In February I took part in the Morning Show on BBC Radio Nottingham, with Frances Finn. We were taking calls from listeners with some unusual interests, and discussing whether these were obsessions.  Passionate about Carmen Miranda? Or serious about Batman? Maybe a follower of the Nottingham Panthers? A big Strictly Come Dancing fan? 

No, not really! An obsession in this context, may be defined as an interest which is more like an addiction, adversely affecting normal everyday life ( home life, relationships, work, leisure etc). Typical types can be:

• sport/music/band (play/compete or follow)
• hobby/collecting something, or other pursuit eg dieting
• Internet (dating/social networking/computer games/virtual reality)
• person (infatuation/celebrity/stalking)
• work

Obsessions like this can develop to replace something that was missing from the person’s environment at the time, to meet a need (often relational). The person might have to deal with something challenging, take responsibility for something, or face difficult feelings if this obsession was not ‘in charge’ of his/her life. What is being avoided?  The obsession is likely to be a substitution for something else……

Perhaps the obsession provides the illusion of being part of a (better) group or ‘family’ ; or maybe it is fantasy and/or escape from a tough reality/ boredom or chaos. There could be some sense of reward, possibility from successful competition; often the obsession arises due to self-identity issues, a need to be SOMEONE (else/special/the best); the fear of being alone/even lonelier/shame…..