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When Fascination Becomes Obsession: The Slippery Slope into Madness
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When Fascination Becomes Obsession: The Slippery Slope into Madness

When Fascination Becomes Obsession: How Devotion, Love, and Fixation Spiral Out of Control

Some people collect rare coins.

Others spend thousands of dollars on anime figurines.

Some obsess over a TV show they’ve watched 17 times…

Or a celebrity they’ll never meet.

Or even—serial killers.

Obsession is a funny thing.

Because when it grabs hold of someone?

It doesn’t let go.

But why?

Why do people get so fixated on things that seem bizarre—sometimes even pointless—to the rest of us?

And what does it say about human nature?

Let’s talk about some of the strangest obsessions out there—and what they reveal about the way our brains work.

The People Who Fall in Love with Inanimate Objects

You’ve heard of people falling in love with other people.

But what about someone who falls in love with a bridge?

Yeah. That’s a real thing.

A woman named Erika Eiffel famously “married” the Eiffel Tower in 2007.

She claims to have an emotional and physical connection with the structure.

And she’s not alone.

There are people who claim to have romantic relationships with cars, buildings, and even fences.

10 People Who Fell in Love with Inanimate Objects - Toptenz.net

Psychologists call it Objectophilia—a condition where people form deep emotional bonds with inanimate objects.

To the rest of us?

It seems insane.

But to them?

It’s real love.

2. The Cult of True Crime

Why do so many people love watching hours of serial killer documentaries?

Why are there entire forums dedicated to Ted Bundy’s favorite snack?

Why do some women write love letters to convicted murderers?

True crime is an obsession

Why (some) women want to date serial killers

Some psychologists say it’s about understanding danger.

A way for people to learn:

“How do I protect myself?”

Others say it’s about control.

Because watching crime unfold from the safety of your couch makes the world feel a little less chaotic.

And then…

There are the people who just can’t look away from the darkness.

Maybe they don’t even know why.

3. The People Who Think They’re Animals

Otherkin and Therian People See Themselves as Animals - ATTN:

Some people dress up as foxes, wolves, or dragons…

And insist they are not human.

Tom Woodbridge

This is called Otherkin—a community of people who believe they are spiritually or mentally not of this world.

Erik Sprague

Some say they are reincarnated elves.

Others claim to be vampires.

And yes—there are even self-proclaimed werewolves.

Is it just escapism?

A way to feel unique?

Or something deeper—like a genuine disconnect from reality?

Whatever it is…

They’re committed.

And they’re dead serious about it.

4. The Fanboys Who Take It Too Far

Image may contain Clothing Apparel Swimwear Bikini Valeria Lukyanova Human Person and Skin

Some people love Marvel movies.

Some people love Star Wars.

Star Wars1

But then…

There are the people who will threaten to kill a director if their favorite character dies.

UberFacts on X: "10 people who had plastic surgery to look like celebrities...  http://t.co/8whUJMoQP7 http://t.co/gJwImTlP2i" / X

Fandom obsession has spiraled out of control.

Some fans:

  • Track down actors’ personal addresses.

  • Send death threats over a movie ending.

  • Start online wars over which franchise is superior.

Why?

Christina Grimmie's killer had no personal connection to her | CBC News

Because when people attach their identity to something…

They take any attack on it personally.

It’s not just a movie.

It’s who they are.

And when something threatens that identity?

They lose the

ir minds.

5. The People Who Hoard Everything

Some people can’t throw away a single newspaper.

Stream Hoarding: Buried Alive | discovery+

Others keep thousands of dolls in their house…

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Even when they have no space left to live.

Massive Clean Up Is No Cure For Hoarding : Shots - Health News : NPR

Hoarding is an obsession with things.

And it’s not just about collecting.

It’s about control.

Some hoarders say that getting rid of things feels like losing a part of themselves.

A hoarder’s cluttered living space, filled with towering stacks of newspapers, old furniture, and random household items piled chaotically. Narrow pathways wind through the overwhelming mess. The hoarder, an elderly person with a frazzled appearance, sits amidst the clutter, clutching an old item with sentimental value. The room is dimly lit, with dust floating in the air and a sense of overwhelming chaos.

Others are afraid they might need something later—even if it’s a 30-year-old fast food wrapper.

It’s not about being messy.

It’s about not being able to let go.

6. The Bizarre World of Competitive Eating

Some people take food challenges for fun.

Then there are people like Joey Chestnut, who has eaten 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Why Is Joey Chestnut Banned from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest? All About  the Pro Eater

Or Matt Stonie, who can eat 22 pounds of food in one sitting.

Food Challenges Are the Best Thing to Watch on Youtube | by Jogger the  Blogger | Medium

These guys aren’t just eating.

They’re obsessed.

They train their stomachs like athletes.

They stretch them out by drinking gallons of water.

They practice swallowing without chewing.

Why?

Because for them…

It’s not about food.

It’s about winning.

7. The People Who Devote Their Lives to Conspiracy Theories

Some people dip into conspiracy theories for fun.

Others lose themselves completely

Why Conspiracy Theories Are Fast Becoming Mainstream

They quit their jobs.

They lose friends and family.

They spend every waking moment chasing something they can’t prove.

The Conspiracy Files : Throughline : NPR

Some believe the Earth is flat.

Some think celebrities are reptilian shapeshifters.

Conspiracy Theories and Human Psychology - The University of Chicago  Divinity School

Some insist the moon landing was fake.

Why do they go so deep?

Because conspiracy theories offer certainty.

In a chaotic world, they make people feel like they have the answers.

Like they’re one of the few who “gets it.”

And once they believe?

There’s no going back.

The Guru Follower

It started as self-improvement.

Religion, Libertarian Cults And The American West In 'Wild Wild Country' :  NPR

A book, a podcast, a retreat. Just a little guidance, a little wisdom, a little “higher consciousness.”

Wild Wild Country: Cult Doc Directors Answer All Your Burning Questions |  Vanity Fair

But then the guru’s voice became their voice. Their words became scripture. Their identity? Fused with the teachings.

Rajneeshpuram Was More than a Utopia in the Desert. It Was a Mirror of the  | National Endowment for the Humanities

Now, they quote the guru in casual conversation.

They repost every sermon, buy every exclusive course, chase every retreat like a pilgrim seeking the promised land.

Their bookshelf is an altar, their mindset a mirror. Doubt is “ego resistance.” Criticism is “low vibration.” Every problem?

A lesson in disguise.

They don’t just follow. They surrender.

The guru knows the way, and they will not stray.

Because to question the master is to question themselves. And they are not ready for that.

What Do All These Obsessions Have in Common?

They seem insane to the rest of us.

But to the people who live them?

They’re dead serious.

Because obsession isn’t just about liking something.

It’s about:
Identity – Feeling like it’s part of who you are.
Control – A way to manage anxiety, fear, or uncertainty.
Escape – A way to step out of reality for a while.
Belonging – Finding people who think the same way.

And sometimes…

Obsession goes too far.

It stops being a hobby.

And it starts being a prison.

So… What Are YOU Obsessed With?

Maybe it’s harmless.

Maybe it’s a little too much.

Either way—

We all have something we just can’t let go of.

The only question is…

Are you controlling it?

Or is it controlling you?

Some obsessions are loud.
Others are silent.
Like chasing approval.
Or needing to be needed.
At Self-Love University, we study the quiet addictions—
the patterns that wear your name but don’t serve your soul.
If you’re ready to let go of what’s gripping you…
class is in session when you are.

Until next time,

Anton

Dancer, Writer, Buddhist.

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