OCD of love: what it is, causes, symptoms and how to overcome it

Love OCD is a psychological disorder that produces an excessive and obsessive concern for romantic relationships. For people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) of love and relationships, also known as OCD of love, romantic relationships can become a constant source of stress and anxiety.

Although less well known than other anxiety disorders, dating OCD has a significant impact on the lives of those who experience it. In this Psychology-Online article, we explain in detail what is love OCD, the causes, symptoms and how to overcome it.

Index

1. What is love OCD
2. Causes of love OCD
3. OCD symptoms of love
4. How to overcome love OCD

OCD in love, also called obsessive-compulsive relationship disorder, is a psychological disorder that is defined by a inordinate and obsessive preoccupation with romantic relationships and love. People with this clinical picture usually have intrusive thoughts and recurring about their partner, their relationship, or about the person they like. They may experience an obsessive need to be close to that person at any cost.

People with love OCD can feel fear of being cheated on or abandoned by your partner, which can trigger the appearance of compulsive behaviors to try to avoid anxiety. They have the constant need to be in contact with their partner, or to monitor the activities they do.

In addition, people with OCD in love may be jealous or envy of those who are related to their partner, even though there is no objective reason to suspect a possible infidelity. Therefore, this type of disorder can impair the ability to maintain healthy and satisfying relationships.

There are various causes that can predispose a person to have love OCD. We see them below:

• biological factors: Causes of dating OCD have been linked to chemical imbalances in the brain, such as increased levels of serotonin, or changes in brain activity in certain areas related to decision making and regulation emotional. The possibility that there may be a genetic predisposition to developing this type of disorder has also been investigated.
• Psychological factors: Psychological factors that have been associated with OCD in love are anxiety, low self-esteem, insecurity in relationships, perfectionism and the need for control. Having had romantic relationships in the past that were difficult or traumatic is also one of the main causes of dating OCD.
• Environmental factors: Society's culture and expectations of love and romantic relationships can also contribute to the development of dating OCD. There are erroneous beliefs about love and relationships that can contribute to its appearance, such as the idea that love true is always perfect, or that the person must be thinking about her partner because he must live for and for her at any price.

How to know if it is love OCD or not? Some of the common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive relationship disorder include:

obsessive thoughts

Persistent and intrusive thoughts about the person in question can be distressing and interfere with the sufferer's daily life. These thoughts include exaggerated concern about compatibility with a partner, fear of infidelity, the need for the relationship to be perfect and fear of rejection Or lose your partner. These people often feel the constant need to get confirmation and approval from their partner.

compulsive behaviors

Often people with love OCD carry out repetitive and ritualized behaviors, such as constantly looking at the phone in case he writes to them, often checking the person's social networks to look for messages or signs, call and send messages repeatedly to confirm your love for her, or follow him to keep an eye on him Compulsive behaviors can become a negative spiral that feeds obsessive thoughts, increasing discomfort and anxiety in the long term.

Low self-esteem

When living with love OCD, self-esteem is seriously affected. It is common to feel a strong need to be accepted by the person and constantly comparing yourself to others, believing that you don't meet the standards of beauty, personality, or intelligence that you think your partner or crush needs. In some cases they develop emotional dependence, which leads them to believe that they need the other to be happy and feel valid.

Difficulty concentrating

People with obsessive worries and compulsive behaviors are constantly thinking about the person they need. This situation impairs your ability to focus on other activities and essential tasks of their day to day, coming to put them aside to focus on what is most important to them, the loved one.

Depression

The intensity and duration of the obsessive thoughts and worries of dating OCD can affect mood, which can lead to feeling of loss of control and hopelessness. The helplessness and despair produced by this psychological disorder can cause a lack of energy, constant sadness, shame or guilt. Experiencing these sensations increases the risk of depression.

Overcoming dating OCD can be a challenging process, however we have compiled a number of strategies to help reduce or overcome the symptoms of this disorder:

• practice mindfulness: is a coping method that reduces anxiety and stress associated with love OCD. The meditation or breathing are beneficial techniques to reduce symptoms.
• Set healthy boundaries: Setting limits in relationships helps reduce the need to maintain compulsive and obsessive behaviors.
• Physical exercise: Exercising regularly can help reduce stress and anxiety caused by OCD in love.
• Avoid triggers: Identifying what are the reasons that lead to the triggering of the OCD symptoms of love, helps to avoid and reduce them.
• Learn to identify obsessive thoughts: Recognizing obsessive thoughts is very effective in getting rid of negative thoughts and worries.
• practice acceptance: Accepting that you have obsessive thoughts and the anxiety that accompanies them, instead of denying them, helps to reduce their intensity and duration.
• avoid rumination: Constantly and repetitively thinking about a subject can worsen the symptoms of love OCD. To avoid rumination, it is beneficial to seek healthy distractions after identifying obsessive thoughts.
• Develop emotional resilience: Learning to manage difficult emotions, such as sadness, anger or rejection, reduces the symptoms of OCD in love. In this article you will see how to develop resilience in children and adults.
• work on self esteem: low self-esteem is a factor that promotes love OCD. Taking care of yourself and having a positive self-concept helps reduce the symptoms of this psychological disorder.
• Be patient and compassionate with yourself: overcoming love OCD can be difficult. Being patient and compassionate with oneself during this process, and celebrating each small victory, is very beneficial.
• Avoid social networksToday, social networks are available to everyone. Trying to put them aside and use your time to do other activities will make the process of overcoming easier.
• Seek professional help: A psychologist with experience in the treatment of love OCD can help you understand what is happening to you and develop strategies to manage your symptoms.
• Medicines: In some cases, expertly prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of dating OCD.

Love OCD affects interpersonal relationships, specifically romantic relationships. It generates unhealthy behaviors and expectations, however, it can be overcome and be able to build and maintain healthy relationships. If you think you suffer from love OCD, don't hesitate to consult a specialist psychologist. With total involvement, in a short time you will be able to see results and you will learn to have healthy and satisfying relationships.

This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to OCD of love: what it is, causes, symptoms and how to overcome it, we recommend that you enter our category of Feelings.

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