Stating that obsessions are a brain disease, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “They mostly start in adolescence. If treated during this period, it is quite easy to resolve. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can improve faster in adolescents.”
Expressing that obsessive traits can turn into an asset, Tarhan said, “If a person transforms their anxieties into opportunities and develops a goal-oriented understanding of perfection, their obsessive traits can become an asset in their life. In this case, a crisis is turned into an opportunity.”
Tarhan stated that obsessive tendencies can emerge at very young ages, even at 3-4 years old.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, evaluated the topic of Obsessive Personalities.
They experience difficulties in relationships…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that obsessive personalities are individuals who do not have obsessive-compulsive disorder, meaning they do not receive a psychiatric diagnosis, but possess obsessive traits, and these personalities are divided into two main groups: “Obsessive individuals are those who are obsessive, meaning perfectionistic and meticulous. In other words, these individuals do not have a personality disorder. This does not disrupt their social adaptation. Perfectionists are meticulous. Their sense of control is high. They cannot be easily flexible. They experience difficulties in relationships. These individuals manage their married lives very well. If they manage their obsessions well, they will also be successful. Successful obsessive individuals are healthy.”
If these individuals cannot educate themselves, they become stubborn
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that obsessive personalities are generally shaped by familial predisposition and learning within the family, adding, “If an individual has a predisposition, this situation can become more severe and turn into a disorder. At this point, the individual may develop obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder want everything to be flawless and in its proper place. They constantly make improvements in their work and can never quite complete tasks. For example, they can never sign a document. The most fundamental psychological problems for these individuals are order, perfection, and control. They want everything in every area of their lives to be orderly, flawless, and under control. If these individuals cannot educate themselves, they become very rigid and stubborn.”
Obsessive personalities experience relationship difficulties
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that obsessive personalities are not flexible and therefore experience relationship difficulties, stating, “They do not want to relinquish control in relationships and therefore act with the belief, ‘I am perfect, everyone should be perfect.’ Their perfectionism towards others can sometimes reach the point of torment. These individuals are generally known as workaholics. Their private and social lives are almost non-existent; they spend all their time on their work or the topics they focus on. They also act excessively frugally regarding saving and spending; some reach a point where they fear spending money. These characteristics reflect the obsessive personality structure and symptoms of personality disorder.”
Steve Jobs is known for his perfectionism
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that if a person is a perfectionist and this perfectionism is directed towards a goal and strategy, the rule "success is hidden in the details" applies to that person. Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “These individuals make decisions by considering their goals and strategies and position themselves accordingly. Thanks to these characteristics, they are generally successful; they can see details that others might miss. However, an obsessiveness that is not goal and strategy-oriented can reverse the situation entirely. They might spend an hour arranging a table, neglecting their main tasks. Obsessiveness without a goal and strategy can lead a person to disaster; in this case, the idiom ‘the devil is in the details’ comes into play. If a person's mental processes are managed correctly, obsessiveness can cease to be a disadvantage and turn into an opportunity. Perfectionism, if properly guided, can be an important tool for success. One of the best examples of this is Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. Jobs is known for his perfectionism, and thanks to this trait, he produced exceptionally high-quality work.”
Caution if 50 out of 60 minutes are spent on such thoughts!
Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that there are different subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), stating, “The influence of repetitive thoughts (obsessions) is particularly significant in this disorder reaching a disease level. In OCD, obsessions manifest as recurring disturbing thoughts and cause anxiety in the individual. For people who spend a significant portion of their free time preoccupied with obsessions, this situation becomes a serious problem. If a person spends 50 out of 60 minutes of the day on such thoughts or actions directed towards them, this could be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behaviors like constantly washing hands, organizing the table, and making everything symmetrical are among the repetitive behaviors we call compulsions. Mental acts are also common; such as excessive praying, constantly counting, or repeating certain words. Doubt obsessions are also quite common. The person thinks, ‘Did I lock the car?’ and returns to check the car again, or repeatedly checks, ‘Did I leave the door open?’”
To overcome obsessions, one should stop trying to be 100% certain
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that to overcome obsessions, individuals should stop trying to be 100% certain and instead trust their inner feeling, saying, “They should act believing that 'this is most likely correct, 51% correct.' If a person adopts this approach, they can reduce repetitive checking behaviors. A person who frequently obsesses about whether the house door is open or not should trust the first feeling that comes to mind, 'I didn't leave it open,' and should not go back to check repeatedly.”
They enter into continuous thought repetition because they cannot make decisions…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that when obsessive-compulsive disorder develops, they take brain scans of these individuals and analyze which part of the brain works fast, which part works slow, and how the decision-making mechanism functions. Prof. Dr. Tarhan added, “When a thought or feeling arises in these individuals, the frontal region of the brain usually makes quick decisions such as ‘Is this appropriate or not? Is it valid, useful, or safe?’ However, individuals experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder cannot complete this process. Because they cannot make decisions, they enter into continuous thought repetition. When such conditions worsen, patients are usually hospitalized and strong treatments are applied. The sensitivity of these pathways in the brain is normalized with therapies and medications.”
There are those who cannot leave their home or even their room
“There are cases where people cannot leave their home or even their room,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, stating that there are individuals who stay in the bathroom for a day and a half due to fear of "getting dirty," and that the situation can now reach a severe level of discomfort, leading to psychosis.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “This disease is actually a brain disease. It is not possible to improve psychological processes without correcting the decision-making mechanisms in the brain or their underlying infrastructure. The infrastructure in the brain refers to neurobiological processes, while the superstructure is related to psychological processes. Mental processes have two main pillars: neurobiological and neuropsychological. For effective treatment, these two pillars must be addressed together. There is also a risk of recurrence after the disease has improved.”
Obsessive-compulsive disorder begins in adolescence
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that this process generally progresses step by step and does not emerge suddenly, continuing:
“It mostly starts in adolescence. If treated during this period, it is quite easy to resolve. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can improve faster in adolescents. The reason for this is that adolescents have stronger brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity. When treatment is applied, positive results are achieved more quickly. In OCD, the problem begins with the triggering of anxiety in the brain. A thought comes to the person's mind, and they cannot manage this thought. As they dwell on this thought, anxiety increases; as anxiety increases, the person feels more discomfort, and this situation turns into a disease. However, if the person could learn to regulate their emotions and thoughts, this situation would not become a disease. Because obsession manifests not only in thoughts but also in emotions.”
‘Emotion-thought fusion’…
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that because patients cannot manage their brain's perception of psychological contamination, they turn to physical contamination, a more easily manageable situation. He said, “The person tries to relieve themselves by washing their hands or constantly bathing. However, despite being physically clean, they do not feel clean emotionally. This situation is called ‘emotion-thought fusion.’ A feeling comes to the person, and they mistake this feeling for a thought. Emotions and thoughts get mixed up. When the person realizes that what they are feeling is not a thought, but just a false feeling coming from within, making this distinction becomes easier.”
Crisis can be turned into opportunity
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Individuals with an obsessive personality structure may be at risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). One of the main reasons for this is their difficulty in managing their anxieties. However, when these anxieties are addressed correctly, they can provide an advantage to the person. If a person transforms their anxieties into opportunities and develops a goal-oriented understanding of perfection, their obsessive traits can become an asset in their life. In this case, a crisis is turned into an opportunity.”
Childhood traumas are frequently observed in the background
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also pointed out that childhood traumas are frequently encountered in the background of obsessive disorders, stating, “Traumatic events experienced during childhood often emerge during the treatment process. Shocking events experienced in childhood, such as abuse, mistreatment, and sexual traumas, can remain as unresolved trauma in the individual. If these traumas cannot be resolved, the person needs obsessions to alleviate the distress they experience. Therefore, a detailed examination of the childhood period is important.”
Obsessive tendencies can emerge at very young ages
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that in some cases, obsessive tendencies can emerge at very young ages, even at three or four years old. He added, “In a case I cannot forget, a five-six-year-old child came for treatment. At the beginning of the conversation, the child suddenly said, ‘It’s 3:47.’ For a child of this age to express time in such detail is a sign of obsessive predisposition. When I told the mother about this, she asked, surprised, ‘How did you know?’ Focusing even on this detail about the time was a sign of the underlying structure of obsessive behaviors. The parents' approach during childhood is also very influential in these tendencies. Children raised in an environment with both excessive love and excessive discipline can feel both love and anger towards their mother. However, because they cannot express this anger, they suppress it. This situation causes children to experience an internal mental conflict. They cannot relieve themselves. If the parents realize this, it improves.”