Are obsessions always bad?

[ZebraAutismo]

Are obsession always bad. Yes in some cases I know they can be dangerous like my germ phobic friend who washed her hand til they bleed.

But our obsessions always bad? Mine have helped me make friends. I have met many other doll collectors, pokémon lovers and swimmers. I am better at talking to these people as we have something we can talk about. When I was younger the only way I would willingly leave the house was for swimming. My obsessions bring me comfort and expand my world.

What is so evil about them. Why are people so against them.

 

[Beguiling Orbit]

It all comes down to whether or not one is in control.

Unhealthy Obsession Versus Healthy Dedication:

"Both unhealthy obsession and healthy dedication require full attention but unhealthy obsession has an addictive quality to it, the person obsessed is not in the driver’s seat, isn’t really in control, this person is compulsively pulled along by the strength of the obsession. With healthy dedication it’s a total, active decision, this person is in the driver’s seat and remains in control of when and how behavior is enacted."​

 

[the_tortoise]

I think even if a person is pulled along by an obsession, it may not be an unhealthy thing so long as the effects of it are positive or neutral rather than causing harm. That's just my opinion, though.

 

[Beguiling Orbit]

I think even if a person is pulled along by an obsession, it may not be an unhealthy thing so long as the effects of it are positive or neutral rather than causing harm. That's just my opinion, though.

Yes, I suppose it depends on where they're being pulled to.

 

[Suzanne]

I agree with @Sportster that it is when they over take your life, that turns it into bad.

Take a very practical obsession. I read my bible chapter every single night; one chapter per night and have not missed a single night and times I have not had my bible on me, I have actually read my chapter via my tablet, in a very low light in a car. However, if I constantly read it and everything around me just crumbled, that would become a bad obsession.

I have actually not had a "bad" obsession since the time I got insanily obsessed with ebola; to the extent I actually could taste the word and if I heard it, I would go into surreal mode. It drove my husband up the wall ( not literally), but what that did for me, ie my obsession, was able to calm a lot of people down, because of facts and figures I had accumilated. But two week's later, when my attention was broken, I could not get bac to it and since then, have not got that bad.

 

[Progster]

No, an obsession is not necessarily a bad thing. It only becomes bad when it interferes with your life to such a degree that it does harm to either you or another person.

An obession with cleanliness to the point that it affects your work and you neglect family, etc. is bad, because it does harm. You'd probably be diagnosed with OCD.

An obession about collecting records, CDs and it give your pleasure but does not harm: a good, benign obsession. Spend too much money on them so you can't pay your bills and get into debt - bad.

An obsession around medicine, so learn as much as you can and study to become a doctor or nurse or paramedic and use the knowledge to help others: good obsession. Your extensive knowledge of medecine means that you become paranoid and imagine that you have all sorts of medical disorders and you develop an anxiety disorder because of it - bad obsession.

 

[WereBear]

I'm obsessed with cats But it turns out that is helping me help other Cat Appreciators. With blog, videos, and soon a book, I have let my obsession become something that also helps other people.

Sure, most would consider having double digits of cats in their home to be in "crazyland." But they were all loved and cared for, and by logging so many "cat hours" of tutelage from the beings who know cats best, I have become a Cat Guru.

So it's all in how you handle it