Dec 10 / 2020

The 6 differences between mania and obsession

Two clinical psychology concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.

Many times, in everyday language, the terms "mania" and "obsession" are confused; thus, we use these concepts interchangeably, when in fact, they are different concepts.

In this article, we will know the 6 differences between mania and obsession.We will refer to 6 criteria or parameters that allow us to distinguish between them. First, but, we will explain what each of these concepts consists of, mentioning some examples.

What are mania and obsession?

Before knowing the six differences between mania and obsession, let's know the meaning (or meanings) of each of these concepts below.

1. Mania

It should be clarified that mania, in turn, can take on two different meanings: on the one hand, we find the mania characteristic of a bipolar disorder, which consists of an alteration of mood, which becomes expansive and euphoric (manic episodes). This meaning of mania is more severe than the following one.

On the other hand, the concept of mania also alludes to small behaviors that we people maintain as a ritual or for superstitious reasons: for instance or for superstitious reasons: for example, sleeping with a small light on, closing the doors with the right hand, cleaning the vases in the same way, etc.

In other words, they are a kind of rituals that people have, particular ways of doing things, which imply that we always do them in the same way (they are "rigid" ideas or behaviors).

In this article we will refer to the second meaning of mania that we have explained. Before explaining the six differences between mania and obsession, but, let's see what an obsession is.

2. Obsession

Obsessions are characteristic of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and consist of recurrent and persistent thoughts, images or impulses, which are experienced by the person as intrusive and inappropriate. In addition, they generate high anxiety or discomfort.

That is to say, they are thoughts to which we turn compulsively, ideas that come to our heads and that we cannot avoid thinking. They appear in the mind of people in a permanent and fixed way (they burst into it), and the person can feel dominated by them. They are very difficult to control or to stop.

Examples of OCD obsessions are: thinking that the hands are always dirty (and consequently washing them every "X" minutes; this would be the compulsion), thinking that the door has not been closed properly before leaving, thinking that the gas has not been turned off before leaving, thinking that if "X" action is not taken, something bad will happen, etc.

It is worth mentioning that obsessions can also appear outside an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, in "healthy" people (without mental pathology), although their characteristics may vary slightly. Thus, an obsession could also be a person (thinking about that person compulsively), or an idea in relation to that person, for example.

The differences between mania and obsession

We are going to see the differences between mania and obsession, alluding to different parameters or criteria.

Degree of intrusion

The degree of intrusiveness refers to the ability of something to interfere with our mind or daily functioning.. In this case, an obsession is much more intrusive than a mania, since it can come to condition important aspects of our daily life, and in addition, it bursts into our consciousness more intensely than a mania.

This is appreciated, in addition, because the obsessions generally (although not always) are part of a mental disorder that in many occasions can be serious: the OCD. Manias, on the other hand, appear more typically in people without a mental disorder, i.e., in the general population.

Frequency of occurrence in the population

The second parameter to explain the differences between mania and obsession is their frequency of occurrence in the population.

Thus, obsessions are less frequent than manias, if we take into account that almost all people have some mania(s).. Obsessions, on the other hand, appear in the vast majority of cases of OCD (obsessions and/or compulsions must appear in order to diagnose OCD); outside of OCD they also appear, but in comparison to manias, not so much, since they are more severe.

3. Severity

Another criterion that differentiates mania from obsession, closely related to the first one we mentioned (degree of intrusion), refers to severity. Thus, obsessions are more serious, because they generate significant discomfort or anxiety..

In addition, the vast majority of obsessions entail for the person the need to apply a compulsion (action that reduces the anxiety caused by the obsession), which, if not performed, increases the patient's anxiety; this aspect gives a greater degree of severity to the obsession.

On the other hand, manias, although they can generate a certain uneasiness or feeling of discomfort if they are not carried out, do not usually cause so much anxiety. On the other hand, it is easier for people to incorporate manias as "part of their personality" or their "way of being" than obsessions.

4. Population suffering from them

As we have already mentioned on some occasions manias appear both in the general population (without mental disorder) and in the clinical population (in the context of a mental disorder). (in the context of some mental disorder) (certainly in this second population they acquire greater severity).

However, most manias appear in the first group (general population); thus, surely we all know friends, relatives (or even oneself) with certain manias.

Obsessions, on the other hand, although they can also appear in the clinical or general population, are more likely to appear in the clinical population (in the context of OCD or another disorder, such as schizophrenia or paranoid personality disorder).

5. Origin

More differences between mania and obsession are found in their origin or cause. Thus, obsessions appear, generally, as a consequence of suffering from OCD (it is the disorder par excellence where they appear). The origin of OCD is not well known, but it is known that stressful or anxious states exacerbate OCD symptoms (and therefore accentuate obsessions).

Manias are also associated with states of anxiety or high emotional states.. On the other hand, they can also appear because one is undergoing a process of internal change. That is to say, that the origin of manias and obsessions is usually similar, although with the corresponding nuances.

6. Frequency of appearance of the symptoms

While obsession is usually of a permanent nature (i.e., it does not disappear until the compulsion is realized or, in the case of obsessions without compulsion, they usually remain), mania tends to be intermittent..

That is to say, the latter usually appears and disappears "just like that", without the need to perform a compensatory action as would be the compulsion.

Bibliographical references:

American Psychiatric Association -APA- (2014). DSM-5. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Madrid: Panamericana.
Belloch, A., Sandín, B. and Ramos, F. (2010). Manual de Psicopatología. Volume I and II. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.
Triglia, Adrián; Regader, Bertrand; García-Allen, Jonathan (2016). Psychologically speaking. Paidós.

(Updated at Apr 14 / 2024)