What mental illness causes infatuation?

healthline.com - Obsessive Love Disorder: Symptoms, What It is, Causes, and More

What makes a relationship unhealthy?

Lying, cheating, jealousy, and disrespect are signs of an unhealthy relationship. So is trying to control a partner. That includes: keeping track...

Last updated Feb 8, 2020

What is God's desire for all men?

God's desire is that man yield completely to Him and cooperate wholeheartedly with Him for the highest of all beings and of the universe. Also, it...

Last updated Apr 25, 2021

Promotion

What is obsessive love disorder? “Obsessive love disorder” (OLD) refers to a condition where you become obsessed with one person you think you may be in love with. You might feel the need to protect your loved one obsessively, or even become controlling of them as if they were a possession. While no separate medical or psychological classification exists for OLD, it can often accompany other types of mental health illnesses. Talk to your doctor if you think you or a loved one may have the disorder. Treatment can help decrease the symptoms while also preventing complications with relationships. What are the symptoms of obsessive love disorder? Symptoms of OLD may include: an overwhelming attraction to one person

obsessive thoughts about the person

feeling the need to “protect” the person you’re in love with

possessive thoughts and actions

extreme jealousy over other interpersonal interactions

low self-esteem People who have OLD may also not take rejection easily. In some cases, the symptoms could worsen at the end of a relationship or if the other person rejects you. There are other signs of this disorder, such as: repeated texts, emails, and phone calls to the person they’re interested in

a constant need for reassurance

difficulty having friendships or maintaining contact with family members because of the obsession over one person

monitoring the actions of the other person

controlling where the other person goes and the activities they engage in

What causes a person to develop obsessive love disorder? There’s no one single cause of OLD. Instead, it may be linked to other types of mental health disabilities such as: Attachment disorders This group of disorders refers to people who have emotional attachment issues, such as a lack of empathy or an obsession with another person. Types of attachment disorders include disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) and reactive attachment disorder (RAD), and they both develop during childhood from negative experiences with parents or other adult caregivers. In DSED, you might be overly friendly and not take precautions around strangers. With RAD, you may feel stressed and have problems getting along with others. Borderline personality disorder This mental health disorder is characterized by a disturbance with self-image coupled with severe mood swings. Borderline personality disorder can cause you to be extremely angry to extremely happy within a matter of minutes or hours. Anxious and depressive episodes also occur. When considering obsessive love disorder, personality disorders can cause switches between extreme love for a person to extreme disdain. Delusional jealousy Based on delusions (events or facts you believe to be true), this disorder is exhibited by an insistence on things that are already proven false. When it comes to obsessive love, delusional jealousy can cause you to believe the other person has reciprocated their feelings for you, even if they’ve made it clear this is indeed not true. According to a 2005 study , delusional jealousy may be linked to alcoholism in men. Erotomania This disorder is an intersection between delusional and obsessive love disorders. With erotomania, you believe that someone famous or of a higher social status is in love with you. This can lead to harassment of the other person, such as showing up at their home or workplace. According to Comprehensive Psychiatry, people with erotomania are often isolated with few friends, and they may even be unemployed. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a combination of obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals. These are severe enough to interfere with your everyday life. OCD can also cause you to need constant reassurance, which can affect your relationships. Some people are said to have relationship OCD, where obsessions and compulsions are centered around the relationship. However, this isn’t an officially recognized subtype of OCD. Obsessional jealousy Unlike delusional jealousy, obsessional jealousy is a nondelusional preoccupation with a partner’s perceived infidelity. This preoccupation can lead to repetitive and compulsive behaviors in response to infidelity concerns. These behaviors resemble OCD more so than delusional jealousy. This can cause significant distress or impair everyday functioning. How’s obsessive love disorder diagnosed? OLD is diagnosed with a thorough evaluation from a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. First, they will interview you by asking you questions about your symptoms, as well as your relationships. They’ll also ask you about your family and whether any known mental health illnesses exist. A medical diagnosis from your primary doctor may also be needed to rule out other causes. Since obsessive love disorder intersects with other forms of mental health disabilities, it’s not classified on the American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). For unknown reasons, OLD affects more women than men.

Are you single during a break?

In the most fundamental sense, taking a break means that you and your partner haven't officially broken up, but you've decided to take some time...

Last updated Nov 10, 2020

What is pure true love?

We can call this Pure Love, a love that: Loves for the sake of loving. Has no desires or needs. Dissolves boundaries and separation. Dec 3, 2020

Last updated May 7, 2018

Promotion

How’s obsessive love disorder treated? The precise treatment plan for this disorder depends on the underlying cause. However, it often involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Medications can be used to adjust brain chemicals. In turn, this can reduce the symptoms of the disorder. Your doctor may recommend one of the following: anti-anxiety medications, such as Valium and Xanax

antidepressants, such as Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft

antipsychotics

mood stabilizers It can take several weeks for your medication to work. You may also need to try different types until you find the one that works best for you. Talk to your doctor about possible side effects, such as: appetite changes

dry mouth

fatigue

headaches

insomnia

loss of libido

nausea

weight gain

worsening symptoms Therapy is also helpful for all forms of OLD. Sometimes it’s helpful for families to be involved with therapy sessions, especially if obsessive love disorder stems from issues during childhood. Depending on the severity of the disorder and your personal preferences, you might engage in individual or group therapy. Sometimes a mental health professional will recommend both types. Therapy options include: cognitive behavioral therapy

dialectical behavioral therapy

play therapy (for children)

talk therapy

healthline.com - Obsessive Love Disorder: Symptoms, What It is, Causes, and More

Is online dating exhausting?

Research from Hinge also found a significant portion of its users (61%) were overwhelmed by the modern dating process, and an April 2022 US study...

Last updated Dec 2, 2021

What's 70 years of marriage called?

These gifts vary in different countries, but some anniversary years now have well-established connections common to most nations: 5th Wood, 10th...

Last updated Sep 25, 2021

Promotion

Can you love someone after a month?

You can feel you love someone in a matter of hours or days. Or, it may take you a few months or longer to believe you've reached that point. “There...

Last updated Apr 7, 2022

Promotion

How can you tell a first player?

Determine Who Goes First in an Exercise For All Facilitations: Alphabetically by first name / last name / nickname. Number of syllables in first...

Last updated May 21, 2021