Am I Crazy in Love or Just Crazy?

It is absolutely normal for people in love to think about each other; long to be together and even have lustful feelings. However, when these thoughts interrupt daily life, or become obsessive to the point where you have the urge to do inappropriate or absurd things, the problem will probably need to be addressed.

There is a shocking similarity between those people who claim to be in love and those who have obsessive compulsive disorder.  In fact, recent research has shown that the brain behavior is nearly the same because it all is on a chemical level.

  Researchers have found that individuals that are in love have lower serotonin levels in their blood, a similarity that people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, otherwise known as OCD can relate to too well.   So, how do you know if you are truly in love or just crazy?  How do you know if you have a healthy desire or a "sick" obsession?  This article will help you figure out. 

It is absolutely normal for people in love to think about each other; long to be together and even have lustful feelings.  However, when these thoughts interrupt daily life, or become obsessive to the point where you have the urge to do inappropriate or absurd things, the problem will probably need to be addressed. 

For example, if you find yourself stalking your partner, or showing up at all hours of the night just to see what he or she is up to, that is a big red flag.  People with obsessive compulsive disorder will constantly be thinking the same thoughts over and over in their head, no matter how illogical they really are.  If you find yourself doing this, get help, it will be necessary to salvage a true relationship. 

Remember, the initial "love" feelings are usually temporary.  If you find that your thoughts and feelings change over the short term, OCD may not be the issue.  In other words, if you are able to stabilize your feelings, they may just be genuine.  If you find that no matter what you do, you can't make the thoughts go away, even when you want to, the chemicals in your brain may be to blame. 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Diagnosis Being a perfectionist can make you exhibit some of the same behaviors as someone with OCD, however when you are strictly a perfectionist, you can control your behavior. Wanting everything the best it can be is one thing, maximizing your potential is a great trait of someone who is defined as a perfectionist. However, people that suffer from OCD tendencies take perfectionism to a whole new level. Breaking down because something has been moved or touched by an outsider, numbering your socks or labeling them left and right is way over the top. These are not uncommon behaviors for people with OCD; it is however, not something a perfectionist would relate to. Childhood Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Next time you find yourself alone with your partner, pay attention to yourself.  Do you constantly go over the same thoughts in your head when you are with them?  Do you compulsively ask yourself anything like, am I making him happy enough?  Sometimes obsessive compulsive individuals will even advert themselves from a conversation unknowingly because they are too caught up "checking" things out in their head. 

Say for example, you made a nice dinner for your beloved and you of course, want to make sure everything is perfect.  So, in your mind you look around your home, the kitchen table, the food or whatever it may be, and go over the same thing in your head, checking to make sure everything is perfect.  People with OCD can relate to this feeling and it can be overwhelming because you feel like it never is good enough, even though everything is exactly how you want it. 

When it comes down to it, whether or not you are truly crazy in love or crazy really doesn't matter when it comes to maintaining a relationship.  Either way, you do not want to come across as crazy. 

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Obsessive Compulsive Behavior

11/18/2008
Top Scoops (Scoop.co.nz)
To gain approval for treating children, all a drug company has to do is submit two positive studies to the FDA to prove a medication is safe and effective for kids.

Top Scoops (Scoop.co.nz)

11/19/2008
Levine: Love is more than just science (Yale Daily News)
As a scientist, I am, at times, guilty of aggressive empiricism — the notion that truths can only be learned (inasmuch as there are truths to be learned) through observation of the world. Anyone who claims to be finding truth any other way is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Levine: Love is more than just science (Yale Daily News)

11/13/2008
Promising clinical trial for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (News-Medical-Net)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2% of the population and is considered a psychiatric disorder. It is the number four psychiatric pathology in terms of frequency following phobias, disorders relating to alcohol and drugs, and depression.

Promising clinical trial for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (News-Medical-Net)

11/20/2008
Kids' lack of loving home equals disaster (Miami Herald)
Abandonment plus rejection plus low self-esteem equals Teah Wimberly. Depression plus frustration plus loneliness equals Teah Wimberly.

Kids' lack of loving home equals disaster (Miami Herald)

11/20/2008
Are Your Child's Problems Caused By Red Dye? (KOCO 5 Oklahoma City)
KOCO-5 examines a food and drink chemical that could be causing all sorts of unwanted behavior in your child. Find out more Thursday at 5 p.m.

Are Your Child's Problems Caused By Red Dye? (KOCO 5 Oklahoma City)

11/13/2008
Promising clinical trial for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (News-Medical-Net)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2% of the population and is considered a psychiatric disorder. It is the number four psychiatric pathology in terms of frequency following phobias, disorders relating to alcohol and drugs, and depression.

Promising clinical trial for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (News-Medical-Net)

11/18/2008
Top Scoops (Scoop.co.nz)
To gain approval for treating children, all a drug company has to do is submit two positive studies to the FDA to prove a medication is safe and effective for kids.

Top Scoops (Scoop.co.nz)