Love is a powerful emotion. When you first fall in love, you may feel euphoric and like nothing can bring you down. Over time, this high can slowly fade, although your feelings of love may deepen and take on a mellower vibe. Obsession is another story. It is an intense infatuation with another person that can lead to extreme behaviors that are unhealthy and potentially dangerous. A bipolar disorder program may be just what you need to help you regulate obsessive, out-of-control emotions.
Bayview Recovery has bipolar disorder treatment programs to guide you back toward emotional balance so you can develop healthy, happy relationships. Call us today at 855.478.3650 to learn how we can help you overcome obsession.
What Is Obsession?
Obsession is defined as a continual preoccupation with something or someone. You have probably heard people say they are obsessed with particular television shows, shoes, or sports. In these cases, obsession is an exaggeration and simply means they love those things and enjoy watching, talking about, or collecting them.
An obsession goes beyond mere enjoyment of something. You can have an obsession with many different things, such as video games, eating, the news, or losing weight. When referring to obsession with someone, also known as obsessive love disorder, obsession involves an unhealthy infatuation with another person that interferes with your overall well-being.
What Are the Signs of Obsession?
Most people are familiar with the heady feeling of developing an attraction to someone and falling head over heels for them. In the beginning, you are more likely to think about them often and view them as the perfect person for you, free of the flaws of your exes. This is perfectly normal and is part of what drives people to find a romantic partner.
However, this is only temporary, referred to as the honeymoon phase. As time goes on, you discover that the person you fell in love with is a real human being with their own problems and flaws, but you continue to love them anyway.
How can you tell if you are feeling love or obsession with someone? The following are some typical signs of obsession:
- Thinking about the other person most of the time
- Stalking the other person online or following them around
- Forging relationships with everyone close to them, such as friends and family, to have a part in all of their interpersonal interactions
- Trying to reduce the other person’s contact with anyone but you, especially members of the opposite gender
- Needing to know where the other person is at all times
Although a little jealousy can be normal, a person obsessed with someone else exhibits extreme jealousy at the slightest hint of a threat. Obsession involves a strong need to control another person, treating them more like a possession than a partner.
Am I Obsessed with Another Person?
When you cannot get someone off of your mind, it could simply be a strong attraction. On the other hand, you could be dealing with an unhealthy obsession. Answer the following questions to help you know if you are obsessed with someone:
- Am I obsessed with where the person is and who they talk to?
- Do I get upset when they participate in hobbies or activities without me?
- Do I assume they are cheating on me whenever they speak to someone of the opposite gender?
- Am I constantly asking them to prove their love to me?
Healthy relationships require trust. Therefore, if you try to control the other person or accuse them of infidelity without justification, you can quickly push them away. The obsession will eventually destroy your relationship.
Get Over Unhealthy Obsession with Someone at Bayview Recovery
At Bayview Recovery, we realize how obsession can spiral out of control and rob you of the chance to have healthy relationships. Call us today at the 855.478.3650 to enroll in our bipolar disorder program so you can learn how to enjoy a calmer, more peaceful life and happier relationships.
