often a distorted assessment, and taking the promotion will often be the better decision in the long run. A common feature of depressive decision making is risk aversion.

Studies have found that people with depression often make decisions specifically to avoid anxiety. People with depression often feel hopeless and as a result, don’t want to waste energy on plans they believe won’t work. This leads to less information gathering, less idea generation, and less thinking through options.

These tend to be labor intensive activities requiring mental energy and focus, which depressed people have in short supply. Because of this impaired decision making ability, therapists often recommend that patients not make major decisions during a depressive episode. Fortunately, studies have shown that using specific techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy can help even depressed people make better decisions, leading to better long-term outcomes.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or depression, we can help. Recovery Ways is a premier drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility located in Salt Lake City, Utah. We have the resources to effectively treat a dual diagnosis. Our mission is to provide the most cost-effective, accessible substance abuse treatment to as many people as possible.

What is ADHD shutdown?

Emotions and ADHD – Many people with ADHD experience emotions differently to others, with many reporting:

fast-building, high-intensity and short-lived emotions difficulties recognising emotions in themselves and others extremes of empathising completely with others or reacting without emotions to others experiencing many more emotions simultaneously than a typical person might

Experiencing multiple contradictory emotions at the same time can be difficult for people with and without ADHD to understand. For example, it is not uncommon for someone with ADHD to say they feel excited, happy, frustrated and nervous all at once in a situation where someone neurotypical is likely to only be experiencing one or two emotions.

1. Differences in emotions in people with ADHD can lead to ‘shutdowns’, where someone is so overwhelmed with emotions that they space out, may find it hard to speak or move and may struggle to articulate what they are feeling until they can process their emotions.
2. Similarly, people with ADHD can also experience ‘meltdowns’ more commonly than others, which is where emotions build up so extremely that someone acts out, often crying, angering, laughing, yelling and moving all at once, driven by many different emotions at once – this essentially resembles a child tantrum and can continue throughout adulthood.

Meltdowns can be an important way to self-regulate and can actually bring great lasting relief to adults afterwards. Differences in emotions as well as experiencing meltdowns and shutdowns are also common in, These differences in emotions are often referred to as ’emotional dysregulation’.

Am I too smart to have ADHD?

Some people with ADHD might have higher IQs. But assuming that there’s a correlation may be harmful because it can keep your child from getting the help they may need. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition that usually shows up in early childhood.

ADHD can pose many challenges in everyday activities. Many people have a hard time understanding why children with ADHD may excel in certain tasks while facing major challenges in others. For example, a parent might notice that their child is great at math but can’t remember to brush their teeth in the morning.

In other cases, parents or teachers might assume that a child with ADHD is less intelligent if their ADHD symptoms affect their school performance. The truth is, intelligence and ADHD don’t go hand in hand. ADHD is often diagnosed around the age of 7,

However, symptoms of the disorder are generally seen before the age of 12. ADHD is best known for causing hyperactive behavior and attention difficulties. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about 9% of U.S. children and 4% of adults have the disorder. Sometimes, symptoms that were present in childhood wane in adulthood, so many adults stop fitting the diagnostic criteria for the condition.

ADHD is also more prevalent in boys. Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD are:

impatienceconstant motiondifficulty sitting stillconstant talkingtrouble completing tasksinability to listen or follow directions when given instructionsboredom unless constantly entertainedinterrupting other conversationsdoing things without thinking (or on impulse)problems learning concepts and materials at school

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also classifies the disorder into three subtypes :

predominantly inattentive, where there are more symptoms of inattention exist than hyperactivitypredominantly hyperactive-impulsive combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive, the most common form of ADHD

To be diagnosed with ADHD, a child must exhibit six or more symptoms. Adults may only need to exhibit five or more symptoms for a diagnosis. There’s a common misconception that a person with ADHD automatically has a low IQ. Other people may believe that ADHD is always associated with high IQ.

But neither of these assumptions is true. Depending on the severity of symptoms, ADHD can affect a person’s ability to function at school and work. Everyday tasks can also be difficult. This can give the impression that a person has a lower IQ when it’s not the case. According to an older 2010 study, adults who had both high IQs and ADHD were found to have overall lower executive functioning compared to other participants who had high IQ but not ADHD.

Lower executive functioning means less control over things like paying attention and self-regulation. A range of verbal, memory, and problem-solving tests were used in the study. One problem with this study, however, is that there were no other control groups.

For instance, there were no ADHD-only or low-IQ groups for comparison. While ADHD may lower a person’s executive functioning, higher IQ may help to increase it. A 2016 study of adults with ADHD found that participants with higher IQ scores fared better on executive functioning tasks than those with lower IQ scores.

This could mean that ADHD symptoms look different when a person has a high IQ, which might make it harder to get an accurate diagnosis. A 2015 study suggested that ADHD symptoms may put adolescents at risk for lower IQ scores. The authors note that many children with ADHD symptoms have trouble with school tasks.

• Even though ADHD itself may not cause lower IQ scores, difficulties with learning at school may lead to lower IQ scores in some people with ADHD.
• In addition, some people with ADHD only seem to focus their attention on something they enjoy doing, while tasks that don’t feel fun or interesting are really hard to focus on.

In such cases, it’s not that IQ is low — it’s just that these individuals can only focus on things they care most about. The ADHD diagnostic process can also pose problems when determining whether a child is “smart” or not. There’s no one particular test that can accurately diagnose ADHD.

Instead, the process is based on long-term observations of possible symptoms. Some other conditions, such as autism or bipolar disorder, might also be mistaken for ADHD. The disorder may also be seen in some children who have learning disabilities since some people with ADHD have process difficulties.

Stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall, are the most common medications used to treat ADHD and are quite effective. A stimulant is helpful in some cases because it’s believed that increasing levels of chemicals in the brain helps to increase focus.

1. These drugs may reduce hyperactivity, too.
2. Some people may also experience less impulsivity.
3. Stimulants can make a huge difference for some children who experience school difficulties.
4. The IQs of those who can fully learn and take tests may increase because of their improved ability to focus on tasks involved in formal IQ testing.

As with other disorders, ADHD can’t properly predict IQ. Furthermore, “being smart” doesn’t always depend on a high IQ. The correlations between ADHD and IQ are based on stereotypes and misconceptions. There are dangers associated with both: One who assumes that someone with ADHD has a high IQ might not seek proper treatment.

What is masking ADHD?

Understanding ADHD Masking – Masking is when a person with ADHD acts in a “socially acceptable” way to fit in and form better connections with those around them. This usually involves camouflaging their symptoms by controlling their impulses, rehearsing responses, and copying the behaviors of those who don’t have ADHD. Keep in mind that masking does not mean you’re fake or ingenuine. It’s often a learned response based on what society views as “normal.” Many adults with ADHD mask their symptoms to prevent them from interfering with their relationships and social life.

Is indecisiveness part of BPD?

5. Being Indecisive – via lankogal If BPD makes you feel like you can’t make decisions effectively, you’re in good company. Maybe you’re worried you’ll make the “wrong” decision or are afraid of making a decision someone you look up to wouldn’t approve of. Whatever your underlying struggle for indecision is, we want you to know you’re not alone.

Is indecisiveness part of bipolar?

Some symptoms of bipolar disorder aren’t always discussed, like confusion and an inability to make decisions. – Recently, my husband and I visited our favorite uncle and aunt (his by blood, mine by love) for a long weekend. We see them more than any other family members, and always have a blast. They have been aware of my mental and physical health issues for some time, and it’s never been a concern—until this last, more extended, visit.

You see, a few months prior to our visit I got sick—more ill than I’ve been in a very long time. I found myself in a four-sided cage fight, thrown around by bipolar depression, extreme anxiety, hypomania and fibromyalgia. Against my highly skilled opponents, I was totally unprepared. Some changes in medication, more counseling, and my own coping skills helped me improve.

I’m better now, but still not totally well. During that particularly difficult period, I realized that I just wasn’t functioning. Weird things happened to me, such as getting lost in space and time at the local Walmart. I didn’t know whether I was waking in the morning or the evening.

1. I had to listen intently to everything for even the most basic understanding.
2. Oh, and the nightmares.
3. Back to that long weekend with our relatives.
4. My husband and I both were fully aware that I remained fragile, and that the disruption in my regular routine, not to mention high level of activity, could cause problems with stability,

Which is exactly what happened. Even though I stayed in control, and my husband helped me immensely, questions from my relatives arose: “Does she really need to sleep that much?” “Why can’t she keep the pace?” “Why does it take her so long to speak in between thoughts?” Eventually, an incident occurred that seemed to enlighten us all.

1. I’m okay, now, knowing that my loved ones may witness my occasional trip-ups or odd behavior.
2. My aunt served turkey chili for lunch.
3. She ladled some into a bowl for me, and asked, “Is that enough?” My brain could not process the question.
4. She said, “Do you want more?” I still couldn’t find an answer.
5. She asked, “Less?” And there I was, holding the bowl in both hands like Oliver Twist, only I was completely unable to say, “Please sir” At last, frustrated, my aunt said, “Beth, it’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question.

It’s not like it’s that hard.” Stung, I said, “This’ll do,” and walked away, still not knowing quite what happened, and wondering why a decision so simple was, really, like, so hard. Eventually, I was struck with an “Ahha!” moment. I am disabled. Sometimes I need help.

My inner cheerleader, kicking in, said, “Can’t you see that it’s okay? Don’t you know that enduring times of non-functioning doesn’t mean you’ve failed or given up? Hey, you’re still an important asset to many. You remain bright, capable, talented.” I imagined smacking myself on the forehead and declaring, “I coulda had a V8!” Reinvigorated, I spent the remainder of our weekend visit doing what served my wellness best.

I’m okay, now, knowing that my loved ones may witness my occasional trip-ups or odd behavior. I’m relieved that my husband understands more deeply, now, that I may need help once in a while. And I’m grateful that he’s more clear about how best to give me help while embracing the maxim, “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” I’ve accepted that I am disabled.

• But I am not defeated,
• I have applied for Social Security Disability Insurance to give me time to heal, to rest my mind and body, and to eventually redesign my life in a format that helps me realize some dreams and give me a renewed sense of control and hope.
• It felt good to apply for the insurance, but even better just knowing that it’s just fine to ponder for ten seconds “if I want fries with that.” The best I can do is keep plugging away as usual.

Even if that includes frustrating my husband to no end when it comes to deciding what I want for dinner. Printed as “Newbie Notes: Turkey Chili, More or Less?” Spring 2011

Is indecisiveness a symptom of PTSD?

Aboulomania, a Mental Disorder Characterized by Pathological Indecisiveness The mental disorder known as aboulomania, characterized by pathological indecisiveness, is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), widely used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental illnesses.

• However, it is frequently observed alongside other mental disorders.
• Aboulomania is linked to neurotic thinking or “neurosis,” which pertains to a mental disorder arising from previous anxiety.
• This case presentation is on a 40-year-old Caucasian male, with a past psychiatric history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moderate cannabis use disorder, with no known medical history, who was involuntarily admitted to the psychiatric ward.

Prolonged hospitalization of over two weeks was attributed to his severe and persistent indecisiveness, which hindered progress in discharge planning. In order to tackle this problem, the patient received encouragement from his treatment team to take small, concrete actions to deal with his indecisiveness.

• This case report emphasizes the significance of aboulomania in causing long-lasting indecisiveness and provides valuable insights on how to overcome this condition.
• Eywords: depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, neuroticism, aboulomania Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental illness affecting a significant portion of the adult population in the United States and Canada,

Lifetime prevalence rates range from 6.1% to 9.2%, while one-year prevalence rates fall between 3.5% and 4.7%, A recent study conducted in the United States with 5,692 participants revealed that 82.7% of them had experienced severe and traumatic events,

PTSD encompasses a wide range of symptoms that may occasionally overlap with diagnostic criteria for other mental health disorders. However, these symptoms must occur in the context of exposure to a potentially life-threatening event, The traumatic event itself must involve an actual or threatened life-threatening situation, severe injury, or sexual violence,

To meet the criteria defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), individuals must experience intrusive symptoms related to the event, engage in persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, and display negative alterations in cognition, mood, arousal, and reactivity for a minimum of one month,

Aboulomania, a mental disorder characterized by pathological indecisiveness, is not included in the DSM-5-TR. It is defined by an individual’s profound difficulty or inability to make choices in their daily life, This condition significantly impairs social functioning, making it challenging to maintain personal and familial relationships,

This case report aims to explore the nature of aboulomania and its connection to other mental illnesses. The term “aboulomania” was coined in 1883 by William Alexander Hammond, a military physician and neurologist. He described it as a form of insanity characterized by a lack of willpower, inertness, torpor, or paralysis of will,

In our everyday lives, we regularly make countless minor decisions. However, individuals with aboulomania experience severe indecisiveness that severely hampers their ability to function normally. This case report focuses on an individual diagnosed with aboulomania, an extreme indecisiveness disorder.

It sheds light on an alternative mental disorder that is not currently included in the DSM-5-TR. In addition, the report examines how aboulomania can manifest in conjunction with other mental illnesses listed in the DSM-5-TR. It also emphasizes the significant variation in symptomatology observed in PTSD and highlights the role of indecisiveness within this specific disorder.

1. Subjective The patient is a 40-year-old Caucasian male with a history of PTSD and cannabis use disorder.
2. He has no known medical history, is single, and does not have any children.
3. The patient presented for evaluation after his housing facility petitioned him, which led to a consultation with a psychiatrist.

Notably, the patient had a previous suicide attempt two years ago when he cut his wrists, resulting in loss of consciousness due to blood loss. The patient’s chief complaint was, “I do not know why I am here.” Throughout the interview, the patient displayed guarded and evasive behavior.

• He remained unclear about recent substance use and expressed fear of potential repercussions.
• When asked to rate his mental health on a scale from 1 to 10, he found it challenging to quantify.
• However, he acknowledged feeling irritable.
• The writer mentioned staff reports from the patient’s previous housing facility, including increased aggression, which upset and made him paranoid.

He vehemently denied these claims. The patient expressed frustration with staff when they attempted to assign him a room near the nursing station. He pondered the treatment options available during his stay and expressed a desire to make the most of his time there.

1. There was ongoing debate with the writer regarding the need for substance use treatment and his reluctance to consider it or explore other alternatives.
2. Despite contrary collateral information, he adamantly denied substance use.
3. The patient shared that he has spent the past two years alone at home, lacking interest in many activities and struggling to form close relationships.

For the psychiatric review of systems, the patient experienced hypervigilance and exhibited startle responses, but he denied experiencing flashbacks or nightmares. He reported intrusive thoughts and frequently avoided leaving his house. There was no current indication of suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, or self-injurious behavior, and he denied paranoia, preoccupations, and auditory or visual hallucinations.

He stated that his appetite is normal and his sleep is “okay.” He described his mood as “okay” but was unsure about his level of anxiety. He denied any symptoms of mania. Objective On mental examination, the patient appeared to be his stated age. He has short hair and a tall, thin body habitus. The patient spoke in a low volume with a normal rhythm, but his tone was monotonous.

He exhibited spontaneous speech and was fluent in English. The patient’s behavior was evasive, guarded, anxious, odd, and bizarre. The patient described his mood as “okay.”The patient displayed a flat affect with a limited range. The patient’s thought process was circumstantial but coherent.

The patient engaged in debates about the type of treatment he wants and whether or not he believes he needs it. The patient’s associations were intact. There were no indications of delusions, preoccupations, or paranoid thinking. The patient denied experiencing auditory or visual hallucinations, as well as any thoughts of self-harm, harm to others, or suicidal ideation.

The patient appeared suspicious when questioned. The patient’s judgment and insight were poor, as demonstrated by previous suicide attempts and substance use. He expressed significant ambivalence regarding treatment options and strongly denied any drug use.

1. The patient was awake, alert, and oriented to person, place, and time.
2. The patient’s memory appeared intact for the purposes of the conversation.
3. The patient’s fund of knowledge was average.
4. The patient’s blood pressure was 130/77 mmHg, and his pulse was 62 beats/min; he was afebrile and had a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/ min.

The patient’s labs were non-contributory, except low vitamin D25 levels, His urine drug screen (UDS) was negative, and his ethanol level was below 10. The patient denied using tobacco, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) assessment yielded negative results.

• He also denied recent use of cannabis or any other illicit drugs, and the UDS conducted in the emergency department was negative.
• The patient had a chronic back pain condition that was post-back surgery.
• The patient denied having any family history of mental illness or suicide.
• The patient had previously undergone medication trials with sertraline (unknown dose or duration) for mood, clonazepam (unknown dose or duration)​​​​​​ for anxiety​, and quetiapine (unknown dose or duration) for sleep and mood.

Currently, he is not taking any psychiatric medications and does not have regular outpatient follow-up. He expressed hesitancy about starting any medications during his inpatient stay, displaying paranoia about our intentions and stating that he does not believe he requires medication.

The patient is single and does not have any children. He is currently unemployed and has no legal issues. He denied experiencing any psychological or childhood trauma. In 2006, he enlisted in the army and was involved in combats. He witnessed the death of his friend in front of him. He denied any family history of psychiatric illnesses.

Assessment The patient is a 40-year-old Caucasian male with a history of PTSD and cannabis use disorder. He has no known medical history, is single, and does not have any children. The patient presented for an evaluation after being petitioned. He was exhibiting symptoms of worsening anxiety associated with PTSD.

He was psychiatrically decompensated and met the 401 criteria for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Plan The patient was involuntarily committed due to suicidal ideations, worsening mood lability, and impulsivity. He was started on mirtazapine 7.5 mg nightly for mood improvement. Risk factors and symptoms of aboulomania Aboulomania is associated with specific parental styles, particularly among individuals who are biologically predisposed to the disorder,

Overprotective or authoritarian parenting styles, as well as excessive involvement or intrusive behaviors from the primary caregiver, can foster dependence in the child, These types of parental behaviors create uncertainty and doubt in children, which can impede their ability to function independently as adults and lead them to feel incapable of living autonomously,

1. Furthermore, many individuals with aboulomania have experienced social humiliation or bullying during their developmental years,
2. Anxiety and depression are also closely associated with aboulomania,
3. Aboulomania is associated with several symptoms that can indicate its presence,
4. These symptoms include experiencing high levels of uncertainty and anxiety, feeling anticipatory anxiety when faced with decision-making tasks that often result in mental blocks, avoiding personal responsibility by evading decision-making altogether, engaging in lengthy decision-making processes, struggling to function independently or make decisions without relying heavily on the support of others, and engaging in excessive analysis of situations.

These symptoms collectively illustrate the challenges and patterns commonly observed in individuals affected by aboulomania. Examples of symptoms stated by this patient are as follows: “At times, it is challenging to make decisions because I feel like I have limited information.

It’s similar to going to a National Park and trying to choose a hiking trail, but you only have a small amount of information about each trail.” “I constantly feel the need for more information before making decisions.” Normal indecisiveness versus pathological indecisiveness To what extent will people go to avoid making decisions? And when does it become pathological? In his book “The Paradox of Choice” published in 2005, Barry Schwartz explored the notion that having more options does not necessarily lead to better decision-making; in fact, it can often make decisions more challenging.

According to Schwartz et al., an abundance of choices can create a psychological barrier that demotivates individuals, This is supported by the choice overload hypothesis, which suggests that while having choices initially seems desirable, beyond a certain threshold, it becomes overwhelming and leads to decreased motivation or a desire to do everything,

When accompanied by excessive anxiety, depression, or neuroticism, this phenomenon becomes pathological, Excessive anxiety can contribute to indecisiveness, and the opposite is also likely. Research indicates that individuals with high levels of neuroticism tend to score higher on tests assessing indecisiveness,

It is normal to experience a certain level of indecisiveness in our everyday lives. However, when symptoms become clinically significant and cause distress and impairment in a person’s functioning, they can be considered a part of a mental disorder, The development of aboulomania likely involves a combination of environmental factors experienced during development and biological factors,

• Prominent symptoms associated with anxiety and mood disorders are often observed in aboulomania.
• The causes of aboulomania are likely multifactorial and can involve brain circuitry, personality, psychosocial stressors, trauma, and/or poor coping skills.
• Associations with neuroanatomy The decision-making process involves communication between the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus,

The prefrontal cortex has the capacity to hold multiple pieces of information simultaneously, However, this ability can sometimes overwhelm individuals when faced with decisions, regardless of their significance. They may excessively analyze each situation, experiencing paralysis by analysis and generating concerns about potential negative outcomes.

This obsession with information scarcity, difficulty in assessing value, and uncertainty of outcomes can be prominent in individuals with aboulomania, The prefrontal cortex is directly implicated in aboulomania, Research has shown that individuals with damage to their prefrontal cortex exhibit poor decision-making abilities,

It is speculated that individuals with aboulomania have irregular functioning in their prefrontal cortex, leading to an obsession with overanalysis and uncertainties about decision outcomes, Diagnosis and treatment of abulomania Motivational interviewing, reflective listening, goal setting, and exploration are crucial therapeutic approaches for aboulomania.

• The main objective is to evoke and strengthen the individual’s motivations for change, while therapists respond with empathic understanding rather than confronting the lack of change.
• Psychotherapy serves as the primary treatment method for aboulomania, aiming to enhance individuals’ activity and independence.

Through therapy, troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are identified and specifically addressed. The treatment approach involves a combination of medications and therapy to target underlying symptoms. In order to diagnose aboulomania, mental health professionals need to first eliminate any organic factors that may be causing the symptoms because there are no specific laboratory tests available for this purpose,

However, psychiatrists have a range of assessment tools that they can utilize to evaluate aboulomania, These tools include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory – Fourth Edition (MCMI-IV), Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Test, and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).

Psychotherapy is the preferred treatment method for aboulomania to address symptoms that may resemble those of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, or depression, It is important to take small, tangible steps and help patients make choices without overwhelming them, a concept known as choice closure and acceptance.

1. In the present case report, the patient initially hesitated to express his desire to engage and struggled to identify actionable steps toward his treatment goals.
2. He used uncertainty about his admission as a way to avoid exploring and refining his statements.
3. Through the use of reflective listening and concrete goal setting, the patient was able to make tangible choices without feeling overwhelmed.

PTSD In the United States, the estimated lifetime risk of developing PTSD by the age of 75 is 8.7%, The diagnosis of PTSD requires meeting specific criteria, which include (a) experiencing or being threatened with death, serious injury, or sexual violence; (b) the presence of intrusive symptoms related to the traumatic event; (c) persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma; (d) negative changes in thoughts and mood; and (e) significant alterations in arousal and reactivity,

The above is not all encompassing and does not include specifiers or the breakdown of symptoms within each criteron. The likelihood of developing PTSD following a similar level of trauma varies among different cultural groups, such as those with fatalistic or self-blaming beliefs, Symptoms typically appear within the first three months after the traumatic event, but they can also be delayed for years before meeting the diagnostic criteria, known as delayed expression,

Risk Factors for PTSD The risk factors for PTSD can be divided into three categories: pre-traumatic, peri-traumatic, and post-traumatic factors. Pre-traumatic factors include childhood emotional problems and prior trauma experiences, More pre-traumatic risk factors include lower socioeconomic status and previous exposure to trauma,

Furthermore, biologic and genetic factors play a role, such as being a female and having a strong family history, During the traumatic event itself, known as peri-traumatic factors, various elements can impact the subsequent psychological response. Environmental factors, such as the severity of the trauma, perceived life threat, personal injury, military service, witnessing atrocities, or being involved in combat situations, significantly influence the psychological aftermath,

Post-traumatic factors can be subdivided into temperamental and environmental risk factors. Temperamental factors include poor coping mechanisms and negative appraisals of the traumatic experience, Negative appraisals involve avoiding reminders of the traumatic experience,

In addition, environmental factors, such as repeated exposure to distressing reminders or frequent adverse life events after the trauma, contribute to the persistence of trauma-related symptoms, Understanding these pre-traumatic, peri-traumatic, and post-traumatic factors is crucial for mental health professionals when assessing and treating individuals who have experienced trauma.

By recognizing and addressing these factors, tailored interventions and support can be provided, Treatment of PTSD Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is widely recognized as the most effective treatment for PTSD. In CBT, the focus is on addressing the traumatic events themselves and recognizing how cognitive distortions lead to the patient’s behavior.

• The goal of this therapy is to modify these negative associations and change perceptions,
• There are four FDA-approved medications for PTSD, which include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
• These medications include sertraline, paxil, fluoxetine, and Effexor.

Other mental illnesses associated with aboulomania Aboulomania has been found to be associated with other mental illnesses, such as depression and OCD, There is a significant overlap between aboulomania and OCD. Despite the overlap of symptoms among other mental illnesses, aboulomania is not recognized as a specific disorder in the DSM-5-TR.

• This highlights the limitations of the DSM-5-TR as a comprehensive diagnostic tool and emphasizes the need for additional information beyond its guidelines.
• Specifically, individuals with PTSD often experience symptoms of depression or anxiety, which are closely linked to aboulomania.
• Review of the current literature Further exploration is necessary due to the limited research conducted in this area.

There was some research completed by Frost and Shows, which explains that indecisiveness appears to be a symptom of OCD. Pathological indecisiveness appears to be correlated with dimensions of perfectionism and with compulsive hoarding, In addition, indecisiveness appears to be associated in a variety of life domains (social, academic, family, and daily life),

Moreover, OCD appears to coincide with pathological indecisiveness and intolerance of uncertainty, Individuals with OCD show elevated intolerance of uncertainty, but only when outcome probabilities are themselves uncertain, Future research focused on how aboulomania is associated with mental illnesses as a symptom needs to be further explored.

Another study examined how PTSD itself can cause indecisiveness, especially in acute situations. It appears that individuals experiencing PTSD symptoms reported high levels of acute stress when faced with high acuity situations, Acute stress in these studies was associated with performance deficits on complex cognitive tasks, verbal memory impairment, and heightened assessment of risk,

This case report focuses on a male patient with aboulomania, an uncommon mental illness that is not included in the DSM-5-TR. The authors aim to shed light on the association between aboulomania and other medical conditions. In addition, this report highlights the distinction between aboulomania and PTSD, emphasizing the need for clinicians to consider both conditions in their treatment and diagnostic decisions.

Furthermore, the case report raises awareness about the limitations of the DSM-5-TR and emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open-minded approach when treating mental illnesses. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study 1.

1. An overview of neurotic behavior and neurosis.,2022.2.
2. The epidemiology of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III.
3. Goldstein RB, Smith SM, Chou SP, et al.
4. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol.2016; 51 :1137–1148.3.

Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Merikangas KR, Walters EE. Arch Gen Psychiatry.2005; 62 :617–627.4. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the primary care medical setting.

• Stein MB, McQuaid JR, Pedrelli P, Lenox R, McCahill ME.
• Gen Hosp Psychiatry.2000; 22 :261–269.5.
• Michael BF, Philip W. Vol.5.
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• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) pp.265–279.6.
• Aboulomania.,2018.7.

Summerscale K. New York, USA: Penguin Random House; 2022. The Book of Phobias and Manias.8. Indecisive meaning and tips to improve decision-making. Medigoo Inc. Archived from the original on 21 March.,9. Aboulomanía: symptoms, causes and treatment.,10. Pysch disorders and phenomena.

The Mind Project.,2016.11. Aboulomania: when indecision becomes pathological. Medigoo Inc. Archived from the original on 21 March.,2006.12. Health Jade Team (2020-08-31. Aboulomania. Aboulomania.,2020.13. The paradox of choice,,14. Neuroticism is a fundamental domain of personality with enormous public health implications.

Widiger TA, Oltmanns JR. World Psychiatry.2017; 16 :144–145.15. Multiple time-scales of decision-making in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Tang W, Shin JD, Jadhav SP. Elife.2021; 10 16. The nature and measurement of compulsive indecisiveness. Frost Frost, Shows Shows.

Behav Res Ther.1993; 31 :683–692.17. Decision-making under uncertainty in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Pushkarskaya H, Tolin D, Ruderman L, Kirshenbaum A, Kelly JM, Pittenger C, Levy I. J Psychiatr Res.2015; 69 :166–173.18. PTSD, acute stress, performance and decision-making in emergency service workers.

Why You Can’t Make Decisions (Overcoming Indecisiveness)

Regehr C, LeBlanc VR. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law.2017; 45 :184–192. : Aboulomania, a Mental Disorder Characterized by Pathological Indecisiveness

Is OCD just overthinking?

Behaviors – Behavioral patterns in anxiety vs OCD are markedly different in a few important ways. While anxiety disorders are typically characterized by excessive worry, OCD is marked by unwanted thoughts that lead to compulsive mental or physical reactions.

A person with an anxiety disorder will experience excessive worry, but not engage in compulsive behavior to reduce their anxiety. A person with OCD, however, will use repetitive, typically unhelpful behaviors to try and thwart the obsessive thought they have. They usually, but not always, know they’re acting in an irrational manner.

What is the hardest OCD?

Presentation – Primarily obsessional OCD has been called “one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD.” People with this form of OCD have “distressing and unwanted thoughts pop into head frequently,” and the thoughts “typically center on a fear that you may do something totally uncharacteristic of yourself, something.

Potentially fatal. to yourself or others.” The thoughts “quite likely, are of an aggressive or sexual nature.” The nature and type of primarily obsessional OCD vary greatly, but the central theme for all affected is the emergence of a disturbing, intrusive thought or question, an unwanted/inappropriate mental image, or a frightening impulse that causes the person extreme anxiety because it is antithetical to closely held religious beliefs, morals, or societal norms.

The fears associated with primarily obsessional OCD tend to be far more personal and terrifying for the affected individual than the fears of someone with traditional OCD. Pure-O fears usually focus on self-devastating scenarios that they feel would ruin their life or the lives of those around them.

An example of this difference could be that someone with traditional OCD is overly concerned or worried about security or cleanliness, whereas someone with Pure-O may be terrified that they have undergone a radical change in their sexuality (e.g., might be or might have changed into a pedophile), that they might be a murderer, or that they might cause any form of harm to a loved one or an innocent person or to themselves, or that they will go insane.

They will understand that these fears are unlikely or even impossible but the anxiety felt will make the obsession seem real and meaningful. While those without primarily obsessional OCD might instinctively respond to bizarre, intrusive thoughts or impulses as insignificant and part of a normal variance in the human mind, someone with Pure-O will respond with profound alarm followed by an intense attempt to neutralize the thought or avoid having the thought again.

The person begins to ask themselves constantly, “Am I really capable of something like that?” or “Could that really happen?” or “Is that really me?” (even though they usually realize that their fear is irrational, which causes them further distress) and puts tremendous effort into escaping or resolving the unwanted thought.

They then end up in a vicious cycle of mentally searching for reassurance and trying to get a definitive answer. Common intrusive thoughts/obsessions include themes of:

• Responsibility : with an excessive concern over someone’s well-being marked specifically by guilt over believing they have harmed or might harm someone, either on purpose or inadvertently.
• Sexuality : including recurrent doubt over one’s sexual orientation (also called HOCD or ” homosexual OCD”). People with this theme typically display symptoms different from those of people experiencing an actual crisis in sexuality. One major difference is that people who have HOCD report being attracted sexually towards the opposite sex prior to the onset of HOCD, while homosexual people whether in the closet or repressed have always had such same-sex attractions. The question “Am I gay?” takes on a pathological form. Many people with this type of obsession are in healthy and fulfilling romantic relationships, either with members of the opposite sex, or the same sex (in which case their fear would be “Am I straight?”).
• Pedophilia : Sexual themes in OCD can also involve the fear that one is a pedophile. This is typically accompanied by significant distress and fear that one might actually act on pedophilic urges.
• Violence : which involves a constant fear of harming oneself or loved ones.
• Religiosity : manifesting as intrusive thoughts or impulses revolving around blasphemous and sacrilegious themes.
• Health : including consistent fears of having or contracting a disease (different from hypochondriasis ) through seemingly impossible means (for example, touching an object that has just been touched by someone with a disease) or mistrust of a diagnostic test.
• Relationship obsessions (ROCD) : in which someone in a romantic relationship endlessly tries to ascertain the justification for being or remaining in that relationship. It includes obsessive thoughts such as “How do I know this is real love?”, “How do I know he/she is the one ?”, “Am I attracted enough to this person?”, “Am I in love with this person, or is it just lust?”, “Does he/she really love me?”, and/or obsessive preoccupation with the perceived flaws of the intimate partner. The agony of attempting to arrive at certainty leads to an intense and endless cycle of anxiety because it is impossible to arrive at a definite answer. The partner will have seriously troubling thoughts about what their significant other could be doing, especially in the possible and usual form of cheating. Although these thoughts are not triggered by the affected individual, and are indeed spontaneous, the partner will denigrate themselves for thinking in such a way that makes the other look bad. There is uncontrollable constant guilt, fear, and distressing thoughts of what will happen.
• Existential : involving persistent and obsessive questioning of the nature of self, reality, the universe, and/or other philosophical topics.

What is decidophobia?

What is Decidophobia? – Decidophobia is defined as the “irrational fear of making decisions.” In its most extreme form, those who have this fear may experience full blown panic attacks when even thinking about having to make a decision. Panic attacks cause your heart rate and breathing to speed up, blood pressure to rise, sweating, muscle tension and trembling.

Is indecisiveness a toxic trait?

In conclusion, indecision is a deadly trait for leaders because it can have negative consequences for both the leader and their team. Lead From Within: By eliminating indecisiveness, leaders can become more effective, successful, and inspiring, and they can drive positive change and success in their organizations.

Does ADHD make it hard to make decisions?

ADHD and “analysis paralysis” By Expert reviewed by

It’s common for people with ADHD to have trouble making decisions. Making decisions is a process that requires a handful of skills. People with ADHD usually struggle with those skills.

Many people have a hard time making decisions. This can happen for different reasons. Some people may be anxious about making the wrong choice and have “analysis paralysis.” But people with ADHD can have an especially tough time weighing options and choosing.

Getting the process going (initiating the task)Paying attention to the informationRemembering details so you can compareSeeing different possibilitiesKnowing what each option entailsThinking about the consequences of the decision

These abilities are part of executive function, a group of skills that people with ADHD struggle with. Anxiety can also be a factor in indecision. ADHD and anxiety often co-occur. Gail Belsky is executive editor at Understood. She has written and edited for major media outlets, specializing in parenting, health, and career content.

Why is my brain so indecisive?

So, why can’t we make a decision? – “It’s an adaptive strategy,” explains Joseph Ferrari, PhD, DePaul University psychology professor. But it’s a strategy that, ultimately, isn’t very helpful. So where exactly does indecision come from? Well, most research hasn’t pinpointed a reason for indecisiveness, so it’s kinda murky.

• That said, Dr.
• Ferrari pointed me to a study that he carried out in 1994, which suggested that in a small sample of college women, indecisiveness was associated with having an authoritarian father.
• You know, the type to say things like, “As long as you live under my roof, you’ll do what I say.”) The theory here is that children who grow up in this environment might learn that their choices can get them in trouble, so delaying the decision altogether may seem safer.

This was starting to sound familiar. Of course, this is just one study of 84 college women, so the way you were brought up isn’t exactly the be-all and end-all of indecisiveness. Indecision has also been linked to higher levels of neuroticism (which is when someone tends to feel more anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and just general negativity).

1. People who view the world in this way tend to experience negative emotions in a wide range of situations, including decision making.
2. And one way they can cope with that is by avoiding or delaying making decisions altogether.
3. Research also links both neuroticism and indecisiveness with anxiety, whichtracks.

When we’re anxious and filled with self-doubt, it tends to be pretty impossible to make a decision. Refusing to make decisions also helps indecisive people avoid responsibility or blame. Say you go to the movies with friends and let someone else choose what to watch, Dr.

• Ferrari says.
• If the movie is a flop, you don’t have to deal with questions like, “Why’d you choose that?” because you’re not the one who picked it. As Dr.
• Ferrari explained this, I was instantly brought back to every group chat message I had fired off asking for opinions on an outfit before a date.
• Every time I got a new job offer and would repeatedly ask my mom to just tell me whether I should take it or not.

Every time I had, in fact, gone to the movies and said I was good with whatever because it was easier than picking something someone didn’t like and feeling uncomfortable that they were having a bad time. The fear of making the wrong choice also weighs heavy on indecisive people.

• Interestingly, research suggests that when indecisive people are forced to make a decision, they tend to look at a much more limited amount of information, Dr.
• Ferrari says.
• For instance, an indecisive person shopping for a car might willfully choose to not do much research so they aren’t drowning in options.

“That sounds like the indecisive was being very strategic and didn’t overload themselves,” Dr. Ferrari says, adding, “Butthey didn’t make an informed decision. They made an easier decision.” When an indecisive person does slow down to process, that’s usually when an endless spiral of research and decisional procrastination comes in.

1. I can’t count how many times the latter scenario has happened to me.
2. And apart from the obvious loss of time, it usually leads to consequences worse than what they would have been if I’d just chosen faster—even if choosing quickly had meant not picking the absolutely perfect option.
3. Just last week, while planning a vacation, I ended up paying way more than I should have for train tickets because I took weeks to decide on a time slot, and by the time I got around to actually booking, prices had more than doubled.

Unfortunately, losing money is just one of many negative effects indecision can have. Psychologists Martin Seif, PhD, and Sally Winston, PsyD, explain in their Overcoming Anticipatory Anxiety book that chronic indecisiveness can cause people to miss out on major life events—like if your indecision makes you chronically late or if you just can’t settle on the perfect home.

Which personality is indecisive?

Dr.A.J. Drenth A hallmark feature of being an NP type (i.e., INFP, INTP, ENFP, ENTP ) is struggling with doubt and indecision. Doubt can pervade and disrupt any aspect of their lives, be it their careers, relationships, worldview, or identity. For some NPs, this propensity can be debilitating, engendering a sense of aimlessness, paralysis, or even nihilism.

• Since intuitive types are less common and less conventional than their sensing counterparts, NPs often feel they have something unique and important to contribute to the world.
• However, their doubting nature may disrupt even their most earnest attempts to galvanize their identity and purpose.
• While NPs may enjoy zeniths of enthusiasm—feeling they’ve finally found THE solution—it is usually only a matter of time before they start questioning again and uncertainty regains the upper hand.

This can be a frustrating and discouraging rollercoaster ride for NPs, since it feels like whatever they start will eventually be erased by tidal waves of doubt. For many NPs, doubt goes hand-in-hand with being a seeker. The cycle goes something like this: It’s not that NPs don’t enjoy functioning as seekers. In fact, most prefer to engage with the world in an open-ended, explorational fashion. However, NPs also feel that their explorations should ultimately lead somewhere or produce something tangible. In the parlance of type, this can be understood as the P seeker pursuing a sense of completeness in the form of a J solution / destination, or as the intuitive type striving to materialize (S) her N vision.

Is being indecisive overthinking?

Indecision If you find yourself overthinking decisions to the point of feeling distress; feeling paralyzed and unable to move forward; analyzing options to the point of confusion; procrastination; perfectionism; or second-guessing yourself or feeling extreme regret when you do make decisions, you may have issues with indecision.

Overthinking, rumination, or racing thoughtsProcrastinationPerfectionism or anxietyConfusionRegret or shame

The amazing lesbian girls warmed up during fitness training istr fitness and sportsmen for villages in italy – classifieds benevento

Overthinking, rumination, or racing thoughtsProcrastinationPerfectionismWorry or anxietyConfusionRegret or shame

Indecision is something almost everyone has experienced at one time or another. It is estimated that approximately 20% of people say they are habitually indecisive. Extreme indecision is closely related with rumination and procrastination, which also affect nearly everyone at times.

People of all backgrounds can experience habitual indecision. Both men and women, and people of any age or demographic background may struggle with indecision. Most people who struggle with habitual indecision want to make decisions quickly and easily and they know that over-evaluating options isn’t helpful, but they get caught up in their own rumination and anticipated regret in a way that feels beyond their control.

Struggling to make decisions does not mean you are an inherently indecisive person; it simply means you are caught up in a lot of thinking. Indecision can lead to anxiety, worry, regret, and procrastination, and is sometimes related to a general tendency to overthink things and perfectionism. If people seek treatment, it’s typically for issues related to indecision like anxiety, rumination, or low mood related to regret and inaction. Traditional treatment most often includes cognitive therapy and in some cases, medication; however, traditional treatment for these issues is not nearly as effective as we’d wish it to be.

There is no clear or simple answer as to why people are indecisive. Thankfully, there are newer, less traditional approaches that are incredibly effective. The No-Willpower Approach that I outline in my bestselling book, The Little Book of Big Change: The No-Willpower Approach to Breaking Any Habit has helped countless people find lasting freedom from overthinking and indecision.

The No-Willpower Approach is an insight-based approach that helps you see yourself and your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a radically new way. By seeing how your mind works and what indecision is, you can more easily move forward even when your mind is overthinking your options.

Although many people struggle with this habit, indecision is very changeable. You do not need to “cope” with, or “manage” indecision long-term and you are not an inherently indecisive person. No matter how long or how often you’ve had trouble taking action and making decisions, there is enormous hope for complete freedom from this habit.

Indecision appears to be about making decisions on the surface, but it’s truly about a few simple misunderstandings about how our thoughts, feelings, and habits work. Freedom comes from the inside-out, from seeing yourself, your thoughts and feelings, and what indecision is in a brand new way. I struggled with anxiety, overthinking, and other habits for several years. I was told by many well-meaning professionals that I would likely struggle with this forever; that I could learn to cope, but that this habit might always come back when I was feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

• Thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth today.
• I have been completely free of my over-ing habits and anxiety for 10 years with no effort or coping necessary.
• In that time, I’ve shared what helped me find freedom with people all over the world in my books, videos, online school, and my podcast, Changeable.

I’ve trained over 70 coaches to be experts in the no-willpower paradigm through my Change Coach Training Program. I’ve been a regularly featured expert on The Steve Harvey Show and Oprah.com, as well as in The Wall Street Journal and Self magazine. Collen “Before Amy and The Little School of Big Change, I struggled with excessive worrying, overthinking, extreme indecision, and being overly self-critical. I love that there are no techniques, rules, or steps in Amy’s work. Just rediscovering that I am normal and healthy. Dror “After having a complicated eye surgery, I found myself emotionally binge eating to distract myself through the healing. I was gaining a lot of weight and feeling miserable. A friend recommended The Little School of Big Change to me and it helped me drop habits I had been trying to break for years. Tammy “For almost 40 years, my struggle with food was constant. I thought about food most of the time. I would eat until I was in pain, and this made no sense to me. I felt so helpless. This went on for years. I would regularly give up, and just give in. I was skeptical when I found Amy’s program, but I figured I had nothing to lose because nothing else was working anyway.

1. Working with Dr.
2. Amy and The Little School of Big Change has given me total freedom and relief.
3. I no longer have obsessive thoughts about food or eating and I am no longer searching for “what is wrong with me”, or for a solution.
4. I am super healthy, and at a weight I want to be.
5. I feel 100% confident that it is permanent! I completed the program a couple of years ago, and have never had a relapse into my old way of being.

Thank you Amy!” What Can I Do To Change My Indecision Habit?

Presents a new paradigm for freedom from insecurity and indecision Shares why willpower rarely leads to lasting change 90 minutes long

Come to see any habit in a completely new way

Digital course – go at your own paceThis is a perfect course for those struggling with any habitLearn the brain-based reason we have habits, and how they are illustrations of our innate wisdomMore than an hour of video content

Dr. Amy’s flagship course – spend 6 weeks with Dr. Amy19 video lessons that bring this paradigm to life12 Group Calls with Dr. Amy and her coaches24/7 Private Forum to have all your questions answered as you go through the course1000s of students have found freedom from habits including indecision

My bestselling book, The Little Book of Big Change, and my online school, The Little School of Big Change, have helped tens of thousands of people in 50+ countries find their own freedom from binge eating and other habits without therapy, revisiting the past, medication, or willpower.The Little School of Big Change is a highly supportive 6-week course that shares a groundbreaking new paradigm in mental health that has helped hundreds of thousands of people around the world to tap into their natural health and resilience.The school helps you see yourself and your psychology in a radically new way—a way that leads to freedom from what holds you back.

: Indecision

What is the personality of an indecisive person?

What are the characteristics of a decisive person? – Here are a few signs that you’re working with someone who is decisive:

They make decisions more quickly and don’t seem to stress over them. They’re confident making decisions. They tend to be more comfortable with risk, especially if it’s an informed risk. They can be resistant to change once they’ve made a decision