Obsessive Love Disorder: Signs, Causes, and Treatments

When your love turns into addiction, it is called obsessive love disorder. It isn’t a good sign for a relationship as it paves the way for insecurity and vulnerability. In addition, an obsessive person can shrink the personal space of their partner. In this article, we explain obsessive love disorder in detail. Continue reading to know more.

What Is Obsessive Love Disorder?

Obsessive love disorder (OLD) is an overwhelming desire to be loved or protect a loved one. People with this condition possess overrides companionship and trust. It is similar to an addiction that slowly takes over one’s life and goes from butterflies in the tummy to extreme jealousy and controlling behavior. A person experiencing OLD seeks excessive contact and affirmations from the person they are obsessed with. It affects a person’s work, family life, and physical and mental state.

Difference Between Healthy And Obsessive Love

Obsessive love involves persistent thoughts and the need to spend every moment with the love concern. A healthy love relationship evolves with time without any desperate intensity and fervor of infatuation. It includes friendship, trust, commitment, and respect for the other person’s time, space, and individuality.

However, OLD often nurtures possessiveness and devastating suffocation. A person with OLD wants to be the utmost priority in the other’s life – the feeling of infatuation becomes extreme and unhealthy. A healthy love relationship is based on understanding your partner’s personality and ways of life. Doubting their faithfulness and obsessing over every move is a symptom of OLD.

Want to know if you or your partner is suffering from obsessive love disorder? Look out for the signs mentioned below.

Signs Of Obsessive Love Disorder

Other common symptoms of OLD include:

  • Inability to take rejection
  • Threat to cause self-harm
  • Difficulty in keeping jobs, maintaining family ties, and following hobbies
  • Attachment disorder
  • Being in love with an imaginary person
  • Borderline OCD or personality disorder

The following section explains what leads to obsessive love and the treatments available. Take a look.

What Does Treatment For Obsessive Love Disorder Looks Like?

Based on the severity of the disorder, the doctor may prescribe psychotherapy or medication.

Note: Medication is the only recommended option if the patient is exhibiting extreme violence or suicidal tendencies.

  • Cutting all contact with the person one is obsessed with.
  • Keeping the patient occupied with hobbies and other activities that provide a distraction from intrusive thoughts.
  • Teaching them ways to be mindful of their obsessive actions.
  • Increasing their self-confidence through new hobbies and interests.
  • Counseling sessions to help them open up about their fears and anxieties.
  • Teaching them methods and strategies to cope with anxiety and obsessive tendencies.
  • Practicing meditation to calm the mind.

How Can Obsessive Love Disorder Affect Your Life?

OLD can disrupt not just one’s love life but also affect their other relations or professional life. Unattended OLD only grows with time and can cause major havoc to one’s personality, interests, work, and physical and mental health. It causes the inability to see anything good in any relationship. Such behavior is likely to make people move away from you, and in turn, can lead to loneliness, depression, and lower self-esteem. Thus, it is important to recognize, accept, and treat the problem early to lead a healthy life, whether romantic or otherwise.

Summing It Up

Obsessive love disorder is not a life-long condition. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment can minimize or eradicate the adverse effects of this mental condition. If your partner shows any of the above signs, take them to a professional. If left untreated, such psychological illnesses can become a physical and mental threat to the affected person and the people around them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you get a diagnosis for obsessive love disorder?

Diagnosis of OLD involves a series of interviews, questionnaires, and tests regarding childhood, past life, and the present scenario. They are also given hypothetical scenarios and asked how they would react to the same.

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