Obsessive Love

When Passion Holds You Prisoner

By: Dr. Susan Forward, Craig Buck

Narrated by: Dr. Susan Forward

Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Millions of otherwise rational and mature men and women are driven to self defeating, out-of-control behavior by intense, unfulfilled desire. Millions of others—targets of their obsession—find their lives turned upside down by unwanted attention, harassment, and attempts at coercion.

Acclaimed therapist Dr. Susan Forward offers crucial help to both obsessors and targets. Using vivid case histories, drawn largely from her two decades of practice, Dr. Forward outlines the stage of obsessive love—from romance to rejection, from pursuit to revenge.

In a compassionate exploration of the roots of obsessive love, targets are given practical strategies for assertive communication and self-protection. Obsessors learn proven techniques to reduce their torment and to bring self-destructive behavior under control, allowing for the development of new, healthy relationships.

©2002 Susan Forward (P)2009 Phoenix Books

Looking for more

I am obsessive. I was hoping to get some insight and a few pointers. She definitely gave some exercises to do that I will be trying. I get really desperate when rejected romantically even if the person is horrid. Of course I do this because my father left. Of course my mother was not emotionally available due to being a single mom with four children and a cheating, absent husband. It seems like we who have obsessive issues with men when rejected are well aware of the why. We need the how to be as widely known. I wish there were separate books for those who have obsessive partners they want to leave and another book for those who are the ones who cannot let go. It’s not multiple calls or drive by bad. Just super sad and the more they reject, the more I want. I know for a fact had he not cheated and dumped me, I would have left him a long time ago. We obsessive people need our own book. The ones that aren’t violent or stalkerish

lifechanging read

Would you listen to Obsessive Love again? Why?

Yes, many times. Dr Forward prescribes a very very effective set of exercises to break the habit of obsession. It's worth learning

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I believe I have listened to it... well in maybe two sittings

Any additional comments?

Great insight into people. It's sad that we can misplace our dignity to such an extent. I think we have accepted behaviors in our relationships that could lead to no other result but obsession. We hurt ourselves and each other in culturally condoned ways. I find this book to be a great tool for recognizing it and stopping it.

Revealing and healing

This book completely opened my eyes for the first time to what I had been doing over and over in my life. I knew it was a pattern but could never figure out why I was doing it or how to stop. With the help of the words of advice plus the exercises that are given, I do believe there is so much hope that I will not only be able to stop my obsessive behavior with my relationships but I also have hope to someday be comfortable with a normal relationship for which I have never known. I believe working with my therapist and some of the other new and healthy concepts I have been practicing, there is great hope for a better tomorrow. I am grateful for the knowledge this book imparted on me and the narrator is also very convincing and speaks with clarity. I listen to this book a few times a week. Thanks for the great book. I give it 5 stars.

Verys insightful and enlightening

I found I wanted to "binge listen" to this book after the first few minutes. Dr. Fortune's presentation is excellent and her understanding of the difficulties of the condition are profound. She has given me the needed wakeup call to examine and deal with my own distressing behavior. Thank you, Susan.

Thank you for writing this book.

The final stages in understanding my behaviors and my feelings. I wish I had found this book a year ago. But I appreciate her reassurances that it's not too late to change.

Gave me clarity

Ms. Forward really speaks to her audience in such a way as not to belittle them, doesn't make them feel crazy, but also makes her points clear. Most of the points she made in this book, I'd come to understand on my own over time. However, hearing it from a professional confirmed what I suspected. She introduced different perspectives of obsession in romances and it really provoked me to consider things I'd either not considered before, or didn't want to. Knowing that other people struggle with becoming too absorbed with another person and improperly dealing with rejection makes me feel like I'm not crazy and I can recover in time. Some of these stories are a little extreme and may not apply, but she speaks to a variety of people with different intensities of obsession and different roles in obsession-influenced relationships. I'm still working on me, but this gave me enough clarity to stop being hurt in confusion.

Insightful book and narration

The narrator was very vivid in presenting both the theory and case studies. I found the book not only informative but insightful, since I am struggling ti find answers to specific oroblems. Thank you!

fascinating topic , really eye opening

i was always fascinated about the topic of stalkers be either from movies, books or shows. i always wonder what happens in the mind of obsessive people on there take of love . Dr susan did a marvellous job in explaining the insite on how and why on 'obsessive love' ,not to mention she explains the behavior of obsessive people, but also the one who are being observed by them. all in all so glad i perchance this audible .definitely will re-hear this book more in the future.

Good for if you can’t let go

If you’re obsessed or you have a partner who won’t leave you alone, this is the book for you.. I was a little bit of both, which book also discusses called co dependency

Right ON

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book accurately described what is going on when I experience extremes in love.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Obsessive Love?

The checklists were diagnostic.