Dear Dr. Archer,
I just finished reading your book, 'Better Than Normal', and I enjoyed it very much. I saw it in the list for the Amazon Vine program and selected it to review. You can see my review on the Amazon website; it was very positive.
I also noticed that you went to Tulane University. I received my Master's in engineering from Tulane. I'm a Cajun from Lafayette, but I lived in New Orleans when I was a teenager.
I was wondering about something. Is it possible to really have all eight traits? I have all eight, I guess, even though Shy slid in just under 5. My scores are:
Perfection 8.3
Anxious 6.6
Dramatic 6.5
Self Focus 6.1
Magical 6.1
Adventure 5.3
High Energy 5.3
Shy 4.7
Does this happen often? Should I be concerned? I'm having quite a middle age crisis, I guess. I've been treated with medication for depression a few times, and the first time I was put on meds I received counseling, too.
Currently I am on a low dose of Luvox for depression and OCD, which has helped.
I liked what you had to say about over-diagnosing and over-medicating. The ADD and now Autism rates seem highly suspect. Thank you for your attention.
Chuck
Dear Chuck,
No, you don't need to be concerned at all. Everyone displays all eight of these traits on the continuum, just at different levels. In your case the perfectionism is your highest score and this means it would have the most effect on your life and this probably is why you're on Luvox, a med for OCD.
The dominant range for any given trait is 5 – 8, so while you do have 7 traits over 5 they are at the lower end of the dominanat range. Even so, you are what I call a high traited individual, with many valuable characteristics.
As you may recall from the book, there is no good or bad related to any given dominant trait. It’s all about self understanding and making these traits work for you. So, you have a lot to choose from.
Bottom line, no worries! From one Tulane alum to another, it sounds like you're doing great, making the most of your traits and dealing with the occaisional life problem that we all face from time to time.
By the way, you have chosen an excellent career -- engineering -- for a perfectionist.
Dr. Archer
