Love OCD is a psychological disorder that produces an excessive and obsessive concern for romantic relationships. For people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in love and relationships, also known as love OCD, romantic relationships can become a constant source of stress and anxiety.
Although it is less known than other anxiety disorders, love 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.
What is love OCD?
Love OCD, also called relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a psychological disorder that is defined by a excessive and obsessive concern about romantic relationships and love. People with this clinical condition usually have recurrent complaints about their partner, their relationship, or the person they like. They may experience an obsessive need to be close to that person at any cost.
People with love OCD may 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 their activities.
In addition, people with OCD in love may be jealous or envious of those who interact with their partner, even if there is no objective reason to suspect possible infidelity. Therefore, this type of disorder can impair the ability to maintain healthy and satisfying relationships.
Causes of love OCD
There are various causes that can predispose a person to have love OCD. We see them below:
- Biological factors: The causes of love OCD have been linked to chemical imbalances in the brain, such as an increase in serotonin levels, or changes in brain activity in certain areas related to decision making and emotional regulation. 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 love OCD are anxiety, low self-esteem, insecurity in relationships, perfectionism, and . Having had romantic relationships in the past that were difficult or traumatic is also one of the main causes of love OCD.
- Environmental factors: Culture and societal expectations regarding love and romantic relationships can also contribute to the development of love OCD. There are erroneous beliefs about love and relationships that can contribute to their appearance, such as the idea that true love is always perfect, or that the person should be thinking about their partner because they should live for them at any cost.
Symptoms of love OCD
How to know if it is love OCD or not? Some of the common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive relationship disorder are:
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 your partner, fear of infidelitythe need for the relationship to be perfect and fear of rejection or to lose your partner. These people often feel a constant need to obtain 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, frequently checking the person’s social networks to look for messages or signs, calling and sending messages repeatedly to confirm their love, or following them to keep an eye on them. Compulsive behaviors can become a negative spiral that fuels obsessive thoughts, increasing discomfort and anxiety in the long term.
Low self-esteem
When you live with love OCD, your 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 , 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 continually thinking about the person they need. This situation impairs your ability to concentrate on other activities and essential tasks of their daily lives, leaving them aside to focus on what is most important to them, the person they love.
Depression
The intensity and duration of the obsessive thoughts and worries of love OCD can affect mood, which can lead to feeling of loss of control and hopelessness. The helplessness and despair that this psychological disorder produces can cause lack of energy, shame or guilt. Experiencing these sensations increases the risk of suffering from depression.
How to overcome love OCD
Overcoming love OCD can be a challenging process, however, we have compiled a series of strategies to help reduce or overcome the symptoms of this disorder:
- Practice mindfulness: It is a coping method that reduces the anxiety and stress associated with love OCD. or breathing are beneficial techniques to reduce symptoms.
- Establish healthy boundaries: Setting boundaries in relationships helps decrease the need to maintain compulsive and obsessive behaviors.
- Physical exercise: Exercising regularly can help reduce the stress and anxiety caused by love OCD.
- Avoid triggers: identifying the reasons that trigger the symptoms of love OCD 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 reduce their intensity and duration.
- Avoid rumination: thinking about a topic constantly and repetitively 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 love OCD. In this article you will see.
- Work on self-esteem: low self-esteem is a factor that causes 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 yourself during this process, and celebrating each small victory, is very beneficial.
- Avoid social networks: nowadays social networks are available to everyone. Trying to put them aside and use your time to do other activities will facilitate the improvement process.
- 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.
- Medications: In some cases, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications prescribed by an expert may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of love 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 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 Love OCD: what it is, causes, symptoms and how to overcome itwe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Mancini, F. (2021). The obsessive mind. Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Declée de Brouwer: Bilbao, Spain. Viewed at: https://www.edesclee.com/img/cms/pdfs/9788433031365.pdf
- Pérez, R. (2014) OCD and sexuality. Anxia, 20, 38-46. Consulted at http://institutosincronia.com.ar/EAT/Anxiainterior.pdf#page=38