Obsessive Love Disorder

There are numerous causes of obsessive love, including delusional disorders and mental health problems.

Erotomania

Erotomania, also known as de Clérambault’s syndrome, is a mental disorder in which an individual has a deluded notion that another person, typically someone of a higher position, loves them.

There are both primary and secondary types of erotomania. In primary erotomania, erotomania is caused by no other medical problem, and erotic fantasy, hallucination, or delusion is the only symptom.

Secondary erotomania may be associated with illnesses like major depressive disorder or schizophrenia. Erotomania may also be associated with brain trauma, pregnancy, alcoholism, and some medications, including amphetamines.

One case study from 2017 revealed that social media may exacerbate erotomania. This is because it permits individuals with obsessive inclinations to study others from a distance and feel more connected to them than they would otherwise.

Borderline personality disorder

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may fear abandonment profoundly and struggle to maintain emotional control. They may enter connections rapidly, or they may have intense ties with others.

Individuals with BPD may exhibit impulsive behavior and extreme mood swings. The disorder may affect a person’s relationships negatively. A person’s feelings of strong affinity to another person may abruptly flip to detest.

Individuals with BPD may lack a stable sense of self or self-image. This may exacerbate obsessive tendencies since individuals may find it difficult to perceive themselves as real or worthy apart from their connections.

Nevertheless, each individual with BPD experiences unique symptoms and varying degrees of severity.

Attachment disorders

The ability to develop good relationships with others begins in early life. People with abusive or unstable caregivers or parents may develop aberrant attachment patterns. In their relationships, they may become obsessive, domineering, or scared.

The attachment patterns that a person develops as a kid can affect their behavior in adult relationships.

Individuals establish a secure attachment type if they were raised by a steady and attentive caregiver. This indicates that the individual is likely to be self-reliant, able to regulate emotional experiences, and appreciate close relationships.

If a kid’s primary caregiver is unstable, the child may develop an insecure attachment style. This can cause anxiety, avoidance, and fear in relationships. Individuals with insecure attachment styles may exhibit greater emotional expression and greater dependence on others.

Trauma and abandonment phobias

Childhood trauma or events that result in an insecure attachment style may result in abandonment anxiety. A phobia of being abandoned may lead to the development of compulsive behaviors.

People who fear being alone may make threats or act impulsively in an attempt to keep their partner from leaving.

Other mental health problems

A variety of mental health disorders can distort or modify a person’s perspective, causing them to become more anxious, obsessive, or unhappy. This may raise their chance of developing an obsession with their romantic partner.

Individuals with a dependent personality disorder may be possessive of a spouse, require frequent encouragement from others, and feel helpless while alone.

Social and cultural customs and values

Some societal and cultural conventions require a partner to provide more than the other. This could imply that some caregivers and parents expose their kids to these harmful obsessive relationship practices while raising them.

For instance, being exposed to different relationship “norms” as a child may drive some individuals to grow up feeling that love means ownership or that their spouse must do everything they desire to prove their love.

These thought processes are characteristic of damaging or toxic masculinity. Individuals with this characteristic may believe that it is appropriate for men to emotionally or physically abuse their partners.

Those that exhibit toxic masculinity could also be controlled and may expect more from their relationships than they are ready to offer, or may abuse partners who violate their “rules.”