How to Explain One's Obsessions to Others

Many people are plagued with obsessions, from compulsive thoughts and impulses to practicing rituals that they can't control. Family and friends may not understand your compulsion and they believe there's something wrong. There are ways of explaining obsessive compulsions to others, but only if they're willing to listen and keep an open mind.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Teach someone about your obsessions by explaining to them about a specific experience where it helped you in your daily life.
2. Tell them that the obsessions teach you ways to improve and excel in certain areas of your life, and that it would be confusing to you if it were taken away.
3. Ask them if they learn things by doing something repeatedly. If they say yes, then ask them what would happen to them if they could no longer do it that way.
4. Explain that your compulsion is your way of understanding how you are and accepting yourself for who you are.
5. Add that the obsessions are not unhealthy by explaining that it is the only way for you to exercise control over your life.
6. Invite them to ask questions. Answer their questions with little tales or stories to guide them along toward understanding your compulsion.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk only to people who are willing to listen.
• Choosing to explain your obsession to people who think you're doing something wrong and are not budging in their opinion are not good candidates for open discussion.