Obsession and addiction are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct in both technical meaning and practical implications. While there is some overlap between addiction and obsession, they cannot be regarded as the same phenomenon.
Obsession
Obsession is a persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thought, image, or urge that causes significant anxiety or distress. It is a key feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but can also occur outside of this condition. Obsessions can be manifested in people’s lives and behaviors in various ways. Some people will have clear patterns in their speech and behavior, while others will harbor their obsessions more covertly. Generally, obsessions involve a cycle triggered by anxiety or a negative or intrusive thought, followed by compulsive behavior aimed at reducing or eliminating that fear.
Phobias
Obsessive fears are called phobias. People may go through life with a predominant fear that detracts from their ability to focus on or complete other activities. Someone could have a phobia of a certain object, like spiders, or an impending event, like a potential car crash. Perhaps germs are the external peril that keeps someone restricted to the confines of their home.
Unwanted thoughts or fantasies
Some people struggle with unrelenting, repetitive intrusive thoughts or fantasies. These may be sexual, or they may have to do with death, dying, or harming oneself or others. Obsessive thoughts may consist of images, dreams or memories. These thoughts may foster urges to act compulsively, through which obsessive-compulsive behaviors may emerge.
Compulsions
When someone entertains an obsessive thought for an extended period, a compulsive behavior may emerge. These compulsions are often rituals revolving around security, cleanliness or order; for example, repetitive and obsessive hand-washing or checking to be sure the door has been locked.Compulsion is also demonstrated in hoarding behaviors, repetitive counting, excessive cleaning, shopping, gambling, obsessive skin picking and more.
Treating Obsession
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is frequently employed to assist people in overcoming their obsessive behavior. Often, the first stumbling block for patients is simply understanding what observable behavior is in comparison to normal routines or patterns of behavior. Identifying unhealthy patterns is necessary to address and eventually change that behavior. Therapy may also include controlled exposure to the triggering stimulus (i.e. spiders in the case of arachnophobia). With controlled exposure, the therapist helps the patient practice responding to the stimulus, as well as develop healthy coping mechanisms to resist the urge to fall into the compulsive behavior. Prescription medications, most commonly antidepressants, may also be effective for helping to manage obsessive behaviors.
Addiction
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as, “a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.” Addicted people have become dependent upon the substance in question, and they seek compulsive use despite its negative impacts. Addiction changes the structure of the brain, Rewiring reward centers to crave the substance. The addicted person may experience adverse consequences in the absence of the substance’s presence in the body called withdrawal symptoms.
What is Addictive Behavior?
If you or a loved one are wresting with whether or not your substance use has crossed a boundary into addiction territory, it can be helpful to have some guideposts to orient yourself. Look out for these warning signs of addictive behavior, and be honest with yourself or your loved one if you think you have developed an unhealthy attachment to a substance.
Signs of addiction include but are not limited to:
