How do you know if you're being obsessed with something?

I doubt it’s hormones; I think it’s simply the human condition. Happens to me all the time. If it’s something I don’t want to think about, I just have to redirect my thoughts…sometimes over and over. And don’t get me started on songs getting stuck in my head! Usually they stay in there playing again and again for 5–7 days!

If you’re not consciously interested whatever thoughts are streaming through your mind, it’s not exactly an obsession.

But it could in fact be some hormonal shift involving balance of estrogen, cortisol, and progesterone. I’ve got some similar problems.

It’s normal. Everyone has this happen from time to time. Just find a game that’s easy to play and boring on your cell phone and play that. Nothing challenging because it can wake you up. Also, make sure your phone is set to evening play so you don’t have that super bright light in your face. That too can wake you up. Anyhow, getting back to boring. Puzzle games that have many pieces can be boring. It requires your attention to detail but no actual thoughts. If you are the kind of person who must finish it no matter what, then choose fewer pieces.
Do this every time you keep thinking of something that is annoying you before bed.

Now, if the obsessed thought is sex or someone you like then that may be more hormone-driven or you just really like someone.

@Pandora This happens mostly just before my period but can happen at other times also. I’ll try your suggestions though, maybe that will help. @smudges songs can be the worst, luckily they only get stuck in my head during the daytime. @JLoon you may be right.

Things are usually labeled as a problem when it interferes with your ability to perform normal daily functions at work and at home. If you’re not getting enough sleep as a result of obsessive thoughts, I would suspect that a mental health professional would probably be concerned enough to look into the issue more. That’s just a guess. I’m not a mental health professional.

Teh technique I’ve been taught by mental health professionals is to note that you are having the thoughts and then to just let them go. Then you are not obsessing about obsessing. Sometimes this works for me better than other times…..

@gorillapaws I may have to talk to someone about this. Sometimes it’s fine but other times it does interfere with school and stuff.

If I’m trying to go to sleep, I will frequently begin counting backwards from 300 by 3’s.

fyi: it’s “if you’re obsessed by something” rather than “being obsessed by something”. ;)

@smudges thanks I will try that and thank you for the constructive criticism, it helps me learn.

Thanks for taking it in the spirit intended. >8^)

@smudges you’ll probably get tired of correcting me, but I don’t mind :)

^^ Nah, actually I rarely correct. I probably corrected that because it was bugging me because psychology is my ‘thang’. degree

@smudges well better get on your walking shoes because there’s a lot of space in my head. lol