If you're obsessed by something you cannot control it, your obsession will control you. Obsessions can involve anything from a favourite colour, to not going a day without completing a specific task. Some obsessions go unnoticed whilst others make us who we are. We are all obsessed with day-to-day objects but what shocks us, and what types of weird obsessions exist?
The most common daily obsessions are tanning, cosmetic surgery, technology and fashion, but why are we so obsessed with something a million other people are obsessed with too? Having a different and interesting obsession can add character to a person, or just make them plain weird. Obsessions can often define a person, making them unique.
Pagophagia is an obsessive need to chew on ice and whilst this addiction is usually related to being a sign of low iron in the blood it is certainly an unusual habit. The idea of someone wanting to chew on ice makes me shiver, just thinking about how sensitive my teeth are. This is not something I would choose to obsess over, however most people cannot choose what they are addicted to; many don’t know why they obsess over specific things. Usually society subconsciously influences our obsessions and trends also play a big part in influencing what we are obsessed with. Trends influence pretty much everything in our lives. In the film industry vampires have quickly become extremely popular. Many people are now obsessed with vampires to the extremity that they want to be one. Perhaps if vampires were not ‘in trend’ there would not have been as much interest.
Geophagy describes the extraordinary practice of eating dirt- one of the weirdest obsessions I think I have come across; it’s hard to imagine enjoying the feeling of eating dirt. This addiction certainly hasn’t been influenced by trend, although if it was in trend I cannot imagine people jumping to try the activity of eating dirt.
There’s a particularly interesting obsession I have come across, which is so unique it doesn’t have a scientific name. I discovered the addiction to funerals on the Internet, which I found disturbing. I read about a man from Brazil called Luis Squarisi, whose addiction of funerals started after the citing of his fathers death over twenty years ago. Luis Squarisi now attends every funeral in his hometown. Though this may seem impossible, he obsessively checks the radio, hospitals and local funeral homes making sure he doesn’t miss out. After quitting his job to feed his addiction, the residents of his hometown now see him as their very own celebrity. I would like to understand why people are addicted to funerals, but at the same time the thought of attending one completely puts me off exploring this. I would hope that this addiction means people attend random funerals for good reasons.
I do like the idea of having an unusual obsession or addiction, but I don’t think I’m ready to try anything too extreme just yet. I think there’s a fine line between an interesting obsession and a weird obsession, but what is the right balance? I believe we should be creative with our obsessions and consider trying extreme addictions. You never know how obsessed you may become
