Often, 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 , referring to 6 criteria or parameters that allow us to distinguish them. First, however, we will explain what each of these concepts consists of, mentioning some examples.

Recommended articles:

  • “Mania: symptoms, associated disorders and treatment”
  • “What is an obsession? Causes, symptoms and treatment”

What are mania and obsession?

Before we learn the six differences between mania and obsession, let’s learn the meaning (or meanings) of each of these concepts below.

1. Mania

It should be clarified that mania, in turn, can take 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 serious than the following one.

On the other hand, the concept of mania also refers to small behaviours that we keep as a ritual 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.

That is, 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 the mania 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.

In other words, these are thoughts that we compulsively turn to, ideas that come to mind and that we cannot help thinking about. They appear in people’s minds in a permanent and fixed way (they burst in), and the person can feel dominated by them. They are very difficult to control or stop.

Examples of OCD obsessions are: thinking that your hands are always dirty (and consequently washing them every “X” minutes; this would be the compulsion), thinking that you haven’t closed the door properly before going out, thinking that you haven’t turned off the gas before going out, thinking that if you don’t do “X” action, 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 can vary slightly. Thus, an obsession could also be a person (thinking about it compulsively), or an idea in relation to that person, for example.

Differences between mania and obsession

Let’s see the differences between mania and obsession, alluding to different parameters or criteria.

1. Degree of intrusion

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

This is also true because obsessions are usually (but not always) part of a mental disorder that can often be serious: OCD. Manias, on the other hand, more typically appear in people without a mental disorder, that is, in the general population.

2. Frequency of occurrence in the population

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

Thus, obsessions are less frequent than hobbies, considering that almost everyone has some hobby(s) . Obsessions, on the other hand, appear in the vast majority of OCD cases (it is necessary for obsessions and/or compulsions to appear in order to be able to diagnose OCD); outside it they also appear, but in comparison to manias, not so much, as they are more serious.

3. Gravity

Another criterion that differentiates mania from obsession, very much in relation to the first one we mentioned (degree of intrusion) refers to gravity. Thus, obsessions are more serious, because they generate a significant discomfort or anxiety .

In addition, the vast majority of obsessions involve the need for the person to apply a compulsion (an 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, hobbies, 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 “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 some mental disorder) (surely in this second population they become more serious).

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

Obsessions, on the other hand, although they can also appear in the clinical or general population, are more common 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 can be found in their origin or cause. Thus, obsessions usually appear as a consequence of suffering from OCD (it’s 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 the symptoms of OCD (and therefore accentuate the obsessions).

Hobbies are also associated with states of anxiety or high emotional states . On the other hand, they can also appear because a process of internal change is being experienced. In other words, the origin of manias and obsessions is usually similar, although with the corresponding nuances.

6. Frequency of onset of symptoms

While the obsession is usually permanent (i.e. it does not go away until the compulsion is performed or, in the case of non-compulsive obsessions, it usually remains), the mania tends to be intermittent .

In other words, the latter usually appears and disappears “just like that”, without the need for compensatory action such as compulsion.

Bibliographic 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 of Psychopathology. Volume I and II. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.

  • Triglia, Adrián; Regader, Bertrand; García-Allen, Jonathan (2016). Psychologically speaking. Paidós.