Why do I get obsessive?

They can be triggered by a personal crisis, abuse, or something negative that affects you a lot, like the death of a loved one. It's more likely if people in your family have OCD or another mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. OCD symptoms include obsessions, compulsions, or both.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com


What causes obsession with a person?

A person's ability to form healthful attachments with others begins early in childhood. People whose parents or caregivers were unstable or abusive may develop abnormal patterns of attachment. This can cause them to become obsessive, controlling, or fearful in their relationships.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com


Why do I get obsessed so easily?

People who overthink things regularly, psychologists believe, are often those who may have larger self-esteem or acceptance issues, Dr. Winsberg explains. If you're constantly overthinking (more on that later), however, it may be a symptom of clinical anxiety and depression or even obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on goodhousekeeping.com


How can I stop being obsessive?

9 Ways to Stop Obsessing or Ruminating
  1. Decide what you are ruminating about. ...
  2. Examine your thinking process. ...
  3. Allow yourself time to ruminate. ...
  4. Use a journal. ...
  5. Write down pleasant thoughts. ...
  6. Use behavioral techniques to help stop ruminating. ...
  7. Focus on the lesson learned. ...
  8. Talk about your worries with a trusted friend or relative.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthcentral.com


What is obsessive thinking a symptom of?

OCD is a common, long-lasting disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that can lead people to engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Although everyone worries or feels the need to double-check things on occasion, the symptoms associated with OCD are severe and persistent.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nimh.nih.gov


Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)



Is Obsession a mental illness?

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to do something over and over again (compulsions). Some people can have both obsessions and compulsions.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com


Does anxiety cause obsessive thoughts?

Obsessive thoughts – defined as persistent thoughts that are difficult to remove – are common in many anxiety disorders. The irony is that the anxiety caused by the thoughts themselves often lead to more of these same thoughts.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on calmclinic.com


What are the types of obsession?

We propose that obsessions are categorized into two subtypes, i.e. autogenous obsessions and reactive obsessions, which are different in terms of identifiability of their evoking stimuli, subjective experiences, contents, and subsequent cognitive processes.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


What is an example of an obsession?

Common obsessions include fears about contamination, worries about having left appliances on or doors unlocked, fear of acting in shameful or humiliating ways, discomfort about things being out of order, extreme concerns about superstitions such as unlucky numbers or colors, and excessive worries about keeping objects ...
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on everydayhealth.com


Is it normal to get obsessed with things?

Obsessive thinking or obsessions are a symptom of OCD. They're thoughts, fantasies, or urges that are typically unwanted and highly distressing. These are commonly accompanied by compulsive rituals that aim to decrease the distress obsessions may cause.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on psychcentral.com


What mental illness makes you obsessed with someone?

What is obsessive love disorder? “Obsessive love disorder” (OLD) refers to a condition where you become obsessed with one person you think you may be in love with. You might feel the need to protect your loved one obsessively, or even become controlling of them as if they were a possession.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


How does an obsessed person behave?

Obsessively talking about their loved object. Making repeated calls, texts, and/or faxes to the love object. Unwanted intensive attention to the love object. A tendency to have extremely good or bad (not balanced) feelings about someone.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicinenet.com


Does obsession go away?

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms generally wax and wane over time. Because of this, many individuals diagnosed with OCD may suspect that their OCD comes and goes or even goes away—only to return. However, as mentioned above, obsessive-compulsive traits never truly go away. Instead, they require ongoing management.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pchtreatment.com


Why do I repeat things over and over?

Repeating phrases, words, or noises that you hear others say is the main symptom of echolalia. It can also cause anxiety, irritability, or frustration while talking to someone.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com


What are the 7 types of OCD?

Common Types of OCD
  • Aggressive or sexual thoughts. ...
  • Harm to loved ones. ...
  • Germs and contamination. ...
  • Doubt and incompleteness. ...
  • Sin, religion, and morality. ...
  • Order and symmetry. ...
  • Self-control.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on brightquest.com


What are the stages of obsession?

The "Obsessive Love Wheel"
  • Phase one: Attraction phase.
  • Phase two: Anxious phase.
  • Phase three: Obsessive phase.
  • Phase four: Destructive phase.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en-academic.com


When does an obsession become unhealthy?

There is a very fine line between attraction and obsession. And when your obsession forces you to divert all your energies on them, that's when it starts to become unhealthy. You'll think about them all the time and this will restrict you from doing regular activities because they become your world!
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on timesofindia.indiatimes.com


What are 5 OCD symptoms?

Obsession symptoms
  • Fear of contamination or dirt.
  • Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty.
  • Needing things orderly and symmetrical.
  • Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others.
  • Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


Is obsession a symptom of bipolar?

Obsessive thinking is a fairly common but rarely discussed symptom of bipolar. We look at ways you can take charge when intrusive thoughts take hold. Getting something stuck in your head—the catchy chorus of a song, a gruesome image from the news—can be annoying for anyone.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bphope.com


Are obsessive thoughts part of depression?

Repetitive intrusive thoughts

Repetitive thoughts are the major causes of mental depression. People who suffer from depression often get stuck with a single or even several of intrusive thoughts that arise frequently.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on news-medical.net


What are obsessive tendencies?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on psychiatry.org


How do I break my OCD cycle?

How can you break the cycle of obsessive thinking?
  1. Distract yourself: Try distracting yourself by breaking the thought cycle: ...
  2. Enhance your self-esteem: Negative thoughts about yourself can lead to depressive thinking. ...
  3. Understand your triggers: When you start to have harmful thoughts, make a mental note of the situation.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicinenet.com


Are obsessions healthy?

But obsession is a powerful and potentially positive mental state. An obsession, by definition, is something that excessively preoccupies the mind. As a mental health professional, would I recommend that a person become obsessed? Absolutely, if that obsession is an obsession to improve.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on forbes.com


What are the five types of OCD?

5 Common Types of OCD
  1. Organization. Possibly the most recognizable form of OCD, this type involves obsessions about things being in precisely the right place or symmetrical. ...
  2. Contamination. Contamination OCD revolves around two general ideas. ...
  3. Intrusive Thoughts. ...
  4. Ruminations. ...
  5. Checking.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on stlukeshealth.org


What is obsessive fixation?

Common obsessions are: A strong fixation with dirt or germs. Repeated doubts (for example, about having turned off the stove) A need to have things in a very specific order. Thoughts about violence or hurting someone.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hopkinsmedicine.org
Previous question
Can you replace an IUD the same day?