19 Steps to free yourself from an obsession

When our mind is prey to an obsession it is like have a black blindfold on our eyes: that obsession encompasses everything, preventing us from not only enjoying, but also looking, contemplating and being aware of things that do not revolve around it.

Some wonderful things that are happening in your life go unnoticed because obsession occupies all your focus of attention. Everything you live, see and hear you relate to her. You experience obsession as something unpleasant, you recognize that it is irrational and excessive, but that does little to help you begin to get rid of it.

What are the elements that make up an obsession?

Some psychopathological disorders related to obsessions are much more complex than a normal obsession. For example, in OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) stopping thought in the face of an obsession is not recommended because it is a somewhat more complex disorder with many aspects to treat.

But if in your case it is a clearly identifiable obsession, and that usually manifests itself by not “getting out of your head”, the steps that we are going to describe in this article will help you. Before you must take into account the parts or dimensions regarding the obsession on which we will have to work:

Cognitive part: These are the thoughts and beliefs associated with obsession. To work on this part we have to stop feeding the obsession in our head.Behavioral part: This part refers to behaviors related to thoughts. Carrying out behaviors that distract us from our obsessions will benefit us.artistic or intellectual part: art helps us express what we feel. We can take advantage of it to express what we feel when we have obsessive thoughts and thus free ourselves.Social part: Perhaps this obsession puts you in connection with other topics that are related and in which other people are interested. Talking to others about what happens to us can help us.

The first 9 steps to free ourselves from an obsession

As we have said, to free ourselves from obsession we will have to attend to different facets of it, so the first thing we are going to tackle is the content of the obsession, that is, the cognitive part. These would be the first 7 steps to do this:

1st Step: free your Mind: You have to establish physical distance from the content of your obsession, because the more accessible it is, the more difficult it will be to ignore it. So you should start freeing your mind from those obsessive thoughts, for example, using some relaxation method.2nd Step: do not search for information about the obsession that occupies your mind. Avoid mental games like “this is the last time I do it”, because if you do it there will always be a next time, don’t fool yourself.3rd Step: let the obsession be in your head but “without playing along.” Thoughts are automatic, so if the obsession suddenly returns to your head, don’t think that you have failed.Step 4: don’t be hard on yourself if the obsession is still there. Maybe it will take you time to make it stop being uncomfortable and conditioning your vision of the world, but don’t stop making an effort and trying. Little by little you will get it.Step 5: Talk to your friends and family about your thoughts and feelings. Perhaps your friends and family have realized that you have a problem with this obsession. Surprise them and talk to them about other worries or feelings that are going through your head.Step 6: focus on those things that you have neglected. Your obsession may have prevented you from paying attention to other topics that are also important to you. Try to give space in your mind to those topics that you have neglected and that will surely contribute a lot to your personal growth, such as new projects or new goals.7th Step: ppursue new interests. Maybe “trying new things” seems like the canned solution to every problem, but that’s because it can really work. Learning a new skill or getting better at a new activity can awaken your brain and create a change of perspective that will help you get out of the rut you’re in. Step 8: practice living in the present moment: Start meditating as many times as you need, try to concentrate on your work, dedicate your attention to the people and conversations that are taking place. If you still feel anxious, set a specific time of day when you can think about the obsession (there will come a time when you don’t need it).9th Step: hTalk to a therapist. Sometimes an obsession runs so deep and stays so fast that it is impossible to get rid of it on your own. If you can’t seem to keep your obsession under control and it’s affecting your ability to be happy, make an appointment with a therapist

The next 6 steps to free yourself from an obsession: Do activities

10th Step: form new habits You don’t have to change your routine completely, but by making small changes your body and mind will enter the realm of novelty and adapt.Step 11: be aware that you need to change things. Use all the energy you used in your obsession in time to meet new people, learn a new skill or play sports. You can start doing all those things that you had pending and never risked doing.12th Step: change the aesthetics of things It changes your vision and therefore your mental processing. If you change furniture, change your hairstyle, change something in your wardrobe, change something in your diet, it will be processed as novelty, and the brain will like the new signals you are giving it.13th Step: carry out activities totally contrary to the object of the obsession. If you were obsessed with becoming a mother, but you haven’t been able to, continuing to read pregnancy magazines will not be very convenient. Choose fantasy, fiction or intrigue novels, they are ideal for clearing your mind and keeping the object of your obsession away.Step 14: Reconnect with your friends and loved ones. Call your friends to propose new plans, spend more time with your family or you can even try to meet new people. The important thing is that you create spaces to reconnect with others and that you turn this into a constant habit that will help you gradually free yourself from your obsession.15th Step: do not isolate yourself from your environment. Following the previous idea, what you should never do is isolate yourself from your environment. That is, cut off all communication with your friends or family and instead choose to fight this war alone.

The last 3 steps: Capitalize on obsession artistically and socially

16th Step: manage to express artistically or emotionally what you have experienced regarding your obsession: You can paint, compose some poetry, or simply capture on paper everything you have felt, because you believe that you have become obsessed in that way. You will get to know yourself better almost better than going to a psychoanalyst.17th Step: Find what you are passionate about. If your obsession has been related, for example, to something about your health, you can start studying related things simply to have truthful knowledge that will fill you with knowledge. Who knows, maybe In our obsessions we can find clues about what we are passionate about in life.and we can develop that passion.18th Step: do not live your entire mental world alone, perhaps there are people who are interested in the same thing as you or have gone through the same thing. You can opt for group therapy or meet people who also share similar concerns. When we talk to others our inner world becomes less neurotic and we manage to heal ourselves. 19th Step: nOr let obsession limit your world. An obsession is only a problem when it starts to absorb all your time and energy, leaving nothing for everything else. You are the only person who can truly know how much is too much.

As you see, there are many methods or strategies that can help you release your obsessive thoughts and beliefs. You just have to get going and be persistent, Little by little you will achieve your goal. Maybe it won’t come out the first time, the second or the third, but if you are patient the obsessions will leave your life.