| We are often told to be persistent. Having a positive | | | | obsessive often have high blood pressure, cardiac |
| attitude and working hard towards a goal is the best | | | | issues, and other stress related illnesses caused by the |
| way to get things done. It's true. The harder you work | | | | constant worry and compulsiveness over their chosen |
| at something you want the more likely it will become a | | | | obsession. |
| reality. Persistence pays off. Absolutely. So what is the | | | | Recognizing the Danger Signals of Obsession |
| draw back? Where does persistence end and | | | | It can be very difficult for an individual to see the signs |
| obsession begin? What happens when we trip over | | | | of obsession in themselves. One of the most important |
| the fine line between the two? | | | | triggers to look for is what other people are saying. If |
| The Edge of Insanity | | | | loved ones, family or friends, are often saying you |
| Where persistence is a good thing obsession takes | | | | don't spend any time with them—it's time to take a |
| over your life. It is not really that obsession in and of | | | | look at why. There are a few signals that you can |
| itself is a bad thing. It is just an extension of | | | | look for in your own personal life if you have the |
| persistence and wanting something badly. What is bad | | | | composure to be objective. Are you spending every |
| about obsession is that it obliterates everything else in | | | | waking moment thinking about one particular thing? If it |
| your life and unbalances it. You miss out on wonderful | | | | is work, do you have to immediately check your email |
| experiences that otherwise would be yours for the | | | | the minute you get up? Run to the office on your off |
| taking. You ignore things that need to be done to keep | | | | days to make sure things are running smoothly? Both |
| your life running smoothly—and often times you | | | | of those things can be perfectly healthy and fine in |
| ignore the people around you to the point you may | | | | proper context, especially if you are in charge of the |
| suddenly wake up and there will be no one there. | | | | business. Where persistence and obsession collide is |
| The difference between persistence and obsession | | | | when you do those things when you could be doing |
| can be a very vague area at the beginning. People | | | | something with your family or friends and there is no |
| can become obsessed over big important things like | | | | reason to believe anything is wrong at work. You need |
| their jobs or their homes. They can be obsessive | | | | time off. You need to enjoy other things outside of |
| about a broad aspect of life such as money and how | | | | your compulsion. Whether it is work, or even a hobby, |
| to get more. Or they can get obsessive about very | | | | it is not healthy to push everything else aside in order |
| particular things such as a car, or, and in some cases | | | | to work at, play with, or do one particular thing |
| the most dangerous of obsessions, a person. | | | | exclusively. |
| What Obsession Does to You | | | | Loving something or someone completely is not a bad |
| Obsession can lead to many health problems as well | | | | thing as long as you keep it in perspective. |
| as being a mental health problem. People who are | | | | |