An obsessed man is someone who is consumed by an idea, thought, or desire that takes over their life. Obsession causes a person to fixate on something to the point where it interferes with their ability to function normally. Obsessions can range from harmless to dangerous depending on what the object of obsession is. Some signs of obsession include constantly thinking about the target of obsession, devoting excessive time and energy towards it, neglecting other aspects of life, and engaging in compulsive behaviors related to the obsession.
What are some common obsessions?
Some of the more common obsessions include:
Romantic Obsession
This is when someone becomes overly infatuated with a person, whether it’s a crush, partner, or ex-partner. They may stalk them, constantly contact them, or engage in other unwanted behaviors out of a desire to be with that person. This obsession can lead to risky actions like harassment or violence in extreme cases.
Celebrity Obsession
Being overly obsessed with a celebrity to the point where someone dedicates all their time, money and energy to knowing everything about that person. They may collect merchandise, photos, news articles, attend events, etc. This obsession can disrupt work, finances, and relationships.
Technology Obsession
An obsession with technology like video games, social media, or gadgets can lead to addiction. People may play games or scroll feeds constantly at the expense of sleep, work, hygiene, and social connections. It becomes the main priority over all else.
Cleanliness Obsession
Obsessive compulsive disorder can manifest as an unhealthy fixation with cleanliness and germs. Excessive time is spent cleaning, washing hands, or avoiding contamination to the point of anxiety and dysfunction. It goes beyond normal hygienic care.
Cosmetic Obsession
An obsession with appearance and attractiveness can lead to disorders like body dysmorphia. Despite looking normal or even attractive, the obsessed person fixates on imagined or exaggerated flaws. Dangerous habits like eating disorders, over-exercising, or unnecessary cosmetic surgeries may develop.
Hoarding
Compulsive hoarding is characterized by the inability to get rid of possessions due to an obsession with saving items and severe anxiety parting with them. The hoarding leads to clutter so severe it limits normal use of living spaces. Refusing to let go leads to distress.
What causes obsession?
There are several potential causes behind unhealthy obsessions:
Mental health conditions
Disorders like OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), addiction, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder can manifest through obsessions. The disorders lead to unbalanced thought patterns, compulsions, or chemical dependency.
Trauma
Past trauma or abuse can sometimes lead to post-traumatic stress responses like fixation or repetition compulsion where someone obsessively recreates situations related to their trauma. It can be a maladaptive coping mechanism.
Biology
Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin or dopamine in the brain may contribute to obsessive thinking and compulsive behavior patterns. Genetics may also play a role in predisposing someone.
Unmet needs
Obsessions may develop when certain core needs are chronically unmet, like the need for safety, esteem, control, or social connection. The obsession becomes a way to compensate or cope with emotional voids.
Personality
Obsessive personality types tend to have traits like perfectionism, inflexibility, meticulousness, and fear of being unable to control events. These can feed obsessive thoughts and patterns.
Environment
influences like high stress, instability during childhood, or exposure to trauma and violence can make someone more prone to unhealthy obsessions by altering brain chemistry and psychology.
What are signs of obsession?
Some common signs that someone is dealing with an unhealthy obsession include:
- Frequently thinking about the subject of obsession
- Feeling the need to engage in obsessive thoughts or behaviors
- Spending excessive time, energy, and resources into a specific interest
- Strong emotions like anxiety if unable to indulge the obsession
- Inability to control or stop obsessive thoughts or actions
- Obsession is causing impairment in work or home life
- Cutting off previously enjoyable activities to pursue obsession
- Social isolation and withdrawal to focus on obsession
- Neglecting hygiene, relationships, or health because of obsession
- Obsession is leading to danger or risk-taking
Even harmless hobbies can become obsessions if they significantly disrupt someone’s daily functioning and ability to keep up with responsibilities. The key signs are when the obsession starts causing more harm than joy.
What areas of life can obsession impact?
Obsessions can start to negatively impact various areas of a person’s life including:
Mental health
Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors can lead to increased anxiety, stress, and even depression in some cases. There may also be shame or embarrassment about the obsession.
Physical health
Lack of sleep, poor hygiene, isolation, neglecting medical needs, and risky behaviors engaged in due to the obsession can harm physical well-being.
Finances
Obsessions like gambling, shopping, substance abuse, or lavish hobbies can wreck havoc on someone’s finances leading to debt, bankruptcy, and poverty.
Work and academics
Job loss, dropping out of school, missing deadlines, poor performance, and conflict with coworkers or teachers can occur if obsession distracts from responsibilities.
Social life
Withdrawal from friends and family in order to devote time to the obsession can lead to loneliness, relationship conflict, and social isolation.
Family
Spouses and children can suffer from neglect, dysfunctional habits, or financial instability caused by a loved one’s obsession. There is risk of separation or divorce.
Legal Issues
Obsessions like stalking, harassment, substance abuse, gambling, or theft can lead to arrests, lawsuits, and criminal charges if taken to illegal extremes.
Dangerous behavior
Some obsessions increase the risk of self-harm, violence towards others, daredevil stunts, unprotected sex, or other reckless acts someone may engage in compulsively.
What are examples of obsessive or compulsive behaviors?
Some specific obsessive and compulsive behaviors linked to different fixations include:
Hoarding
Collecting, accumulating, and refusing to discard large numbers of objects, papers, food, or other physical things, leading to clutter.
Checking
Excessively checking locks, switches, appliances, paperwork, or memories over and over to be sure nothing is wrong.
Washing/cleaning
Scrubbing, cleaning, disinfecting, or washing hands, surfaces, clothes, or other objects excessively out of a fear of germs.
Ordering/arranging
Needing things in a certain order and arranging or rearranging objects compulsively until it feels right.
Repeating actions
Doing the same action over and over again, like rewriting, rereading, or rechecking things compulsively.
Self-grooming
Excessive time grooming hair, skin, nails, or other body parts, like picking at real or imagined imperfections.
Seeking reassurance
Constantly requiring reassurance from others that nothing bad will happen or that certain things are okay.
Rituals
Feeling the need to perform rituals like counting, tapping, repeating phrases, or engaging in superstitious acts.
Skin picking
Excoriation disorder causes obsessively picking at skin imperfections like scabs until severe skin damage results.
When does an obsession require professional help?
While people may have harmless quirky interests, obsessive and compulsive patterns often require professional treatment when they:
– Cause significant distress
– Interfere with work, relationships or life
– Pose harm or danger to oneself or others
– Feel uncontrollable despite negative consequences
– Come with depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide
– Last over 6 months
– Worsen over time without treatment
Seeking help from a doctor, therapist, or support group can help manage unhealthy obsessions through medication, CBT, support systems, or other interventions.
What are some examples of harmless hobbies versus dangerous obsessions?
| Harmless Hobby | Unhealthy Obsession |
|---|---|
|
– Playing video games an hour a day |
– Playing video games all day and night, failing school |
The main differentiation is when the interest starts significantly disrupting important areas of life.
What treatments are available for obsession?
Some treatments that can help manage obsessive thoughts and behaviors include:
Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify unhealthy thought and behavior patterns around obsessions and develop healthier coping strategies.
Medication
SSRIs like Prozac, Luvox, Paxil, or Zoloft can help regulate serotonin. Anti-anxiety meds, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics may also be prescribed.
Support groups
Joining a support group helps obsessive individuals feel less alone, get encouragement, and learn from sharing strategies.
Brain stimulation therapy
rTMS therapy uses magnetic pulses to activate underactive parts of the brain linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Holistic approaches
Meditation, yoga, art therapy, hypnotherapy, or acupuncture may complement other treatments by reducing anxiety.
Lifestyle changes
Getting enough sleep, more exercise, a healthy diet, and minimized stress can help manage obsessive thoughts and urges.
With professional help, most individuals struggling with disabling obsessions can find relief through some combination of lifestyle changes, therapy, medication, or other treatments.
What are some tips for coping with obsession?
Some helpful tips for someone struggling with obsession include:
– Seek professional help from a therapist, counselor, or doctor
– Identify triggers for obsessive thoughts and limit exposure to them
– Find social support like joining a support group or talking to loved ones
– Engage in healthy distractions like reading, exercising, socializing
– Practice relaxation techniques to calm anxiety like deep breathing, yoga
– Use cognitive behavioral exercises to combat obsessive thoughts
– Make lifestyle changes to reduce stress and promote healthy coping
– Stick to any prescribed treatment plans such as medication or therapy
– Be patient with setbacks and remember recovery is an ongoing process
– Seek hospitalization if suicidal thoughts or self-harm occur
Learning to manage obsession takes time but gaining coping skills and a support system can help. Seeking guidance from a professional is key for improving quality of life.
Conclusion
Obsession is a complex condition that can severely impact a person’s life and health when left untreated. The cause, symptoms, and treatments can vary widely depending on the individual. With compassionate support and evidence-based care, even the most disabling obsessions can be overcome. The first step is acknowledging when an interest has crossed into unhealthy territory by noticing the level of disruption and distress it is causing. Seeking help then allows customized treatment to help individuals regain balance, control, and a sense of normalcy in life. Consistent care combined with lifestyle changes can help manage obsessions successfully over the long-term.