- Date posted
- 4y
- Date posted
- 4y
this is normal for intrusive thoughts (any intrusive thought). the fact that you're so distressed is an obvious point that these aren't your true values. the feeling you get after these thoughts is anxiety/very anxious feelings. anxiety can have an effect on you that feels like you're "going crazy". it's just anxiety. that's also a good sign that these thoughts make you anxious because it means you wouldn't do it! try remembering that you're anxious because you get these thoughts, not because you want to go through with them (hopefully that makes sense). your mind can't convince you of anything you don't want to do. thoughts are just thoughts. just because you think something doesn't mean it's more likely to come true in the future. everyone gets intrusive thoughts! actually, something that i learned that made me feel better was that harm intrusive thoughts (whether you have ocd or not) are some of the most common. nearly everyone gets them (mental illness or not)!!! it's just people without mental illness can brush them off easily as "weird" or "unwanted" but with anxiety or ocd we tend to dig deep into what the thought means or why we think that thought, which leads us to think more maybe darker or scarier thoughts.
- Date posted
- 4y
it's hard but you have to sit with the uncertainty and anxiety these thoughts give. eventually your brain will realize that you don't need to be scared of the thoughts (as in you'll brush them off, not that you'll agree with them or anything). because they're just thoughts!!! it's way easier said than done but i promise it's possible. as someone who used to struggle hard with intrusive thoughts and anxiety (still do at times but now i know they mean nothing about me - and giving them attention they want will make them worse) i can tell you it's possible to get better! it will take a while and sitting with the uncertainty and anxiety these thoughts give will be uncomfortable, but in the long run it'll help so much
- Date posted
- 4y
Thank you! Yes even tho sometimes these thoughts make me doubt if I want to do them or no, and my brain is always trynna look for an answer. I try to live without getting an answer but it’s hard because I feel like they become more real. I keep trying to live with uncertainty, even tho my brain demands me to know if this is something real or no. Anyways thank you so much for your help and for giving me hope! I appreciate it a lot :)
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous it's normal for your brain to doubt, the important thing is that you know you'd never do these<3 living with the uncertainty is hard and it takes a while for the thoughts to minimize but it will happen! keeping going:)
- Date posted
- 4y
@coucou Thank you so much, I hope so<3
- Date posted
- 4y
also one last thing - i learned this while a book on mindfulness that our brain can't differentiate between real danger and when our brains think we're in danger. that's why when we get these intrusive thoughts, our brains go "look! this thought is dangerous! pay attention to it!". but in reality, the thought is just a thought.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
Yes I go through the same thing :/ The sos part of the app helps me. Hope you start feeling better!
- Date posted
- 4y
I’m sorry you’re going through the same thing, I know we can cope this! And thank you, I used it, it actually helps!!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w
Guys for the past couple of hours ive been spiraling! I wad researching and came across this harm ocd article question that has been worrying me. The title was "im scared of hurting someone when I'm mad. Can i trust myself?" And I was thinking "hey that's what ive been worried about for the past several months!" I even AVOID being angry. Im scared of it bc I get a lot of thoughts and I'm hyperaware of my hands and feel them tingly! Last time i tensed so hard to stay still as possible bc I was so so nervous from my thoughts and my hand twitched which made me SPIRAL. I never want to cause harm! And i always start crying after an argument bc the thoughts are so so scary! Anyway I got afraid bc the article said "research has shown that people with ocd don't struggle with impulse control- so if you find yourself intensely worried you could do harm based on the intrusive thoughts or urges you have, it's likely something else is going on." THAT SENTENCE HAS LEFT ME WITH A TON OF ANXIETY! Its so bad, my appetite is gone! I'm scared does this mean I don't have ocd and should be seriously concerned?!
- Date posted
- 24w
I have all kinds of thoughts that aren’t me it feels like someone is talking to me telling me evil things about people or to do evil things 😞😞😞😞 I can’t do this anymore
- Date posted
- 23w
i haven’t been diagnosed with ocd but I have anxiety about harming other people/family members and it’s like urges and im scared I actually want to do it? I don’t think I’ve ever been violent as a kid (im 21 now) and the intrusive thoughts don’t go away so im just stuck all day everyday for the past few weeks just thinking and being scared about it and im having all these weird emotions like being irritated and angry I don’t want to hurt people I don’t think idk why my mind is making me think I do I’ve had intrusive thoughts before that I could brush away sure it took like a day or two but this one is different it doesn’t go away and leaves me with the worst fear imaginable and nothing I look up that should be giving me relief is giving me relief + I feel like im not in control of my body and that im just gonna lose it and act on these thoughts it’s just all on a loop and im not sure how im supposed to live the rest of my life when im in constant fear of my self
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