Are you a compulsive or an obsessive person?

Similarities and differences between obsession and compulsion;
Compulsions are similar to obsessions, in the individuals have repetitive, meaningless urges. These usually are displayed in trivial behaviours that take a ritualistic character. Compulsive behaviour include picking up things on the sidewalk or touching every other lamppost.

However, people with compulsions are feeling an anxiety they usually can't define. They believe that by following a
particular ritual they will feel better. These rituals only give temporary pleasure or relief. Because of this, compulsive people often intensify their ritualistic behaviours in the hope of finding some type of lasting emotional relief.

Often persons with compulsions have little magical phrases or incarnations they repeat, they may have a ritual of washing their hands and drying them in a  particular manner before going to bed. 

The difference between obsessions and compulsions, be reminded that's obsession is usually a mental process while a compulsion is a physical process. The former involves thinking more, and the latter involves acting more.

Meanwhile, with an obsession, the individual has an idea or a series of ideas that frequently and tenaciously reoccur. The preoccupation with these fixed ideas, or unwanted feelings, often interferes with the normal thinking process. The individual feels mentally harassed by these thoughts. For instance, an obsessive person might become anxious and worry a great deal about being physically attacked in public. Probably this thoughts of possibly being hurt begin to overwhelm them. They envision people breaking into their homes, being beaten up by a hoodlum, or becoming involved in a violent theft.

These thoughts continue to preoccupy their minds throughout the day and night regardless if they are based on reality or simply imagined. They begin to live their lives in mental fear.

However, a compulsion on the other hand is an irresistible impulse to perform an act in some way regardless of the rationality or motivation. This reaction may even be contrary to one's better judgement. You should know that the physical act of doing something, temporarily releases some of the inner tension the individual is feeling. It seems to help reduce the anxiety for the moment by doing the activity or ritual. The compulsive person would never go out in public without protective devices. They would be constantly looking around to see who was to attack them. Though the inner fear would be carried out in protective behaviours that would go beyond the average person.

NB: it would be impossible to include every emotion or event that creates negative feelings, anxiety, or mental stress in life. The following is a list of most issues, behaviours that generate negative emotions—
Alcoholism, anger, anxiety, gossiping, boredom, cheating, homosexual, fear of failure, left out, masturbation, rejection, resentment and host of others. 

Question is, is it possible to eliminate or at least change some of these negative feelings? The answer is affirmative, capital YES. You can feel great if you want to.

See also people and emotion 

Next we shall be looking at the three questions which must be answered to reach that point of your desired change.