Article: If you're obsessed with a person, spending time with someone else is one of the best ways to make a change. All the energy you poured into the subject of your obsession will now be spent getting to know someone else. Sign up for a class, socialize at the dog park, or get to know your current friends even better. Becoming closer to other people will help you realize how much more the world has to offer than your singular obsession. Avoid comparing new people in your life to the person you're obsessed with. Try to enjoy their unique characteristics instead of molding them into another's shape. Even if your obsession isn't a person, meeting new people can be a big help. They'll introduce you to perspectives and ideas you've never encountered before. Maybe "trying new things" seems like the canned solution to every problem, but that's because it can really work. Learning a new skill or getting better at a new activity can wake up your brain and create a shift in perspective that will help you get out of the rut you're in. Show your obsession that it doesn't control you by spending your time on other thingsanything, really, that isn't related to your obsession. For example, if you're obsessed with a person who hates going to art museums and watching foreign films, now's your chance to dive into these activities you've avoided for that person's sake. If you're obsessed with a certain subject, try learning about something completely different for a change. If your obsession is fueled in part by your habits, like taking a certain route to work every day so you can pass by your ex's neighborhood, it's time to shake things up. Reflect for a moment: which habits need to be broken because they're helping you stay hopelessly obsessed? You can probably come up with the answer right away. Make a real effort to change up your routineit'll be hard at first, but you should notice a difference in the strength of your obsessive thoughts before too long. Here are a few changes that might help you make a mental shift: Take a different route to work or school Work out in a different gym, or go to the gym at a different time of day to avoid seeing someone you're obsessed with Instead of getting online first thing in the morning to check your email and go straight to your regular websites, start your day with meditation, a jog, or walking your dog Go to different hangout spots on the weekends Listen to different music while you work If you're tired of an obsession controlling your thoughts and habits, take back control by making some personal changes. It might sound drastic, but sometimes you need to change things up just to show yourself you're still capable of doing it. Pick something in your life that's symbolic of your obsession and do something to make it feel fresh and new again. Maybe for you, a makeover means changing something about your appearance. If you've been growing your hair long because you think the person you're obsessed with likes it that way, why not change things up and cut it off? Get a short, chic style that has nothing to do with them whatsoever. If you spend your time online going to the same sites over and over, maybe it's time to give your room or office a makeover. Rearrange the furniture and get a few new pieces. Clean up your desk and decorate it with new pictures or knick knacks. Get rid of anything that reminds you of what you don't want to think about, and surround yourself with things that remind you you're moving forward. Sometimes an obsession runs so deep and holds so fast that it's impossible to get rid of it on your own. If you can't seem to keep your obsession under control, and it's affecting your ability to be happy, schedule an appointment with a therapist. A professional counselor will be able to give you tools you can use to regain control of your thoughts and take charge of your life again. If you have certain repeating thoughts that don't go away, or if you have to repeat certain rituals over and over, you may have an anxiety disorder called obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If this is the case, it's important to talk to get help so that you have access to therapies and medications used to treat OCD.

What is a summary?
Strengthen your relationships with other people. Pursue new interests. Make changes in your daily routine. Makeover your life. Talk to a therapist.