![]() ![]() This interference with one’s daily life is the point at which intrusive thoughts cross the line from a normal annoyance into something for which people should seek professional help, Varma said.Ĭompletely eliminating intrusive thoughts isn’t possible because they’re normal for most people, experts said. Intrusive thoughts about contamination can lead to constantly washing one’s hands until they’re raw. People may spend lots of time seeking reassurance - from others or the internet - that their thoughts are or aren’t valid. Incestuous intrusive thoughts can mean someone stops visiting family members. Someone with hit-and-run intrusive thoughts, for example, may conclude they shouldn’t drive, or they’ll repeatedly circle back around the block to ensure they didn’t harm anyone. How to protect your mental health while keeping tabs on the Israel-Hamas war “What they’re teaching themselves is that the compulsions are necessary in order to relieve themselves of their distress, and that creates the OCD cycle,” she added. To quiet this anxiety and avoid harming others, some people may turn to physical or mental behaviors known as compulsions, Woodrow said. Unhealthy ways of coping with intrusive thoughtsĭisturbing intrusive thoughts can lead to intense shame, embarrassment, guilt, depression, and anxiety or fear about one’s character or what they might do, experts said. Others may fear there is something on their hand that will get them and everyone else sick. Someone with a strong moral compass may have extreme thoughts about unknowingly discriminating against people, such as whether they used a racial slur in a work email. ![]() “You’re hanging out with your grandmother, and you think about, ‘What if I had sex with my grandmother?’” said Jon Abramowitz, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There are also incestuous intrusive thoughts. Wait, did I think she was adorable, or was I attracted to her?’” Woodrow said.Ĭertain types of music could help you feel less pain, new study says “That can be seeing a child and going, ‘Oh, she’s really cute. Someone who loves children may wonder if they’re a pedophile. ![]() In addition to running someone over or pushing your partner off a cliff, other violent intrusive thoughts include wanting to harm your newborn baby or imagining yourself losing control and stabbing yourself with a kitchen knife. Intrusive thoughts are often seen in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, anxiety or depression, experts said.Įxperts aren’t sure what causes these thoughts, only that they can come up more during stressful times due to a need for certainty or control over one’s environment, Varma said. They can be more severe for people with mental health disorders - a group more likely to believe the thought has truth or relevance, Woodrow said. Most people have intrusive thoughts, but for many they come up occasionally and are inconvenient at worst, experts said. Regardless of the nature of the content, its target is often about what people care about most, said Stephanie Woodrow, clinical director of the National Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center in Washington, DC. ![]() Vegan raw vegetables on green wooden table full frame background Mediterranean/iStockphoto/Getty Imagesįoods that improve brain function and mood ![]()
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