cantstopthinking
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Intrusive thoughts
Are intrusive thoughts the same as obsessions? Or are they two different things?
stelevensteleven
- Date posted
- 2y ago
they can be different I think, but I am no specialist. I am not sure so if someone knows better please correct me. Intrusive thoughts are more general: thoughts that come to your mind but you don't agree with them. Obsessions are a more specific kind of intrusive thoughts, those that you cannot stop thinking about. Note that I am not a specialist and maybe I am totally wrong. I answered because I know sometimes we are on the other side just craving someone to answer us :)
NicaNica
- Date posted
- 2y ago
They’re different things. You can have intrusive thoughts but not have them turn into obsessions and therefore do compulsions to try and “get rid” of the obsession over a particular intrusive thought.
cantstopthinking cantstopthin...
- Date posted
- 2y ago
@Nica so obsessions are basically constantly thinking about a specific intrusive thought?
NicaNica
- Date posted
- 2y ago
@DillonLee “Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) features a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions).” Link to the article for a deeper dive: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432
NicaNica
- Date posted
- 2y ago
I have intrusive thoughts all the time, but there are no obsessions or compulsions because I simply don’t care about my intrusive thoughts, so nothing comes out of them expect them being present for a bit and then floating away.
Matthew L.Matthew L.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y ago
I’m no expert, but I think they are similar in nature. I think obsessions are worrying thoughts about things, while intrusive thoughts are based on events that you’ve done, and worry about afterwards.
Related posts
Chels0212
- Date posted
- 15w ago
Intrusive thoughts
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? 😅
issphra 🫶🏻
- Date posted
- 12w ago
Advice please??? I’m CONFUSED
OK, this might sound really dumb, but when you guys get intrusive thoughts, do they just come once and then go away? I’ve heard that repeatedly thinking about an intrusive thought is considered ‘checking,’ but it doesn’t feel like I have any control over how many times it comes up in my head. It’s not like I’m trying to check anything—it just keeps showing up, almost like it’s terrorizing me every time. I can’t seem to stop it from looping, stop remembering it, or prevent it from coming up. Every time it does, I feel horrified, and I already know it’s going to horrify me. I don’t think I’m actively trying to see if my feelings have changed, so is this still considered checking? How do other people get an intrusive thought and just move on? Doesn’t it pop up a million times for them too? I always thought that was normal, but now I’m hearing this could be a compulsion, and I feel really confused, scared, and lost. Is this why my OCD feels so extreme? Because I really don’t feel like I can control how many times the thought pops up.
- Older adults with OCD
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- OCD newbies
- Relationship OCD
- Young adults with OCD
- Harm OCD
- "Pure" OCD
- POCD
June123
- Date posted
- 12w ago
Intrusive
Does confessing an intrusive thought just make it come back stronger?
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond