What is the most common obsession?

What Is the Most Common Obsession? You Might Relate

Obsession: It’s not just “I love this song” on repeat

Let’s get something straight: obsession isn’t always dramatic or dangerous like the movies make it out to be. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sneaky. It looks like overthinking. Like double-checking that text five times before you hit send. Like spiraling into what-if scenarios at 3AM for no real reason.

But if we’re asking what the most common obsession is—especially in a psychological sense—there’s one that takes the lead by far. And yes, it might surprise you.

Obsessive thoughts vs just being “really into” something

There’s a difference—trust me, I’ve learned the hard way

I once told my therapist (yeah, I’m that guy): “I think I’m obsessed with fitness.”
She looked at me for a second and said:
"Is it affecting your relationships or mental health?"
I paused. "...No. But I do meal prep like a maniac."
She smiled: "That's dedication. Obsession is a little darker than that."

Obsessions—real ones—are repetitive, intrusive thoughts that are hard to stop. They’re uncomfortable. Even irrational. And they’re usually part of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), though not always.

So, what’s the most common one?

The winner: fear of contamination and cleanliness

Yup. Germs. Dirt. The invisible enemy.

The most common obsession is the fear of being contaminated, or contaminating others. Think:

• Obsessively washing hands (even until they bleed)

• Avoiding door handles, public restrooms, or touching money

• Feeling dirty even when there’s no actual dirt

COVID made this ten times worse for a lot of people. I had a friend, Mina, who used to just be a neat freak. After the pandemic hit? She couldn't leave her apartment without sanitizing every surface within reach—including her steering wheel. Twice.

And while hygiene is good, the obsessive part is when you know it’s irrational but you can’t stop.

It’s not about being “clean”—it’s about control

Here’s what’s wild: most people with contamination obsessions know the germs aren’t as dangerous as they feel. But the compulsion to clean becomes a way to feel safe, or at least “less anxious.”

It’s not about soap. It’s about fear.

Other common obsessions worth mentioning

Perfectionism & fear of making a mistake

This one’s mine. (And probably half my Twitter feed.)

It shows up like:

• Re-reading emails 6 times before sending

• Not being able to leave the house until the pillow is exactly aligned

• Obsessing over whether you offended someone—even if they said "you're fine"

I literally spent 45 minutes rewriting a message to my boss once because I was convinced “Let me know if that works” sounded too aggressive.

Relationship obsessions

Ever overthink a text from someone you like for 2 hours? Wondered “What if I don’t really love them?” or “What if they cheat even though everything’s fine?”

These are called relationship OCD thoughts. Not as rare as you’d think.

And they’re exhausting.

So what do you do if you relate to this?

First: don’t panic. You’re not broken.

Everyone has weird thoughts. Everyone double-checks things sometimes. But if it feels constant, distressing, and disrupting, you might want to talk to a therapist.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) are gold-standard treatments for OCD-related obsessions. They’ve helped people manage—even quiet—the noise.

I started therapy after realizing I couldn’t enjoy my vacation because I kept obsessing over whether I left the stove on (I hadn’t even cooked).
That was my wake-up.

Second: give yourself a break

You’re human. Obsession is just your brain trying—badly—to protect you. The trick isn’t to fight the thought, but to stop reacting like it’s a five-alarm fire.

Easier said than done, I know. But you’re not alone in this.

Final thoughts: The most common obsession is also the most misunderstood

So, what’s the most common obsession?

Contamination fears.
But behind that, it’s really about fear. Of harm. Of losing control. Of being unsafe. And those are feelings everyone has sometimes.

Obsessions don’t define you.
How you respond to them—that’s where the power is.

And if today all you can do is say, “Okay brain, I see you. But I’m still going,” then you’re already winning.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.