How To Stop Being An Obsessive Person

We all know people who think too much. They do so to such an extent that it gets them into trouble in carrying out their daily activities. We’re talking about people who think about the same subject over and over again. This makes them feel nervous, extremely worried and stressed. If this becomes a habit, then such a person is obsessive.

In this article, we will talk about obsessive people who are trapped in these kinds of vicious circles. We’re also going to look at some recent theories on this.

Why do people become obsessive?

The theories aimed at explanation from the cognitive perspective claim that it concerns shortcomings during the processing of data. These kinds of shortcomings collectively play one of the most important roles in the development of obsessions. They also play an important role in the maintenance of this type of disorder (Veck, Emery, and Greenberg, 1985). The interest in the cognitive aspect of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder  (OCD, better known as OCD) is recent. Only a few studies have been conducted regarding the processing of emotional information in obsessive people.

Recent studies show that an obsessive person has difficulty with tasks where one has to identify deviations. They also show a strong cognitive bias (Steketee, Frost, Rhéaume, and Wilhelm, 2001). Research into the processing of relevant emotional information also reveals something interesting. For example, it is quite possible that an obsessive person is simply more sensitive to stimuli related to their fears.

Vicious circle

Obsessive people enter a vicious circle when their emotional responses to thoughts and imagined scenarios are similar to their responses to real stimuli. Obsessions are described as recurring and persistent thoughts, images, or impulses. At a certain point, these become intrusive and take on inappropriate forms. In the long run, this in turn causes anxiety and stress.

The thoughts, impulses or images cannot simply be seen as undue worry about life problems. It goes much further than that. The person tries to ignore all of the above — or try to neutralize them through other thoughts or certain actions.

The purpose of these actions or behaviors is to prevent or reduce the discomfort an obsessive person feels at a negative event. Nevertheless, these behaviors or mental acts are not always realistically related to what they are trying to neutralize. Sometimes they also seem blatantly excessive.

Types of obsessions

The American Psychological Association (APA) has included obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the last two editions of the DSM (IV and V). This is because of how severely debilitating this condition is and its high incidence these past few years.

Those who have this condition feel like prisoners of this. In the most extreme cases, an obsessive person repeats a specific action without actually being able to control it. And that while the action stems from a craving for control. These people are also more likely to develop depression or other psychological disorders. Think of hypochondria or phobias. This is a direct result of the anxiety that an obsessive person continuously experiences.

Subtypes of OCD

According to experts, OCD can be classified under different subtypes. These are the most common:

• Hygiene obsessions .
• Double check. People experience uncertainty and a constant urge to check everything around the household several times.
• order. The aim is to achieve symmetry and precision.

The fear of the 21st century

There are other kinds of obsessions. Some are typical of modern society, such as social network compulsions. Its development has made them a new source of obsession. People repeat the same thoughts and compulsions here, just as they do with ‘traditional’ obsessions.

The same thinking and behavior patterns are also repeated in romantic obsessions. What makes this different from the other obsessions, however, is that in this case, someone wants to control another (rather than an object). In some cases  , an irresistible desire to be with someone else becomes an obsession. This desire then becomes so strong that it is mistaken for love.

This kind of obsession causes compulsive behavior with the goal of getting what the person wants. That is, a relationship with the other. Often, however, the opposite happens. The one you want so badly is driven away by the obsessive behavior.

Treatment to stop being obsessive

Eliminating treatment or obsessions is based on changing erroneous beliefs. It revolves around the beliefs about what the person in question is afraid of. The ultimate goal of this is to reduce this fear caused by  thoughts .

At the same time, this type of treatment also aims  to destroy compulsions. These contribute to the maintenance of beliefs about responsibility (Salkovskis, Richards, and Forrester, 2001). So the central idea of ​​this cognitive therapy is that the basis of the behavior lies in emotional reactions. Behaviors are also shaped and heavily influenced by cognition (‘thinking’ in general) and perceptions.

The main purpose of this behavioral approach is to encourage  the development of specific behavioral patterns in an obsessive person. This can cause changes in how the patient sees himself and the world around him or her. Therefore, it is important to emphasize change within the mental processes and habitual behaviors of the person.

Bibliography

Beck, AT, Emery, G., y Greenberg, RL (1985). Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A Cognitive Perspective. Basico, New York .

Casado Martin, Y. (2008). Emotional Processing in People with Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomology.

Salkovskis, PM, Wroe, AL, Gledhill, A., Morrison, N., Forrester, E., Richards, C., & Thorpe, S. (2000). Responsibility Attitudes and Interpretations are Characteristic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Study on Behavior and Therapy ,  38  (4), 347-372.

Steketee, G., Frost, RO, Rhéaume, J., & Wilhelm, S. (2001). Theory and Practice of Cognitive Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Obsessive Disorders.

Vallejo Pareja, M. Á. (2001). Effective Psychological Treatments for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Psicothema ,  13 (3).