How do I get rid of intrusive thoughts?
I have OCD (or, rather, I now have obsessive-compulsive tendencies; after treatment it is no longer a disorder for me), and I had intrusive thoughts that were disturbing and graphic (deliberately crashing into oncoming traffic, stabbing people if I picked up a pair of scissors, etc). I spent five months seeing a cognitive-behavioral therapist, and I'm no longer troubled by intrusive thoughts. In therapy OCD patients learn both that everyone has random disturbing thoughts at some point (doesn't mean a person will ever act on them!) and the techniques that can be used to break the obsession on the intrusive thoughts. On the first day I saw my therapist, he gave me a long list (multiple pages) of answers from an anonymous survey asking people about their intrusive thoughts. These were people without OCD who were just found in the general population. Their thoughts were actually much more graphic, aggressive, and disturbing than mine had been (sex with family members, putting their dog in the oven and roasting it, pulling out their eyeballs), and it made me feel much better to see that intrusive thoughts do indeed happen to everyone. The difference is that for people without OCD, the thoughts don't cause them any anxiety. After treatment, my reaction became that of a "normal" person. When such thoughts come to my mind now, which they do far less frequently, they pass through without me giving them any attention and without increasing my overall anxiety level.In my experience and that of other OCD sufferers I've read about, the single best thing a person who is suffering from intrusive thoughts can do is see a therapist who has experience treating people with anxiety disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has a good success rate with OCD patients, and if the disorder is particularly severe, various antidepressants can be used. There is help out there, and it's entirely possible to be a person with OCD (even severe forms) and after treatment go on to lead a perfectly normal life. I highly recommend finding a cognitive-behavioral therapist in your area if you're having this problem.
Is having a song stuck in you head a form of obsessive thought?
If we think about it, an earworm is a musical obsessive thought. It has the same neurophysiological (wow, what a word!) basis as obsessive thoughts, counting rituals, etc.In clinical terms, an earworm is a manifestation/symptom associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(OCD) or with low levels of the neurotransmitter Serotonin. It may be an indication that you are depressed.Basically the answer to your question is; yes, it is an obsessive thought.
Is it possible for me to meditate with ADHD and intrusive thoughts?
I'm in a martial arts class (starting again tomorrow). I had to quit for a while because we have to meditate, and I can't. That's where my depression comes in, and I get really frustrated with myself and I start crying and I no longer have any confidence or self esteem, much less enough to pretend I know what I'm doing in that class. I have never had fewer than three different topics and conversations in my head at once, never not had a song stuck in my head, never been able to relax thanks to my anxiety but mostly my debilitating intrusive thoughts. I'll think things like, "I'll kill myself" (I am getting help, I'm on medication, I don't plan to kill myself. It's just an intrusive thought) to this, in reply, I always think "NO". These back and forth thoughts wouldn't be so bad if they weren't CONSTANT. I get them every five seconds. Sometimes it's just one word echoing in my head nonstop for days. I have to constantly be engaged in something for these to not drive me insane, but they're ALWAYS there. I'm not engaged in anything when I "meditate". My instructor told me to focus on my breathing, but that only made things worse because I'm into pulmonology and I think too in depth about my lungs and start hypothesizing. Then I feel stupid for not being able to meditate. Cue depressing thoughts. I know I'm not strong enough for this class, but I REALLY want to be and I'm sick of mental illness restricting my achievements.
Intrusive thoughts, embarrising please only people that can help?
I am 13 and have the worst intrusive thoughts. I get them everyday all day. They keep me up, they make me sick, they make me feel like I don't deserve to eat, drink, or have clothing. They make me feel guilty. I have intrusive thoughts that are really embarrising. I get them about the most random ****. I got one about being a pedophile, and it really scared me but I no longer get that one, those thoughts lasted around 2 weeks. Recently I get one about being Attracted to animals. I am in no way wanting to pursue a sexual relationship with an animal, but I am more afraid that I do secretley and trying to tell myself and that I am going to be a freak that no one ever will love. I am no attracted to animals and I try to tell myself that a person that really did have sexual attractions to animals wouldnt feel guilty because their brain is messed up. And I realize that I wouldn't want a boyfriend, or have a boyfriend. What do I do? I get shaky and sick all the time now. Idk what to do. I told my sister but am stuck in califronia with my grandma and need to be home to see a shrink. How do I delay these.... also are they normal? The animal one is bothering me the most because I really love animals. Am a pedophile or zoophile for thinking those thoughts? Thank you! I have 6 more days in Califronia btw.
Intrusive thoughts are ruining my life, someone please help?
Ok this might sound wierd...But you have no control over your sexual thoughts and have for some years probably trained your mind indirectly that is to think sexual thoughts that have later turned into these intrusive thoughts. So my take is also this...as a christian. I remember giving my life to God and these wierd toughts of me cursing Gods name in my head kept coming and i was like wtf? This is wierd! That was when i started giving my life to God though. But this is the only similar thing i can give you the example of that helped me. Everytime i had this thought. I got on my knees and prayed to God. "God make it stop! Im not trying to think this way, bit these thoughts keep coming up in my head. I rebike satan in the name of jesus. STOP!!!!!! I rebuke you satan in the name of Jesus!" And scream! Idk if you are possesed. Im not trying to entertain that assumption either. I brought it up simply because alot of ppl who also have these thoughts are possesd its beyond their control! And they will often go to see an excorcist and the thoughts will relieve them. I would like to give you a sugesstion?... would probably be a lil abstinence so yu can heal your body from any sexual physical and thoughts. You should notice if you keep praying to God and keep abstinence a relief from this torment your mind is going under. And then see a phychiatrist. You could have a minor disorder you dont even know! Its ok! Ya know it isnt your fault love! Hope this isnt t far off stretch for you. it sounds wierd, but believe me its connected. Very connected. Best wishes love! Keep your head up!
Can I remove intrusive thoughts?
Hi Matt, forget the possession ideas here. They are fear based rubbish. Thoughts don't belong to us, we only think they do. All thoughts are every where and we are attracting certain ones [like a radio , tuned into different wave bands], for many complicated reasons, to much to go into here. If you have bad ones you don't want, it is paramount to just and only be aware of them without judgment on your self, without reacting to them in any way. This would only make them stronger and effect you more adversely. As you release them without judgment, they will loose their power over upsetting you believe me. The only power they have over you, is your attachment to them, doesn't matter how bad they are. You could have had a repressed child hood , that was drummed into you to always be good by your parents. Believe me, every one has weird thoughts and don't let them tell you otherwise with there religious piousness.Your ok brother, just take it as a movie , till it dies off by itself, without judging your self and it will loose it's hold on you.
How do I get rid of obsessive useless thoughts?
Help,I suspect I have OCD,recently,my brain keeps popping up obbesive thoughts that I forgot to see something and has the urge to see it in order to relieve the obsessive thought. The most unfortunate thing is,it's unable to see anymore. It's because of this story,my house is being renovated so the floor tiles got replaced and when the worker was installing 1 of the tiles,I only saw 1 side of it and when it's installed,I can't see the other side anymore (bottom). Like,the top part is the part when we look down at the floor which's visible all the time and the other side is the surface where adhesives are added to stick the tile. I know this is quite ridiculous for my mind to pop up this thought. It was a very hard job for the worker to install the tile,and it's not logic for me to ask him to remove it just so that I can do the urge to relieve my mind. I suspect this is OCD. There must be a way to get rid of this ridiculous obsession out of my mind from annoying me everyday. Please help? How to convince my mind? I fear this obsessive thought had stick into my mind until I pass away,which makes me depressed and have no mood to continuing living. What;s the point of staying alive when my mind is stuck? It's suffering. I don't want brain surgeries. And it's not logic to remove the hard work or floor tile just to serve my mind. So how???Related: I think I might have OCD,anything I can do to stop it? How to get rid of a stuck thought that requires me to do something that can't be done anymore? How to get rid of a stuck useless thought in my mind?Ugh...this is getting serious. Now my mind is generating a thought that my whole life is ruined just because I opened a quest menu in a game more than 3 times. The reason is my mind recognizes there’s a 4th time in the 27 times and 4 is a bad number.Help?