What Are Obsessions in Mental Health?

Obsessions are a common problem in mental health, affect many people, and are closely related to compulsions.

Obsessions are a key symptom across Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Hoarding Disorder and Trichotillomania among others.

But what does an obsession involve, how can you spot them, and what sort of impact do they have? In this article, we delve into this subject.

Definition

To begin with, an obsession is defined as:

An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, doubt, image or urge that repeatedly enters a person’s mind. As a result, the person experiences anxiety or general unease. Examples include fear of contamination, and a need to organise items symmetrically.

Essentially, an obsession is a thought, and compulsions are the subsequent behaviours or actions. This is why these two areas are closely linked.

The word “obsession” actually comes from the Latin word “obsidere” – which translates into “to besiege”. Therefore, this gives you an idea of how difficult living with obsessions can be.

Taken over by negative thoughts

As discussed above, someone with obsessions may see their life taken over by these thoughts. Their life will often change markedly.

Obsessions often involve persistent and uncontrollable thoughts. However, impulses, fears, doubts and even images can be an obsession.

The key difference between a worry and an obsession is that the obsession is always unwanted, disturbs the individual and interferes with a person’s functioning in daily life.

Sometimes, a person with an obsession will go to significant lengths to block such thoughts. But as many people know, these are just short-term blocks – the thoughts don’t tend to go away.

In extreme cases, the line between what is an obsessive thought and what is reality can become blurred. This can cause many problems.

What are some common obsessions?

Obsessions form a very broad range of possibilities. However, common obsessions include:

• Contamination or harm from germs
• Contamination or harm from dangerous materials
• Discomfort at lack of symmetry or organisation
• Constant worries
• Needing constant reassurance from those around you
• Uncomfortable sexual thoughts
• Thoughts of violence, angry outbursts or aggression
• Excessive attention on parts of the body (especially seen in Body Dysmorphic Disorder)
• Wanting to hoard possessions (seen in Hoarding Disorder)
• Wanting to pull out hair (seen in Trichotillomania)
• Wanting to pick at own skin (seen in cases of Excoriation Disorder)

As mentioned above, this is not an exhaustive list. There are many other possible obsessions.

Consequence of obsessions

When a person encounters difficult obsessions, the only way of relieving the built-up anxiety brought on by the obsession is to perform a compulsion.

Obsessions can last for hours, days, or even weeks. A person will feel an incredible amount of anxiety build up, and the only way to stop this is to engage in a compulsive behaviour.

But when a person does engage in a compulsion, it only provides them with short-term relief. Then before long, an obsession starts, resulting in the cycle repeating.

Many people find that a form of talking therapy is helpful in treatment. There are many different types of talking therapy.

Talking therapy provides a chance for a therapist and patient to work towards improvements in the patient’s day-to-day life, and try and work through potential causes of the condition.

In some cases, medication is prescribed. This is often the case when an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder is co-existing alongside a condition like Depression or Anxiety.

Summary

Obsessions can take a significant toll on a person. They are difficult to live with, and have a marked impact on someone’s physical and mental health.

Treatment for obsessions is possible. It is crucial to seek treatment for obsessions as soon as possible, as the symptoms and underlying causes can be treated.

See Also

• Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Homepage
• Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum: Everything You Need To Know
• 10 Tips Living for With Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
• What Are Compulsions in Mental Health?