Things the Mechanics Manual Doesn't Tell You

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Maybe BillyMac has it also.

Not Asperger Syndrome, but a more subtle, far less serious problem, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Actually led to a medical leave of absence and my premature retirement from teaching. I couldn't sleep at night. My psychiatrist (no couch sessions, just medication checks) now keeps me on the straight and narrow with a steady diet of Xanax and Luvox.

Back about fifteen years ago, before I started seeing a doctor, being properly diagnosed, and figuring out the proper regime of medications, my biggest problem in officiating basketball was not being able to get past mistakes I made during a game.

If I screwed up a call early in the game, I would continually go over the situation in my head for the rest of the game. Why did I screw up? Did I really screw up? What could I have done to prevent the screwup? Obviously, this distracted me for the rest of game, effecting my play calling due to a lack of concentrating on the present, while I was concentrating on the past, certainly not a good recipe for success in officiating basketball.

Now, with my medications, I'm able to move on from my mistakes. It's improved my self confidence. Yes, I self criticize, it's the only way to improve, but not during the game, only afterward, and then I don't beat myself up, unless I really deserve it.

And, no, I don't keep washing my hands all the time.