You usually want what's best for someone you love, right? You want them to live a fulfilling life full of achievement and happiness. The desire to see your loved one prosper changes when you have obsessive love disorder; it becomes a focus on guarding them or even dominating them. Sometimes the feeling of love develops into an obsession, and you begin to think of the person you love more as an item you own than as a free human being. Although there is not a recognized diagnosis of obsessive love disorder, its signs could have a negative effect on your relationships.
About Obsessive Love Disorder (OLD)
Amelia Alvin, a psychiatrist at the Mango Clinic in Florida, says that obsessive love disorder describes a situation where a person becomes overly devoted to someone they are in love with.
According to her, those who suffer from obsessive love disorder go above and beyond in terms of being protective of the one they care about. Relationships can become dysfunctional as a result.
When you get fixated on someone you believe to be your lover, you have obsessive love disorder. It might involve regulating them out of an overzealous sense of protection for that individual. It could entail directing them to specific locations, activities, foods, etc.
When someone asks for space, you must respect their decision and show them, real love. But in obsessive love disorder, you do not respect the personal space of your partner. Your love for someone turns into an unhealthy obsession when you disregard their boundaries.
Symptoms of Obsessive Love Disorder
Obsessional love disorder has the following symptoms:
- Beliefs of possession
- Low self-esteem
- A need for constant contact (such as repeated phone calls and messages)
- Feelings of intense jealousy
- Controlling behavior
- Skepticism about the relationship
- Extreme emotional outbursts
- Hypersensitivity
- Disregarding loved ones' personal boundaries
- The need for constant approval
If you think you or your partner has been suffering from these signs and symptoms, then this is the right time to consult a psychologist.
Causes of Obsessive Love Disorder
OLD has several causes, not just one. Instead, it might be connected to different kinds of mental health issues, like:
1- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Self-image distortion and significant mood fluctuations are the prominent features of this mental health condition.
- You may go from being extremely angry to incredibly joyful within a matter of minutes or hours if you have a borderline personality disorder.
- Additionally, anxious and depressive periods also happen.
- Personality disorders can lead to abrupt changes in how much a person is loved or despised, which is relevant when discussing obsessive love disorder.
2- Attachment Disorders
- Individuals with emotional attachment problems, such as a lack of empathy or an infatuation with another person, are referred to as having one of the disorders in this category.
- Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) are two types of attachment disorders that can occur in children and are brought on by adversity with parents or other adult carers.
- In DSED, you might be excessively amiable and neglect to use caution when interacting with others. You might experience stress and have trouble interacting with people if you have RAD.
- So people with attachment disorders show a great risk of developing OLD once they are attached to someone.
3- Erotomania
- If you have erotomania, you may think that a famous person or someone with a better social status is in love with you.
- Erotomania could also result in the other person being harassed, for as by showing up at their house or place of employment.
- These irrational thoughts can make you obsessed with that person and that's why it is discussed as a comorbid disorder with OLD.
- People with erotomania frequently live alone, have few acquaintances, and may even be unemployed, according to Comprehensive Psychiatry.
4- Delusional Jealousy
- This condition manifests as persistence on things that have been demonstrated to be erroneous and are based on delusions (events or facts you think to be true).
- When it comes to obsessive love, delusional jealousy might make you think the other person feels the same way about you even though they have made it plain this is not the case.
5- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- OCD is a mental illness characterized by compulsive rituals and intrusive thoughts. Your daily life will be affected if these are bad enough.
- Your relationships may suffer if you have OCD because you may require continual reassurance.
- OCD becomes a risk factor for OLD when obsessions and compulsions are focused on a particular relationship.
Treatments for Obsessive Love Disorder
Your unique set of circumstances, including underlying mental health issues, will determine the therapy strategy that is most effective for you.
A mental health professional can be of assistance if you believe that your feelings for a loved one are controlling your everyday life or if someone has expressed great concern about your devotion. Discuss the ideal course of action with a mental health expert based on your particular circumstances.
They might recommend any of the following:
- Psychotherapy, including talk therapy and behavioral treatment
- Treatments such as family counseling and couples therapy
- Medication, such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics
To treat obsessive love disorder, a combination of therapies might help you more effectively.
Bottom Line
It's not necessary to be intentionally hurtful or to have strong feelings against someone you care about. A lot of other mental health issues coexist with obsessive love disorder too. You may be suffering from a mental health issue that manifests in other parts of your life or you may have endured past trauma.
Relationships may be severely strained by obsessive-compulsive disorder. Even if this is not what you intend, it can make your loved one feel rejected or coerced. With the assistance of qualified therapy, you may control the symptoms and thoughts of obsessive love disorder. For this, we would suggest you book a meeting with a psychologist in Lahore right now.
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