Feelings can be considered pathological when they bring excessive suffering
Jealousy is something that is part of life and relationships, romantic or otherwise. Some studies even believe that the reaction plays an important role in keeping a couple together in a monogamous society.
But the feeling can become a disease when it becomes an obsession and brings excessive suffering to the person himself or even to those who are the target of the feeling. When this happens, we say that the person has “pathological jealousy.”
When jealousy becomes an illness
Individuals suffering from pathological jealousy suffer from constant reflections and, often, irrational ideas about their partner’s alleged infidelity. These repetitive, unpleasant thoughts often accompany compulsive monitoring of your partner’s behavior.
Another rarer and more serious disorder, linked to feelings, is the so-called “delusional jealousy”, also known as “Othello syndrome”, in reference to Shakespeare’s tragedy. In this case there is an important component, which is delirium. In this way, delusional jealousy is treated as a psychotic disorder.
See some signs of pathological jealousy:
– excessive jealousy, without the presence of delirium
– irrational and suspicious thoughts about your partner’s infidelity
– excessive behavior in seeking information on suspects
– feelings of anger, fear and sadness when thinking about the topic
– verbal or even physical violence against your partner or other people due to jealousy
– thoughts and behaviors generate anguish and damage relationships
– the person experiences physical symptoms when thinking about what their partner might do, such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, lack of appetite, insomnia, etc.
How to control jealousy?
What advice would you give to someone who is very jealous and would like to improve? The first step is to recognize that the feeling exists and try to understand where it comes from. Many times in the past, the partnership has provided reasons why the other was unsure. In other situations, this insecurity stems from individual problems, such as lack of self-esteem.
The important thing is that the dialogue is constant, and that trust and respect prevail, so that jealousy is reserved only as a “spice” to the relationship, instead of dominating the scene.
It is useful to talk to friends to give yourself some inspiration, to try to understand the point of view of other people who are on the outside and who can offer some ideas. But in some situations, therapy also helps to understand and overcome jealousy and relationship problems.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
