I'm sure there are other ways of separating the two.


One of the key characteristic differences is:
In obsession, it ultimately comes down to satisfying yourself. In Love, you're doing it for someone else.

Love goes both ways; obsession goes one. Unless you're both obsessively in love?

Most of the time love co-exists with everything else going on in your life.
Obsession overrides everything else that used to be important and probably should still be important.

obsession comes with fantasy and unrealistic dreams...
love comes with reality

Obsession is when you're just living for him/her and no longer for yourself.

Love is an emotional feeling.
As in .. you can love someone
All good feelings focus upon one thing or person

Obsession is a mental condition where one thing or person becomes the total focus of the mind
The mental condition can be either good or bad.
If it is good then there is an off switch to the obsession
If it is bad then you can have a stalker on your hands


Edit: the thin line is when you can't tell if someone is in love with you
Or has an obsession with you. Cuz by all outward appearances, they look the same
until something bad happens ... good luck

As far as I know, it is quite normal to be constantly thinking about your ex
As time passes and your focus turns to other things (like kids and just surviving),
you begin to think about the other person less and less.
The feelings never really go away ... they just hid out for a while.

When my highschool sweetheart, ripped my heart out of my chest and handed it to me
I could not get over it. And, thirty years later, I still have feelings for her.
So, yeah, breaking up is hard to do ... and sometimes you never get over it.
But, you do move on with your life.

Consider checking out forums specifically on love. I'm sure your circumstances are not completely unique, so there may be others who have also shared the same experience. From my layman perspective, it looks like you're just getting through a break up, in which case the feelings of lost and regret are probably the strongest. Consider cold-turkey and finding ways to distract or distance yourself if possible...though if you still have such feelings from over a year, you may also want to consider dating.

True love is unconditional, and this type of love must be cultivated from within the individual.

Oh no please tell me i wont have 30 years of this feelings... I dont think i could take that .... Im still waiting to stop thinking of that person so much. Its not normal for me to NOT be able to move on..

I have tried distancing myself but its very hard... he has also tried distancing himself ... but also fails and we end up talking to each other again a week later. Ive tried dating... but i think the guys i was with can feel that i am not really in the relationship emotionally..... and i do try but as cool as they are or attractive or whatever. I feel my heart is locked up tightly. and my mind is mainly preoccupied with someone else. so out of respect for other people, its best i dont date again... yet i guess.

Well i want it to go away.

Well i am glad i am not obsessed haha... I was just worried, because i dont want to be obsessed.

Distinct differences? Yes, love is Having while obsession is Lacking. What vibrations you give out is what you'll get back. Focus on what you have instead of what you don't have, always!



Outer reality is simply a mirror reflecting back to us our own inner state. If we are inwardly in turmoil then we are certain to see a tumultuous world and a seemingly joyful world is only returning to us our own inward joy.