Intrusive thoughts

I’ve had many types of OCD, but I gained control over them over the years, but a new one has started to arise. Do y’all ever have scary thoughts about something you might do? Recently I’ll get extremely uncomfortable no matter where I am because I can’t stop thinking about “what if I screamed really loud in my lecture class tomorrow?” And other stupid stuff like that. Also, this one is kind of funny, but sometimes when I use the bathroom I pause before because I think “what if I’m actually in class right now?” I also cannot control the thoughts about past embarrassing moments. I know everyone does, but I will become visibly uncomfortable and harp on something from years ago. This happens all throughout the day. Also, does anyone else do things that resemble tics when you get these thoughts. Like when they happen I’ll curse under my breath or like jerk my head a little bit. When I’m in public I keep it low key but when I’m alone sometimes I’ll physically get up and pace or something when those thoughts happen. Just curious if anyone has had these experiences

Anonymous

Date posted: 23w

yep ive had some similar thoughts, i just try to have a "so what if I do" attitude and bring myself back to the present moment. You might want to practice not responding to thoughts and just letting them be without cursing under your breath or pacing etc. maybe try to limit the amount of times you react each day until you are down to 1 and then zero? that would be my tip 💜

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 21w

It sounds like you’ve been through a lot with OCD, and I hear how frustrating it is to feel like you’ve had control, only to have new intrusive thoughts pop up. What you’re describing those “what if” thoughts about yelling in class or questioning reality in the bathroom are classic examples of intrusive thoughts mixed with that OCD driven need for certainty. They’re weird, uncomfortable, and persistent, but they don’t mean anything about you as a person. The physical responses you mentioned, like cursing under your breath or jerking your head, sound like ways your body is trying to release the tension that comes with these thoughts. It’s not uncommon for people with OCD to have little compulsive movements or verbal responses when they’re overwhelmed by an intrusive thought. You’re definitely not alone in this, and it’s great that you’re noticing these patterns. Have you found anything that helps when these thoughts show up, or do you feel stuck in a loop with them?

Anonymous

Date posted: 21w

@Andrea Futrell When it comes to things that are “irrational” like “if I don’t pray correctly I’ll be committing a sin” I’ve learned to control those thoughts and my Brian can dismiss them as irrational. But with these I can’t really seem to shake them yet. They’re the worst when I have to concentrate, such as reading a textbook. The only thing that gives relief is training for lifting weights but that’s obviously only during the time that I’m actually exercising. So yeah I haven’t found anything to help during daily routines and activities.

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 21w

@Anonymous - It sounds like you’ve done a lot of great work in recognizing and dismissing some of those irrational thoughts, especially when it comes to things like prayer. That’s a huge accomplishment! It makes sense that these newer intrusive thoughts would feel especially challenging when they pop up during moments when you need to focus, like reading or when you’re trying to be productive. The relief you’re getting from weightlifting is interesting because it shows that you’re finding ways to redirect your focus, which is great although, of course, it’s not always something you can carry with you throughout the day. It can be tough when you feel like you don’t have a solid tool to manage these intrusive thoughts in everyday life, but there are definitely ways to work through them outside of just trying to “shake them off.” Have you tried any specific strategies, like grounding techniques or mindfulness, during moments when you need to focus, like while reading or at school?

elro.elephant

Date posted: 24w

Can someone give me advice?

I’m not too sure where to begin so some stuff may be a bit scattered. I’d like to start with the fact that I’m not sure if I just have anxiety or if it is actually OCD. I’ve been dealing with these intrusive thoughts for as long as I can remember. TRIGGER WARNING NEXT PARAGRAPH Stuff like “what if my teacher just raped me in the middle of class” or “what if I pulled all my veins at.” Those are some of the more graphic and violent things but I do get lesser things like “what if I imagined that whole conversation” when I know for a fact I did experience that exact memory/conversation. I don’t like these thoughts and I don’t ever want to think them. If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I’m only 16 and I want to be sure about this stuff before I ask my parents to get me diagnosed.

Leo_Massie

Date posted: 23w

Constant intrusive thoughts about ending it (TW)

Starting in high school, I became very suicidal, and it became my “safety net” of all went wrong. I know it’s dark, but I was in a really bad head space and I saw suicide as my escape if I couldn’t fix my life. It got to the point where I was constantly thinking about suicide (literally every day, multiple times a day). Over the last year, I’ve gotten better and I think about it less. But then my OCD grabbed hold of it…. Now, if I do something wrong or embarrassing or if I struggle in a social situation (which is often 😅), my mind says “kys”, “jump off a bridge”, and so on. It’s like an automatic response with my OCD and it makes me so uncomfortable… I’m trying to get better. I don’t want to die. Sure, I still get pretty low, but I always push the thoughts away now instead of welcoming them like I used to. But with the intrusive thoughts being nearly constant now, it’s kind of scary. I dont know what to do to make them stop since the intrusive thoughts are just so automatic at the slightest feeling of discomfort. I have a therapist, but I dont know how to bring this up with her. I’m too nervous to even admit to suicidal thoughts, not to mention the intrusive thoughts they’ve turned into. It kind of feels like it’ll never go away.

alex l

Date posted: 21w

feeling like my thoughts are too unique

for the past few years i have been struggling with a certain theme of ocd as well as most of the other themes. but this one i have not figured out a good way to do my own form of erp or non-engaging responses. basically i will be daydreaming or thinking and have a very random thought. i wouldn’t call these thoughts intrusive thoughts because it’s not necessarily fear of the thoughts coming true, its just fear that my thoughts are too unique. my ocd will latch on to random or weird thoughts and may also add in that i was doing something weird while doing the thought. let’s say for example i thought of something random while i was rubbing my feet. then my ocd would be like “why are u having such a unique thought while doing something weird? nobody has ever thought about that specific thought while rubbing their feet before” (just an example). but basically it’s like my ocd bullies me for having thoughts that are too random and things i’ve never heard people talk about before if that makes sense. i am just trying to see if anyone relates even a little and how i can accept that everyone has unique thoughts.

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Intrusive thoughts

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