If you feel you have more intrusive thoughts than normal or that you often dwell on these thoughts, you may be suffering from one of these disorders. They can also be a symptom of depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder, or Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The two most common diagnoses associated with intrusive thoughts are anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). However, if you find yourself dealing with unwanted, violent, disturbing, or bizarre thoughts on a regular basis, you may be dealing with a serious mental health issue.
Overcome intrusive thoughts how to#
When we have a healthy, neurotypical brain and a good grasp on how to monitor our own thoughts and allow them to pass right on by, intrusive thoughts are nothing more than a blip on our radar. If I tell you NOT to think about a purple elephant-you can think about anything else in the world, but do not let the image of a purple elephant come into your mind-how long do you think you can last before an image of a purple elephant pops into your head? For most people, it’s not very long before they succumb to the image they have been instructed not to see. The more we try not to think of something, the more we end up thinking of it. If you don’t pay attention or get involved with them, they dissipate and get washed away in the flow of consciousness” (2018).Īlthough we aren’t sure where they come from, they keep coming back to bother you sitting there, dwelling on them. “Our brains sometimes create junk thoughts, and these thoughts are just part of the flotsam and jetsam of our stream of consciousness. Sally Winston have a particularly interesting way of describing what they believe causes unwanted and intrusive thoughts: Why? Good question!Īnxiety and intrusive thought experts Dr. Hannah Reese (2011) posits that perhaps these thoughts manifest because we do not want to act in that way in other words, although we would never actually consider doing some of the things we think about, our brain just spits out one of the most inappropriate things it can imagine. However, instead of the problem staying politely buried, it finds other ways to work its way up to the surface.ĭr. Perhaps they are struggling with relationship problems, stress at work, or frustration with parenting and trying to keep it from bubbling over. Psychologist Lynn Somerstein (2016) suggests that perhaps recurring or frequent intrusive thoughts are a sign that there is something difficult or something going wrong in a person’s life. We’re not really sure why intrusive thoughts suddenly pop into our heads, but some psychologists have theories. What Causes Intrusive Thoughts and Are They Normal? They’re thoughts we all have at some point, but for some people, these thoughts get “stuck” and cause great distress (Seif & Winston, 2018).
Intrusive thoughts are thoughts that enter your consciousness, often without warning or prompting, with content that is alarming, disturbing, or just flat-out weird. What Are Intrusive Thoughts: Meaning/Definition Self Help: Managing Intrusive Thoughts (including CBT worksheet).Treatment Options: Therapy, Hypnosis, and Medications.Intrusive Thoughts and Other Mental Health Issues.Examples of Intrusive Thoughts: About Death, In Relationships, During Climax, and Violent in Nature.What Causes Intrusive Thoughts and Are they Normal?.What are Intrusive Thoughts: Meaning/Definition?.
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