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Obsessions are characterized by repeated, intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts that lead to significant distress or anxiety in individuals. These thoughts are often unwanted and can be distressing due to their persistent nature, which can interfere with daily functioning and lead to anxiety disorders, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Individuals experiencing obsessions typically recognize that these thoughts are irrational, but they find it difficult to suppress or ignore them, contributing to their distress.
In contrast, the other options focus on different psychological concepts. The first option describes compulsions, which are the repetitive behaviors individuals perform to alleviate the distress caused by obsessions. The third option relates to emotional expression but does not specifically pertain to obsessions, and the fourth option refers to psychological or somatic symptoms that may be related to conversion disorder or other conditions, rather than to the nature of obsessions themselves.