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Intrusive thoughts
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Just learnt that this is a term as i never realised it was recognised in psychology.
If you were stood on the platform of a train, the train approaches and a thought pops into your head like "jump in front of it" or "push that person in front of it" -that's an intrusive thought.
Apparently it's linked to a whole host of other conditions, but most notably OCD.
Anyone got any experience of intrusive thoughts they'd care to share? Apparently they can be treated if they are problematic. |
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"If I see a sexy man on the beach wearing only sexy swim shorts I think "I need to suck his cock".
That sort of thing you meaning?"
No, if you thought "I need to sink my teeth into his cock until I draw blood", that would be an intrusive thought |
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"If I see a sexy man on the beach wearing only sexy swim shorts I think "I need to suck his cock".
That sort of thing you meaning?"
I'm sure that could count as one! Haha... I think, and correct me if I am wrong people it's more negative thoughts though.
I think I am liking that thought process though! Haha
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Yes I’ve heard of this before!
I’ve probably had more intrusive thoughts when d*unk! Some I’ve followed through like jumping through a bedroom window when I was 18!
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I went through an awful bout of OCD in my early 20's and the intrusive thoughts drove me mad! I still get them occasionally but you learn to let them just pass through without attaching any significance to them, that way you don't get the anxiety spikes that they can cause  |
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"I went through an awful bout of OCD in my early 20's and the intrusive thoughts drove me mad! I still get them occasionally but you learn to let them just pass through without attaching any significance to them, that way you don't get the anxiety spikes that they can cause "
Thinking of them as just fleeting... like watching traffic whizz by on a motorway. |
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"I went through an awful bout of OCD in my early 20's and the intrusive thoughts drove me mad! I still get them occasionally but you learn to let them just pass through without attaching any significance to them, that way you don't get the anxiety spikes that they can cause "
Did you have CBT to help with that? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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When younger i used to sleepwalk and i used to stand at the top of our stairs and look down and i’d have thoughts telling me to jump down them to the bottom.
I never did because a rational part of me would then kick in and tell me it would hurt etc.
It wasn’t a one off occurrence either, happened frequently until i stopped sleepwalking.
I had quite a troubled early childhood and i think the sleepwalking was connected.
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"Yes I’ve heard of this before!
I’ve probably had more intrusive thoughts when d*unk! Some I’ve followed through like jumping through a bedroom window when I was 18!
"
I can imagine alcohol could exasperated them |
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"When younger i used to sleepwalk and i used to stand at the top of our stairs and look down and i’d have thoughts telling me to jump down them to the bottom.
I never did because a rational part of me would then kick in and tell me it would hurt etc.
It wasn’t a one off occurrence either, happened frequently until i stopped sleepwalking.
I had quite a troubled early childhood and i think the sleepwalking was connected.
"
Was there anything you actively did that ended it (e.g. CBT) or did time heal itself? |
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"When younger i used to sleepwalk and i used to stand at the top of our stairs and look down and i’d have thoughts telling me to jump down them to the bottom.
I never did because a rational part of me would then kick in and tell me it would hurt etc.
It wasn’t a one off occurrence either, happened frequently until i stopped sleepwalking.
I had quite a troubled early childhood and i think the sleepwalking was connected.
"
Thank goodness you are over it now. Best wishes  |
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By *ymaleMan
over a year ago
nr Bradford |
I've walked past the local butchers before now and thought, I could murder one of those Cornish pasties. And five minutes later and a covering of pastry flakes down me, what do you know, the pasty is no more...ruthless  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If I see a sexy man on the beach wearing only sexy swim shorts I think "I need to suck his cock".
That sort of thing you meaning?
No, if you thought "I need to sink my teeth into his cock until I draw blood", that would be an intrusive thought "
Some men would enjoy that |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If I see a sexy man on the beach wearing only sexy swim shorts I think "I need to suck his cock".
That sort of thing you meaning?
No, if you thought "I need to sink my teeth into his cock until I draw blood", that would be an intrusive thought
Some men would enjoy that "
Not bloody me  |
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"If I see a sexy man on the beach wearing only sexy swim shorts I think "I need to suck his cock".
That sort of thing you meaning?
No, if you thought "I need to sink my teeth into his cock until I draw blood", that would be an intrusive thought
Some men would enjoy that "
The problem with searching CBT is that it also stands for cock and ball torture |
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"I have them a lot. But I've never acted on them. I do say them out loud to trusted friends though. I think maybe that helps with never acting them out."
I've never felt like acting on them. But curious where they come from. I didn't realise other people had them until yesterday. |
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"I went through an awful bout of OCD in my early 20's and the intrusive thoughts drove me mad! I still get them occasionally but you learn to let them just pass through without attaching any significance to them, that way you don't get the anxiety spikes that they can cause
Did you have CBT to help with that? "
No, I did see a counsellor for a bit but she didn't really help, I just learned to deal with it over time and realised that the intrusive thoughts were not a reflection of my real self so lost the fear of them. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If I see a sexy man on the beach wearing only sexy swim shorts I think "I need to suck his cock".
That sort of thing you meaning?
No, if you thought "I need to sink my teeth into his cock until I draw blood", that would be an intrusive thought
Some men would enjoy that
Not bloody me "
But have you actually tried it  |
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"I went through an awful bout of OCD in my early 20's and the intrusive thoughts drove me mad! I still get them occasionally but you learn to let them just pass through without attaching any significance to them, that way you don't get the anxiety spikes that they can cause
Did you have CBT to help with that?
No, I did see a counsellor for a bit but she didn't really help, I just learned to deal with it over time and realised that the intrusive thoughts were not a reflection of my real self so lost the fear of them. "
They are quite mild for me, I just don't understand why they are there at all. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If I see a sexy man on the beach wearing only sexy swim shorts I think "I need to suck his cock".
That sort of thing you meaning?
No, if you thought "I need to sink my teeth into his cock until I draw blood", that would be an intrusive thought
Some men would enjoy that
Not bloody me
But have you actually tried it "
Yes iv told you about my mates bird waking me up ouch |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When younger i used to sleepwalk and i used to stand at the top of our stairs and look down and i’d have thoughts telling me to jump down them to the bottom.
I never did because a rational part of me would then kick in and tell me it would hurt etc.
It wasn’t a one off occurrence either, happened frequently until i stopped sleepwalking.
I had quite a troubled early childhood and i think the sleepwalking was connected.
Was there anything you actively did that ended it (e.g. CBT) or did time heal itself?"
I can’t actively remember it was all before i was 7, there was a lot of stressful things going on at home and i think my mum just thought it was ordinary sleepwalking. I used to leave the house too when sleepwalking and go wandering. I knocked on the neighbours house one evening and they had to take me back home, wake my mum up to tell her what happened and i was put back to bed. My mum then had to top chain the door to stop me fetting out.
But then it just stopped.
I don’t recall any therapy for it. But different times, it was late 70’s early 80’s. |
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"Yes, I've had OCD since the age of 15.
Happy to answer questions (to a certain extent) from those with a genuine interest on the subject.
"
Do you know why they exist? I never would have made the leap to OCD by my own logical understanding of them. Why are they connected? |
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"When younger i used to sleepwalk and i used to stand at the top of our stairs and look down and i’d have thoughts telling me to jump down them to the bottom.
I never did because a rational part of me would then kick in and tell me it would hurt etc.
It wasn’t a one off occurrence either, happened frequently until i stopped sleepwalking.
I had quite a troubled early childhood and i think the sleepwalking was connected.
Was there anything you actively did that ended it (e.g. CBT) or did time heal itself?
I can’t actively remember it was all before i was 7, there was a lot of stressful things going on at home and i think my mum just thought it was ordinary sleepwalking. I used to leave the house too when sleepwalking and go wandering. I knocked on the neighbours house one evening and they had to take me back home, wake my mum up to tell her what happened and i was put back to bed. My mum then had to top chain the door to stop me fetting out.
But then it just stopped.
I don’t recall any therapy for it. But different times, it was late 70’s early 80’s."
Interesting. Thanks for sharing that |
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By *SAchickWoman
over a year ago
Hillside desolate |
I get these now and again, usually I will be talking to someone, just a normal conversation, and I'll get an overwhelming urge to punch them in the face or slap them.
I sometimes get one when I'm in the lift at work "what if I was trapped in here and the building went on fire" and I get quite anxious about it. Then I add to it, like "what if my kids were in here with me as well" which would never be the case, and it makes me even more anxious. I can't explain it, and it doesn't happen every time. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Yes, I've had OCD since the age of 15.
Happy to answer questions (to a certain extent) from those with a genuine interest on the subject.
Do you know why they exist? I never would have made the leap to OCD by my own logical understanding of them. Why are they connected? "
Why are intrusive thoughts connected to OCD? The intrusive thoughts are the obsessions. The compulsions are the acts (washing, checking etc) that 'help' deal with them.
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I often get a bit nervous when at the edge of tall buildings or open windows etc, because "What if I decide to...y'know, just throw myself off?" and even though the rational part of my brain goes "Yeah, but you won't, will you?" my brain still goes "But what if I do?!!"
Also as I'm driving along my brain frequently goes "You could just smash into that bridge at 100mph you know" even though the sensible voice is saying "But why would I do that?" the irrational part is going "Hey, just saying..."
It's pretty annoying at times, but I've kinda got used to it |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This is interesting, is it having the thoughts that is the issue or acting on them that is the problem?
Acting is the problem. But the thoughts can get worse or be treated with therapy. "
Acting isn't the problem. The vast vast majority of people with OCD don't act on their intrusive thoughts. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This is interesting, is it having the thoughts that is the issue or acting on them that is the problem?
Acting is the problem. But the thoughts can get worse or be treated with therapy. "
Is that then linked to a kind of psychosis or break?
People posting have admitted to having them, as have I, but it’s immediately followed by higher reasoning. Would that then point to a form of psychosis? |
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"Yes, I've had OCD since the age of 15.
Happy to answer questions (to a certain extent) from those with a genuine interest on the subject.
Do you know why they exist? I never would have made the leap to OCD by my own logical understanding of them. Why are they connected?
Why are intrusive thoughts connected to OCD? The intrusive thoughts are the obsessions. The compulsions are the acts (washing, checking etc) that 'help' deal with them.
"
So thinking about jumping in front of the approaching train is an obsession with death? |
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"This is interesting, is it having the thoughts that is the issue or acting on them that is the problem?
Acting is the problem. But the thoughts can get worse or be treated with therapy.
Is that then linked to a kind of psychosis or break?
People posting have admitted to having them, as have I, but it’s immediately followed by higher reasoning. Would that then point to a form of psychosis? "
In the servere form they would be
psychosis, but the majority of people who experience intrusive thoughts won't get to that stage. That's what i can currently gather from my research. |
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"I often get a bit nervous when at the edge of tall buildings or open windows etc, because "What if I decide to...y'know, just throw myself off?" and even though the rational part of my brain goes "Yeah, but you won't, will you?" my brain still goes "But what if I do?!!"
Also as I'm driving along my brain frequently goes "You could just smash into that bridge at 100mph you know" even though the sensible voice is saying "But why would I do that?" the irrational part is going "Hey, just saying..."
It's pretty annoying at times, but I've kinda got used to it"
The driving one is another of the most common |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This is interesting, is it having the thoughts that is the issue or acting on them that is the problem?
Acting is the problem. But the thoughts can get worse or be treated with therapy.
Is that then linked to a kind of psychosis or break?
People posting have admitted to having them, as have I, but it’s immediately followed by higher reasoning. Would that then point to a form of psychosis?
In the servere form they would be
psychosis, but the majority of people who experience intrusive thoughts won't get to that stage. That's what i can currently gather from my research. "
That’s interesting, but they serve as a marker of other conditions or just a common psychological trait? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Yes, I've had OCD since the age of 15.
Happy to answer questions (to a certain extent) from those with a genuine interest on the subject.
Do you know why they exist? I never would have made the leap to OCD by my own logical understanding of them. Why are they connected?
Why are intrusive thoughts connected to OCD? The intrusive thoughts are the obsessions. The compulsions are the acts (washing, checking etc) that 'help' deal with them.
So thinking about jumping in front of the approaching train is an obsession with death? "
No. Everyone has intrusive thoughts. The train example is a very common one.
I don't mean obsessive to mean obsession. In this case it means a thought that constantly manifests. |
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"This is interesting, is it having the thoughts that is the issue or acting on them that is the problem?
Acting is the problem. But the thoughts can get worse or be treated with therapy.
Acting isn't the problem. The vast vast majority of people with OCD don't act on their intrusive thoughts. "
Absolutely, that's where the main source of anxiety came from for me and I fought with it silently for a lot of years before I even knew what it was. I would never ever act on the intrusive thoughts, but just having them caused me a lot of distress before I understood what they were.  stories in the news used to trigger it a lot for me. |
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"Yes, I've had OCD since the age of 15.
Happy to answer questions (to a certain extent) from those with a genuine interest on the subject.
Do you know why they exist? I never would have made the leap to OCD by my own logical understanding of them. Why are they connected?
Why are intrusive thoughts connected to OCD? The intrusive thoughts are the obsessions. The compulsions are the acts (washing, checking etc) that 'help' deal with them.
So thinking about jumping in front of the approaching train is an obsession with death?
No. Everyone has intrusive thoughts. The train example is a very common one.
I don't mean obsessive to mean obsession. In this case it means a thought that constantly manifests. "
Ok, i see now. Do we know where there thoughts originate? |
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"This is interesting, is it having the thoughts that is the issue or acting on them that is the problem?
Acting is the problem. But the thoughts can get worse or be treated with therapy.
Is that then linked to a kind of psychosis or break?
People posting have admitted to having them, as have I, but it’s immediately followed by higher reasoning. Would that then point to a form of psychosis?
In the servere form they would be
psychosis, but the majority of people who experience intrusive thoughts won't get to that stage. That's what i can currently gather from my research.
That’s interesting, but they serve as a marker of other conditions or just a common psychological trait? "
I haven't gotten that far into researching it. Penelope pussycat might know? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just learnt that this is a term as i never realised it was recognised in psychology.
If you were stood on the platform of a train, the train approaches and a thought pops into your head like "jump in front of it" or "push that person in front of it" -that's an intrusive thought.
Apparently it's linked to a whole host of other conditions, but most notably OCD.
Anyone got any experience of intrusive thoughts they'd care to share? Apparently they can be treated if they are problematic."
I deal with them as I struggle with situational depression and moderate OCD.
They kind of intermingle when the depression 'flares up'. I'll get thoughts like "you didn't hit your targets today, so youre a waste of a human, go drown in the canal."
They come and go, but the OCD basically is the base my depression attaches to and the two create pretty self degrading thoughts. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Yes, I've had OCD since the age of 15.
Happy to answer questions (to a certain extent) from those with a genuine interest on the subject.
Do you know why they exist? I never would have made the leap to OCD by my own logical understanding of them. Why are they connected?
Why are intrusive thoughts connected to OCD? The intrusive thoughts are the obsessions. The compulsions are the acts (washing, checking etc) that 'help' deal with them.
So thinking about jumping in front of the approaching train is an obsession with death?
No. Everyone has intrusive thoughts. The train example is a very common one.
I don't mean obsessive to mean obsession. In this case it means a thought that constantly manifests.
Ok, i see now. Do we know where there thoughts originate? "
No but they are always thoughts that cause extreme distress.
For example a person who loves animals may have intrusive thoughts about harming them. A religious person may have intrusive blasphemous thoughts. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If I see a sexy man on the beach wearing only sexy swim shorts I think "I need to suck his cock".
That sort of thing you meaning?"
Hey you wouldn’t see me on the beach I go to wearing anything |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This is interesting, is it having the thoughts that is the issue or acting on them that is the problem?
Acting is the problem. But the thoughts can get worse or be treated with therapy.
Is that then linked to a kind of psychosis or break?
People posting have admitted to having them, as have I, but it’s immediately followed by higher reasoning. Would that then point to a form of psychosis?
In the servere form they would be
psychosis, but the majority of people who experience intrusive thoughts won't get to that stage. That's what i can currently gather from my research.
That’s interesting, but they serve as a marker of other conditions or just a common psychological trait?
I haven't gotten that far into researching it. Penelope pussycat might know? "
Everyone has intrusive thoughts.
I can't answer your question in relation to other conditions as OCD is the only one I feel I can comment on. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This is interesting, is it having the thoughts that is the issue or acting on them that is the problem?
Acting is the problem. But the thoughts can get worse or be treated with therapy.
Is that then linked to a kind of psychosis or break?
People posting have admitted to having them, as have I, but it’s immediately followed by higher reasoning. Would that then point to a form of psychosis?
In the servere form they would be
psychosis, but the majority of people who experience intrusive thoughts won't get to that stage. That's what i can currently gather from my research.
That’s interesting, but they serve as a marker of other conditions or just a common psychological trait?
I haven't gotten that far into researching it. Penelope pussycat might know? "
I can only comment from experience. Estella might be able to add to the conversatiom from a professional basis. |
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I have no knowledge or understanding of intrusive thoughts so just ventured onto google to find out more. I found a very interesting page that others might like to look at.
Go to moodsmith dot com / intrusive thoughts
Unfortunately the page does have lots of links to the author's online paid for help course but it's still worth a read.
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"Just learnt that this is a term as i never realised it was recognised in psychology.
If you were stood on the platform of a train, the train approaches and a thought pops into your head like "jump in front of it" or "push that person in front of it" -that's an intrusive thought.
Apparently it's linked to a whole host of other conditions, but most notably OCD.
Anyone got any experience of intrusive thoughts they'd care to share? Apparently they can be treated if they are problematic.
I deal with them as I struggle with situational depression and moderate OCD.
They kind of intermingle when the depression 'flares up'. I'll get thoughts like "you didn't hit your targets today, so youre a waste of a human, go drown in the canal."
They come and go, but the OCD basically is the base my depression attaches to and the two create pretty self degrading thoughts."
Thanks for sharing that. I reached 32 years old before it even occurred to me that other people have these! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just learnt that this is a term as i never realised it was recognised in psychology.
If you were stood on the platform of a train, the train approaches and a thought pops into your head like "jump in front of it" or "push that person in front of it" -that's an intrusive thought.
Apparently it's linked to a whole host of other conditions, but most notably OCD.
Anyone got any experience of intrusive thoughts they'd care to share? Apparently they can be treated if they are problematic."
true,I saw a programme on this ,and I think we all have them to some degree ,and it is a form of OCD ,quite normal |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've had intrusive thoughts for years. From the simple thoughts of putting butter into my mouth when I'm making a sandwich for someone (the taste of butter makes me physically sick), to the more serious. As soon as they enter my head, i push them out. Though it can be an overwhelming urge sometimes that i have to fight. It doesn't happen all the time. It's sporadic. |
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Please correct me if I am wrong but I assumed everyone had intrusive thoughts from time to time..It has always felt very 'normal' to me.
Interesting to hear someone say they thought that they were the only person who experienced such things.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Yes, not as extreme as the examples but I first discovered it when I worked in the dwp 11 years ago and we'd make tea for each other, I can't carry a hot cup of anything one in each hand. Walking back from the tea rooms to my desk on more than one occasion I would carry them so far and tip the contents on the floor on purpose, doesn't happen if I just carry one, it's only if I had a cup in each hand. Feels like a loss of control cos I can't move my hands whilst I'm carrying the cups so I just tip them out as I'm walking.
Now even if I'm in my house and making someone a tea I'll take theirs in then carry my own!
Also if there's something disgusting anywhere I want to touch it, examples being when I used to go to this secluded beach with my ex and the short cut was walking across a sewage pipe over this shallow disgusting stagnant water with crap floating in it, I'd dip my foot in it.
When I worked as a biohazardous waste engineer the things that I'd clean range from vomit to feces to brain tissue, the list is endless, but I liked touching it, was strange.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Please correct me if I am wrong but I assumed everyone had intrusive thoughts from time to time..It has always felt very 'normal' to me.
Interesting to hear someone say they thought that they were the only person who experienced such things.."
We do.
But how often are people open about them?
Like everything in our heads these are very private thoughts that often come from a dark place that we dont want to visit or talk to others about.
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I think what this thread shows is that they are a common everyday occurrence. The mind is a beautiful, at times frightening, thing.
Impulses are normal, it's how these are acted on.
In the bulk of these examples intrusive thoughts if carried out would be harmful. The rational mind over-rides them, it's when the rational mind doesn't, that's when there is a major issue.
I sound like I'm putting the CBT presentation out there again, but that's my understanding.
Happy for anyone to comment or tell me if its different. Or if they've had a different experience. |
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"Please correct me if I am wrong but I assumed everyone had intrusive thoughts from time to time..It has always felt very 'normal' to me.
Interesting to hear someone say they thought that they were the only person who experienced such things..
We do.
But how often are people open about them?
Like everything in our heads these are very private thoughts that often come from a dark place that we dont want to visit or talk to others about.
"
It's not really the easiest thing to Google search when you don't know the technical name for it. |
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"A lot of the young people i work with confuse intrusive thoughts with voice hearing. Part of my role is helping them understand this. "
Yep that was my issue for a while, I convinced myself I was schizophrenic and it became an intrusive thought and obsession in itself, I was terrified of any thoughts I had in case they were "voices". I wasn't at all and was told this by my doctor and the counsellor, but despite all the reassurance I could never quite convince myself which is another part of genuine OCD. At the time I'd been dabbling in a lot of party chemicals while clubbing as well which really wasn't helping me, that was when I put a stop to all that. I'd been battling with the intrusive thoughts since being a little kid but I certainly exacerbated them in my early 20's. I'm fine now, I know how to deal with it and have done for over 10 years, but the secret battle through my teens up to about 25 was a nightmare |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Please correct me if I am wrong but I assumed everyone had intrusive thoughts from time to time..It has always felt very 'normal' to me.
Interesting to hear someone say they thought that they were the only person who experienced such things..
We do.
But how often are people open about them?
Like everything in our heads these are very private thoughts that often come from a dark place that we dont want to visit or talk to others about.
It's not really the easiest thing to Google search when you don't know the technical name for it."
Google OCD and intrusive thoughts. Actually any site on OCD will explain the intrusive thoughts. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Intrusive thoughts manifest with a number of different conditions. With OCD and anxiety they can be the worries about imagined disasters (I left the oven on and the house will burn down or I’m going to fail this exam because I’m hopeless). With schizophrenia and psychosis the intrusive thoughts are delusional or false beliefs although believed by the individual to be real (someone is going to eat me or I have to save the world by killing anyone wearing red). With PTSD it is of things that actually did happen, flashbacks etc. With depression there can be the feelings of hopelessness etc, but suicidal ideation tends to be held separately rather than categorised as intrusive thoughts (although is one) in terms of treatment/action/response, and post-partum depression the intrusive thoughts can manifest as urges to hurt the baby etc.
CBT is useful but for many conditions would not be the sole treatment at all. |
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"Please correct me if I am wrong but I assumed everyone had intrusive thoughts from time to time..It has always felt very 'normal' to me.
Interesting to hear someone say they thought that they were the only person who experienced such things..
We do.
But how often are people open about them?
Like everything in our heads these are very private thoughts that often come from a dark place that we dont want to visit or talk to others about.
It's not really the easiest thing to Google search when you don't know the technical name for it.
Google OCD and intrusive thoughts. Actually any site on OCD will explain the intrusive thoughts."
I meant, that's why it took me so long to realise this was a thing. I wouldn't have known what to stick into Google. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Jump.
Every single time I'm on the garage or kitchen roof.
JUMP.
It isn't far, you'll be fine.
JUST JUMP.
 "
Yep. It’s very, very common, and not always indicative of a condition at all. Don’t jump though. |
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By *rrol.BMan
over a year ago
Wrexham |
"Jump.
Every single time I'm on the garage or kitchen roof.
JUMP.
It isn't far, you'll be fine.
JUST JUMP.
Yep. It’s very, very common, and not always indicative of a condition at all. Don’t jump though. "
Huzzah. Good to know. I'll just treat "not always" as "never" and carry on. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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We all have mind wandering, from daydreaming, anxious rumination, sticky obsessive thoughts to spontaneous compulsive urges - we all have the capacity to manifest a little of the anxious brain, the ADHD, the depressed or delusional: it doesn’t mean you necessarily have a condition requiring treatment - that comes from the extremity, duration and impact of those issues. |
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May I just add my thanks OP. I don't always agree with you but this is a really good thread and nice to get lots of different input.
Thanks also to everyone that has told their story.
As Estella described my intrusive thought was the one telling me I was a failure and feeding anxiety and depression. I was fortunate in that I've removed the main thing that was causing me to feel that way, my work.
I'm now on the road to recovery and feel I have future proofed as through the CBT I can now identify exactly what my issues are, I know when they started and hopefully I'm going to be better at spotting the triggers.
I am also telling myself that hashtag, #itsoknottobeok and know I will have low days, but its how you respond to them.
Thanks as well to you Estella for pointing a couple of things out recently on numerous threads. They have been really helpful for me. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I think what this thread shows is that they are a common everyday occurrence. The mind is a beautiful, at times frightening, thing.
Impulses are normal, it's how these are acted on.
In the bulk of these examples intrusive thoughts if carried out would be harmful. The rational mind over-rides them, it's when the rational mind doesn't, that's when there is a major issue.
I sound like I'm putting the CBT presentation out there again, but that's my understanding.
Happy for anyone to comment or tell me if its different. Or if they've had a different experience. "
Yes, it would be harmful if the intrusive thoughts were acted on.
With OCD, the thoughts are specific to what is important to them. Hence why they would never act on them, and why they are so upsetting and cause distress.
They go against everything they value, so they are hard to ignore.
|
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Jump.
Every single time I'm on the garage or kitchen roof.
JUMP.
It isn't far, you'll be fine.
JUST JUMP.
Yep. It’s very, very common, and not always indicative of a condition at all. Don’t jump though.
Huzzah. Good to know. I'll just treat "not always" as "never" and carry on. "
It’s called L’Appel du Vide, or call of the void, in French. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I've walked past the local butchers before now and thought, I could murder one of those Cornish pasties. And five minutes later and a covering of pastry flakes down me, what do you know, the pasty is no more...ruthless "
I get the same thing with beer/pies and kebabs |
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"I've walked past the local butchers before now and thought, I could murder one of those Cornish pasties. And five minutes later and a covering of pastry flakes down me, what do you know, the pasty is no more...ruthless "
Nicely put, naughty you. I'd give you an uptick if Fab allowed them!
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"May I just add my thanks OP. I don't always agree with you but this is a really good thread and nice to get lots of different input.
Thanks also to everyone that has told their story.
As Estella described my intrusive thought was the one telling me I was a failure and feeding anxiety and depression. I was fortunate in that I've removed the main thing that was causing me to feel that way, my work.
I'm now on the road to recovery and feel I have future proofed as through the CBT I can now identify exactly what my issues are, I know when they started and hopefully I'm going to be better at spotting the triggers.
I am also telling myself that hashtag, #itsoknottobeok and know I will have low days, but its how you respond to them.
Thanks as well to you Estella for pointing a couple of things out recently on numerous threads. They have been really helpful for me."
Glad you found it useful, I'm learning too |
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"I think what this thread shows is that they are a common everyday occurrence. The mind is a beautiful, at times frightening, thing.
Impulses are normal, it's how these are acted on.
In the bulk of these examples intrusive thoughts if carried out would be harmful. The rational mind over-rides them, it's when the rational mind doesn't, that's when there is a major issue.
I sound like I'm putting the CBT presentation out there again, but that's my understanding.
Happy for anyone to comment or tell me if its different. Or if they've had a different experience.
Yes, it would be harmful if the intrusive thoughts were acted on.
With OCD, the thoughts are specific to what is important to them. Hence why they would never act on them, and why they are so upsetting and cause distress.
They go against everything they value, so they are hard to ignore.
"
They do go against what we value! That's such a head fuck! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"May I just add my thanks OP. I don't always agree with you but this is a really good thread and nice to get lots of different input.
Thanks also to everyone that has told their story.
As Estella described my intrusive thought was the one telling me I was a failure and feeding anxiety and depression. I was fortunate in that I've removed the main thing that was causing me to feel that way, my work.
I'm now on the road to recovery and feel I have future proofed as through the CBT I can now identify exactly what my issues are, I know when they started and hopefully I'm going to be better at spotting the triggers.
I am also telling myself that hashtag, #itsoknottobeok and know I will have low days, but its how you respond to them.
Thanks as well to you Estella for pointing a couple of things out recently on numerous threads. They have been really helpful for me."
I'd like to add my thanks to the OP too.
This is my first time speaking openly about my experiences with OCD. |
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"
Yes, it would be harmful if the intrusive thoughts were acted on.
With OCD, the thoughts are specific to what is important to them. Hence why they would never act on them, and why they are so upsetting and cause distress.
They go against everything they value, so they are hard to ignore.
"
Absolutely, at my worst I would spend months consumed by whatever unwanted thought was bothering me at the time, usually revolving around illness, sexuality or harming, and just when I'd think I'd cracked it a new one would immediately replace it and the cycle would start again. Even now I'll only talk about it with people that I know understand it, it's extremely difficult to talk openly about these awful dark thoughts with people who would think it was a reflection of who you are. |
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"May I just add my thanks OP. I don't always agree with you but this is a really good thread and nice to get lots of different input.
Thanks also to everyone that has told their story.
As Estella described my intrusive thought was the one telling me I was a failure and feeding anxiety and depression. I was fortunate in that I've removed the main thing that was causing me to feel that way, my work.
I'm now on the road to recovery and feel I have future proofed as through the CBT I can now identify exactly what my issues are, I know when they started and hopefully I'm going to be better at spotting the triggers.
I am also telling myself that hashtag, #itsoknottobeok and know I will have low days, but its how you respond to them.
Thanks as well to you Estella for pointing a couple of things out recently on numerous threads. They have been really helpful for me.
I'd like to add my thanks to the OP too.
This is my first time speaking openly about my experiences with OCD."
Pipe down! I just started the thread. It only worked because people came and shared their experiences and nobody is judging anyone. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"
Yes, it would be harmful if the intrusive thoughts were acted on.
With OCD, the thoughts are specific to what is important to them. Hence why they would never act on them, and why they are so upsetting and cause distress.
They go against everything they value, so they are hard to ignore.
Absolutely, at my worst I would spend months consumed by whatever unwanted thought was bothering me at the time, usually revolving around illness, sexuality or harming, and just when I'd think I'd cracked it a new one would immediately replace it and the cycle would start again. Even now I'll only talk about it with people that I know understand it, it's extremely difficult to talk openly about these awful dark thoughts with people who would think it was a reflection of who you are."
Even just writing one of my intrusive thoughts causes extreme shame. |
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"
Yes, it would be harmful if the intrusive thoughts were acted on.
With OCD, the thoughts are specific to what is important to them. Hence why they would never act on them, and why they are so upsetting and cause distress.
They go against everything they value, so they are hard to ignore.
Absolutely, at my worst I would spend months consumed by whatever unwanted thought was bothering me at the time, usually revolving around illness, sexuality or harming, and just when I'd think I'd cracked it a new one would immediately replace it and the cycle would start again. Even now I'll only talk about it with people that I know understand it, it's extremely difficult to talk openly about these awful dark thoughts with people who would think it was a reflection of who you are.
Even just writing one of my intrusive thoughts causes extreme shame."
Yeah it's not exactly a conversation starter is it! "Er you know when a train approaches, do you ever think about shoving someone in front of it" |
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"
Yes, it would be harmful if the intrusive thoughts were acted on.
With OCD, the thoughts are specific to what is important to them. Hence why they would never act on them, and why they are so upsetting and cause distress.
They go against everything they value, so they are hard to ignore.
Absolutely, at my worst I would spend months consumed by whatever unwanted thought was bothering me at the time, usually revolving around illness, sexuality or harming, and just when I'd think I'd cracked it a new one would immediately replace it and the cycle would start again. Even now I'll only talk about it with people that I know understand it, it's extremely difficult to talk openly about these awful dark thoughts with people who would think it was a reflection of who you are.
Even just writing one of my intrusive thoughts causes extreme shame."
I know exactly how that feels, I've had some that I would never ever tell anyone. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"So would extrusive be the opposite? And what would that be? Actually doing it?"
Having a volcanic eruption.
(Laughs at her own joke and goes to make a cup of tea) |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
Yes, it would be harmful if the intrusive thoughts were acted on.
With OCD, the thoughts are specific to what is important to them. Hence why they would never act on them, and why they are so upsetting and cause distress.
They go against everything they value, so they are hard to ignore.
Absolutely, at my worst I would spend months consumed by whatever unwanted thought was bothering me at the time, usually revolving around illness, sexuality or harming, and just when I'd think I'd cracked it a new one would immediately replace it and the cycle would start again. Even now I'll only talk about it with people that I know understand it, it's extremely difficult to talk openly about these awful dark thoughts with people who would think it was a reflection of who you are.
Even just writing one of my intrusive thoughts causes extreme shame.
I know exactly how that feels, I've had some that I would never ever tell anyone. "
Same. As was pointed out above, it's not exactly a conversation starter  |
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Im very open about my bipolar but i rarely talk about how it affects me day to day. Intrusive thoughts is something i deal with on a daily basis. Constantly fighting to get them out of my mind. Just a couple of examples here.
I dont open my mail. My mum or jay has to do it as i think there is bad news in every letter. (This made me very ill once when it esculated).
Every bloody time im stood at a zebra crossing i want to jump in front of a car as i think it would be "fun" to see how quick they can stop.
The worst i did when i was manic many years ago was climb up the wall of the bank and jump to the next building(very short distance) but i thought it would be great fun.
The worst when depressed is attempt suicide(ive attempted suicide for other reasons)but have attempted because of intrusive thoughts.
Also as i have pyscosis i spend half my frigging life working out in my head whether its an intrusive thought or whether in going into a psycotic episode |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Well, I really appreciate people sharing experiences and talking about things that aren't easy to talk about with anyone, let alone writing on a forum about.
You all have my respect x"
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered, but thank you |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Please correct me if I am wrong but I assumed everyone had intrusive thoughts from time to time..It has always felt very 'normal' to me.
Interesting to hear someone say they thought that they were the only person who experienced such things..
We do.
But how often are people open about them?
Like everything in our heads these are very private thoughts that often come from a dark place that we dont want to visit or talk to others about.
"
Secrets are responsible for many issues amongst families.
In my families home, dinner time is when we talk, sat around the table the 'hows your day been' includes feelings not just 'what you did' during the day.
I can guarantee that less than half of families today even gather around a table let alone talk.
We did this daily even when we had visitors. You would be amazed at how many visitors open up about their days around my families meal times.
Equally it has proved quite useful for my daughters when it comes to boyfriends ie,
Wont join us for dinner, dumped.
Won't open up 'over time' emotionally, dumped.
It's a great leveller and leads to understanding in a natural way.
Start talking and bathing people, it's good for your souls and mental health
BTW I went to a therapist as my anger had became suddenly uncontrollable.
All she did was peddle her antidepressants and anxiety drugs.
I worked out what my issue was talking with my family.
And would you believe a death in my family had brought up a childhood memory.
When I spoke with my brothers, sisters, mother and father,it turned out that they all knew (not the youngest) 'but never spoke about it' as I had never mentioned it until now.
They thought as I was so young when it had happened ''I had simply forgotten'' I had, but it had morphed into a recurring nightmare about 'a giant a man and a young boy'.
Aged five a full grown man deliberately kicked me violently, my father sat watching me play witnessed this. He had arrived unexpectedly and was waiting for us to finish playing.
He attacked the man and beat him so viciously that when he had finished my fathers fist had teeth embedded in his knuckles.
As my father explained the details I remembered, being sat in the back of a police car with my father watching him removing these teeth.
He informed me, during my confrontation, that the police also tried to prosecute him, a deal was struck and 'no further action' was the outcome.
The man that violently kicked me was my mothers sisters, recently dead, husband.
They moved far away afterwards and were never seen or spoke of again, not until we heard of his death.
No more anger
BTW you wont have to put up with my boredom for much longer, post wise. My rotten leg is healing now I have penicillin.
I have a house to refurbish, garden to design/install, dogs that need running and battles that need resuming.
It's the battles that I live for! |
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"Well, I really appreciate people sharing experiences and talking about things that aren't easy to talk about with anyone, let alone writing on a forum about.
You all have my respect x
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered, but thank you "
I'm sorry that you feel like that. |
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"Well, I really appreciate people sharing experiences and talking about things that aren't easy to talk about with anyone, let alone writing on a forum about.
You all have my respect x
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered, but thank you "
I'm glad you did (and others) |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just learnt that this is a term as i never realised it was recognised in psychology.
If you were stood on the platform of a train, the train approaches and a thought pops into your head like "jump in front of it" or "push that person in front of it" -that's an intrusive thought.
Apparently it's linked to a whole host of other conditions, but most notably OCD.
Anyone got any experience of intrusive thoughts they'd care to share? Apparently they can be treated if they are problematic."
Yes, I get these "intrusive thoughts" sometimes very macabre and quite disturbing. I was told that they were a symptom of my PTSD and that they'd probably never go away. My main one is when I'm talking to a perfectly lovely person - friend, relative or a stranger and I suddenly get the urge to punch them in the face as hard as I can with the intention of knocking out all their teeth. Once I've mentally visualised it and realised what it is, I'm fine. I've never punched anyone in my life, let alone in the face to cause maximum damage - I'm just not a violent person. It makes me feel very "dark" afterwards though. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Well, I really appreciate people sharing experiences and talking about things that aren't easy to talk about with anyone, let alone writing on a forum about.
You all have my respect x
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered, but thank you
I'm sorry that you feel like that."
Feeling vulnerable and exposed is an uncomfortable experience.
|
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"Well, I really appreciate people sharing experiences and talking about things that aren't easy to talk about with anyone, let alone writing on a forum about.
You all have my respect x
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered, but thank you
I'm sorry that you feel like that.
Feeling vulnerable and exposed is an uncomfortable experience.
"
try not to think like that. People learn to understand things by people talking about there experiences. Look at the positive people have learnt something from what youve typed |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Well, I really appreciate people sharing experiences and talking about things that aren't easy to talk about with anyone, let alone writing on a forum about.
You all have my respect x
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered, but thank you
I'm sorry that you feel like that.
Feeling vulnerable and exposed is an uncomfortable experience.
try not to think like that. People learn to understand things by people talking about there experiences. Look at the positive people have learnt something from what youve typed"
DS is right, many people have found acknowledgement that these things are not uncommon, whilst can be awful to contend with, both reassuring, helpful and useful as a way of better understanding others. Wishing you ongoing strength in handling yours. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I first heard of intrusive thoughts when seeing a documentary about ocd and after speaking to my doctor. As for the last 12 or so years they are big part of my life. To the point where I check my plug sockets intensely before sleeping or going out. Or checking I've locked everything 1000 times before leaving and many other little or strange things in my daily routine . All down to these thoughts I didn't even realise untill understanding what i was doing was apart of these intrusive thoughts. The mind is a powerful thing. |
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Personally, I wouldn't give anyone a wide berth because of anything they have said on this thread.
If others want to do that with me then that is their prerogative.
My issues may be part of me, but they don't define me.
|
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"Just learnt that this is a term as i never realised it was recognised in psychology.
If you were stood on the platform of a train, the train approaches and a thought pops into your head like "jump in front of it" or "push that person in front of it" -that's an intrusive thought.
Apparently it's linked to a whole host of other conditions, but most notably OCD.
Anyone got any experience of intrusive thoughts they'd care to share? Apparently they can be treated if they are problematic.
Yes, I get these "intrusive thoughts" sometimes very macabre and quite disturbing. I was told that they were a symptom of my PTSD and that they'd probably never go away. My main one is when I'm talking to a perfectly lovely person - friend, relative or a stranger and I suddenly get the urge to punch them in the face as hard as I can with the intention of knocking out all their teeth. Once I've mentally visualised it and realised what it is, I'm fine. I've never punched anyone in my life, let alone in the face to cause maximum damage - I'm just not a violent person. It makes me feel very "dark" afterwards though."
Yep I've had similar, they used to make me feel scared of myself and I'd shut myself away from people because I thought I was some awful person. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Well, I really appreciate people sharing experiences and talking about things that aren't easy to talk about with anyone, let alone writing on a forum about.
You all have my respect x
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered, but thank you
I'm sorry that you feel like that.
Feeling vulnerable and exposed is an uncomfortable experience.
try not to think like that. People learn to understand things by people talking about there experiences. Look at the positive people have learnt something from what youve typed"
Yes, you're right |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Well, I really appreciate people sharing experiences and talking about things that aren't easy to talk about with anyone, let alone writing on a forum about.
You all have my respect x
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered, but thank you
I'm sorry that you feel like that.
Feeling vulnerable and exposed is an uncomfortable experience.
try not to think like that. People learn to understand things by people talking about there experiences. Look at the positive people have learnt something from what youve typed
DS is right, many people have found acknowledgement that these things are not uncommon, whilst can be awful to contend with, both reassuring, helpful and useful as a way of better understanding others. Wishing you ongoing strength in handling yours. "
Thank you.
I guess the more we talk about it, the quicker the stigma will be lessened. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I have those kinds of thoughts often.
When I worked in a school that had its own swimming pool we were showing some prospective staff members the pool, and I thought I might push one of them in.
I've had to stand back from the platform edge at train stations because I had thought about jumping on the track.
I wasn't suicidal or depressed at the time.
|
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"A lot of the young people i work with confuse intrusive thoughts with voice hearing. Part of my role is helping them understand this. "
Fascinating thread. Sorry to cherry pick but as someone who's endured these intrusive thoughts from time to time and having also "talked with god" I'd be interested in hearing more about this. Since intrusive thoughts are uncharacteristically nasty ideas that come from somewhere other than the usual place in the mind, I wonder if there's a place for uncharacteristically wise and loving ideas to also come from unusual places in the mind. The latter is a good description of what a god experience is like |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"A lot of the young people i work with confuse intrusive thoughts with voice hearing. Part of my role is helping them understand this.
Fascinating thread. Sorry to cherry pick but as someone who's endured these intrusive thoughts from time to time and having also "talked with god" I'd be interested in hearing more about this. Since intrusive thoughts are uncharacteristically nasty ideas that come from somewhere other than the usual place in the mind, I wonder if there's a place for uncharacteristically wise and loving ideas to also come from unusual places in the mind. The latter is a good description of what a god experience is like "
Interesting question. I'd be curious to hear the various answers. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just learnt that this is a term as i never realised it was recognised in psychology.
If you were stood on the platform of a train, the train approaches and a thought pops into your head like "jump in front of it" or "push that person in front of it" -that's an intrusive thought.
Apparently it's linked to a whole host of other conditions, but most notably OCD.
Anyone got any experience of intrusive thoughts they'd care to share? Apparently they can be treated if they are problematic."
I've always had them, focussed on self-harm though instead of harming others.
They're just fleeting moments though these days, I don't worry that I might act on them. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Intrusive thoughts don't always have to be violent, they can be literally anything. They're also commonly associated with autistic spectrum disorders.
Some people find that their intrusive thoughts are completely harmless, but weird and distracting so just leave them with a feeling of "where the fuck did that come from?" |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Im glad you brought this thread back up. Hope more people will share their experiences"
Thanks
I was really curious about something you posted on a different thread last night.
How long-term use of psychotropic drugs has changed the ease with which you communicate. My memory is shocking, so apologies if I'm paraphrasing incorrectly.
Is this a common side effect of long term use? |
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"Im glad you brought this thread back up. Hope more people will share their experiences
Thanks
I was really curious about something you posted on a different thread last night.
How long-term use of psychotropic drugs has changed the ease with which you communicate. My memory is shocking, so apologies if I'm paraphrasing incorrectly.
Is this a common side effect of long term use?"
i believe its quite common but being on a high dose of toxic medicine is bound to affect you. My friends can tell straight away in the evening when ive just taken my medication as i start to get more gobbledy gook. It also affects my speech badly i have to take medication to try and control it my speech gets really slurred and my mouth drops down so i look as though ive had a stroke. Thats much worse in the mornings but tends to calm down as the day goes on but somedays i cant say a proper sentence and thats more when ive not been sleeping as well |
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"Intrusive thoughts don't always have to be violent, they can be literally anything. They're also commonly associated with autistic spectrum disorders.
Some people find that their intrusive thoughts are completely harmless, but weird and distracting so just leave them with a feeling of "where the fuck did that come from?""
They are generally negative though. Apparently Martin Luther had a lot of blasphemous intrusive thoughts. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Im glad you brought this thread back up. Hope more people will share their experiences
Thanks
I was really curious about something you posted on a different thread last night.
How long-term use of psychotropic drugs has changed the ease with which you communicate. My memory is shocking, so apologies if I'm paraphrasing incorrectly.
Is this a common side effect of long term use?i believe its quite common but being on a high dose of toxic medicine is bound to affect you. My friends can tell straight away in the evening when ive just taken my medication as i start to get more gobbledy gook. It also affects my speech badly i have to take medication to try and control it my speech gets really slurred and my mouth drops down so i look as though ive had a stroke. Thats much worse in the mornings but tends to calm down as the day goes on but somedays i cant say a proper sentence and thats more when ive not been sleeping as well"
Thanks. I must do a bit more research into the side effects.
Currently stopping myself communicating my irritation regarding the sudden spate of irreverent posts |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Intrusive thoughts don't always have to be violent, they can be literally anything. They're also commonly associated with autistic spectrum disorders.
Some people find that their intrusive thoughts are completely harmless, but weird and distracting so just leave them with a feeling of "where the fuck did that come from?""
My strangest one atm because some come and stay or some come and go after a while. Is wiping my cabinet that my phone sits on and then starting at it till I'm convinced its dry. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Intrusive thoughts don't always have to be violent, they can be literally anything. They're also commonly associated with autistic spectrum disorders.
Some people find that their intrusive thoughts are completely harmless, but weird and distracting so just leave them with a feeling of "where the fuck did that come from?"
My strangest one atm because some come and stay or some come and go after a while. Is wiping my cabinet that my phone sits on and then starting at it till I'm convinced its dry. "
That sounds more like a compulsion, not an intrusive thought. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Intrusive thoughts don't always have to be violent, they can be literally anything. They're also commonly associated with autistic spectrum disorders.
Some people find that their intrusive thoughts are completely harmless, but weird and distracting so just leave them with a feeling of "where the fuck did that come from?"
My strangest one atm because some come and stay or some come and go after a while. Is wiping my cabinet that my phone sits on and then starting at it till I'm convinced its dry.
That sounds more like a compulsion, not an intrusive thought. "
Correct its a compulsion but the compulsion comes from the intrusive thoughts. Takes a lot to understand. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Does anyone know if restless legs is a side effect of long-term psychotropic drug use?"
There’s definite links, actually from it being symptomatic in relation to conditions as well as related to medication side effects.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Suffered from them most of my life since about 12 years old , recently got a lot worse but seeing a counsellor in 2 weeks after a 5 month wait , drive over the tyne bridge day and night for work and have often thought I could just pull over and jump
Pretty sure it’d PTSD related and hope telking therapy helps .
There’s a really good person from this place I talk to a lot and she’s been a big help. The last place I expected to find it was on fab strange how things happen. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Does anyone know if restless legs is a side effect of long-term psychotropic drug use?
There’s definite links, actually from it being symptomatic in relation to conditions as well as related to medication side effects. "
What conditions is it a symptom of, do you know? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Suffered from them most of my life since about 12 years old , recently got a lot worse but seeing a counsellor in 2 weeks after a 5 month wait , drive over the tyne bridge day and night for work and have often thought I could just pull over and jump
Pretty sure it’d PTSD related and hope telking therapy helps .
There’s a really good person from this place I talk to a lot and she’s been a big help. The last place I expected to find it was on fab strange how things happen."
What makes you think its PTSD. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Does anyone know if restless legs is a side effect of long-term psychotropic drug use?
There’s definite links, actually from it being symptomatic in relation to conditions as well as related to medication side effects.
What conditions is it a symptom of, do you know?"
There’s a great charity for RLS (or Willis-Ekbom disease) - great info on there could be useful. I can’t post the link, but google will locate it.
It can be linked to iron deficiencies, pregnancy, sleep disorders (periodic limb movements, the jerking), doesn’t *just* affect legs, and then can also be a symptom of some mental health conditions too. There’s the difference between primary and second RLS, secondary can be iron deficiency or medication causal (could be anything from antihistamine, Benadryl cough and flu through to heavier medication). It’s very varied. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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What does checking everything before you leave the house, then checking again, even though you know you switched it off, does that come under intrusive thoughts or OCD ? |
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"What does checking everything before you leave the house, then checking again, even though you know you switched it off, does that come under intrusive thoughts or OCD ?"
I'd say that's more OCD, but others may have better understanding |
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"I get these now and again, usually I will be talking to someone, just a normal conversation, and I'll get an overwhelming urge to punch them in the face or slap them.
I sometimes get one when I'm in the lift at work "what if I was trapped in here and the building went on fire" and I get quite anxious about it. Then I add to it, like "what if my kids were in here with me as well" which would never be the case, and it makes me even more anxious. I can't explain it, and it doesn't happen every time. "
Lol I get this sometimes. It's usually when talking to a stranger I start imagining punching them in the face or stamping on their foot and things. It's weird and not sure why those thoughts pop in my head but they do. Of course I'd never act on those thoughts. Wasn't sure if it was just me! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"What does checking everything before you leave the house, then checking again, even though you know you switched it off, does that come under intrusive thoughts or OCD ?"
Intrusive thoughts refer to the O. What you described refers to the C. So all part of OCD. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"What does checking everything before you leave the house, then checking again, even though you know you switched it off, does that come under intrusive thoughts or OCD ?
Intrusive thoughts refer to the O. What you described refers to the C. So all part of OCD. "
It’s weird how we’re okay with leaving the fridge on all day, but the washing machine can’t be trusted ! |
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By *isa 59Woman
over a year ago
Newcastle |
My worst experience of intrusive thoughts happened last year when I was prescribed anti-depressants. The suicidal ideation was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. The compulsion to drive into walls and trees stopped me driving, I couldn't walk anywhere as the compulsion to throw myself under moving traffic was so strong I was literally holding onto walls, every time I had a drink of some kind I could see myself smashing the glass/mug and slicing my arms open. On top of this I could see spiders everywhere and even though I hate the little blighters I had thoughts of eating them. I lasted a week before I phoned my GP and requested a home visit. I was a total mess. I had no suicidal thoughts at all before taking the meds and as soon as I stopped taking them the thoughts and spiders disappeared. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"My worst experience of intrusive thoughts happened last year when I was prescribed anti-depressants. The suicidal ideation was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. The compulsion to drive into walls and trees stopped me driving, I couldn't walk anywhere as the compulsion to throw myself under moving traffic was so strong I was literally holding onto walls, every time I had a drink of some kind I could see myself smashing the glass/mug and slicing my arms open. On top of this I could see spiders everywhere and even though I hate the little blighters I had thoughts of eating them. I lasted a week before I phoned my GP and requested a home visit. I was a total mess. I had no suicidal thoughts at all before taking the meds and as soon as I stopped taking them the thoughts and spiders disappeared. "
Suicidal ideation is a common side effect of anti depressants.
That sounds like a horrific experience x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"My worst experience of intrusive thoughts happened last year when I was prescribed anti-depressants. The suicidal ideation was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. The compulsion to drive into walls and trees stopped me driving, I couldn't walk anywhere as the compulsion to throw myself under moving traffic was so strong I was literally holding onto walls, every time I had a drink of some kind I could see myself smashing the glass/mug and slicing my arms open. On top of this I could see spiders everywhere and even though I hate the little blighters I had thoughts of eating them. I lasted a week before I phoned my GP and requested a home visit. I was a total mess. I had no suicidal thoughts at all before taking the meds and as soon as I stopped taking them the thoughts and spiders disappeared. "
I had an experience like this after my kids were born. I was feeling down and started antidepressants. Wthin days of staring them i had thoughts about kilimg myself. Litterly every thing have me suicidal thoughts. Best thing I done was stop taking the tablets. |
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By *isa 59Woman
over a year ago
Newcastle |
"
Suicidal ideation is a common side effect of anti depressants.
That sounds like a horrific experience x "
I had read that it was a possible side effect but I didn't realise that the feelings could be so strong and debilitating. Tbh the spider thing was harder to cope with than the suicidal thoughts. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just learnt that this is a term as i never realised it was recognised in psychology.
If you were stood on the platform of a train, the train approaches and a thought pops into your head like "jump in front of it" or "push that person in front of it" -that's an intrusive thought.
Apparently it's linked to a whole host of other conditions, but most notably OCD.
Anyone got any experience of intrusive thoughts they'd care to share? Apparently they can be treated if they are problematic."
I get things like this all the time, but I know not to listen to them thankfully! mine are to do with myself, jumping, crashing etc |
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Mine used to sabotage pretty much everything I did when I was younger, so many things that should have been just good times like dates or nights out were spoiled by these unwanted horrible thoughts popping in and causing me anxiety spikes, followed by days/weeks/months of ruminating on why I was thinking them. But nobody ever knew because I kept all of it to myself till it reached a crescendo. They don't affect me in that way any more so life is far more enjoyable, but they'll always be there. They key to it is just ignoring them and not letting them cause you anxiety, some days when you're in a funk it can seem a bit harder but is still achievable |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"What does checking everything before you leave the house, then checking again, even though you know you switched it off, does that come under intrusive thoughts or OCD ?
Intrusive thoughts refer to the O. What you described refers to the C. So all part of OCD.
It’s weird how we’re okay with leaving the fridge on all day, but the washing machine can’t be trusted !"
The washing machine can definitely not be trusted! Neither can dishwashers or Christmas lights!
A little safety message from PP |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I think the thing that's shocking and ultimately embarrassing about intrusive thoughts (and disturbing dreams) is that they appear to come from you. For me, it shocks me that I can think some of these things. They're so out of character. But there's still the strong sense that it was indeed me who conjured up this hellish thought. So perhaps the key reason why it unnerves me is because it sews a seed of distrust in my head for a moment... that I can't trust myself. When I'm near the edge of high walls I have to consciously back myself away, the compulsion to jump is so strong. I feel I can't be trusted. But obviously I can. It's just that I've freaked myself out and momentarily lost that trust in myself.
I had a similar experience, albeit very disturbing, when I was in my late teens when I had the strong sensation of being possessed by a powerful ancient/unearthly spirit. The sense was so strong that I felt it had taken control of me and was spinning me around the room. I told my girlfriend at the time that she needed to leave me because I didn't know what I was going to do next.
The god experience is very different from either of these. It never feels as if it's you. It is quite clearly a very unique and different voice in your head. When you receive an answer which is surprisingly wise and graceful it never occurs to you, unlike with intrusive thoughts, that it's come from yourself. The sense is that it clearly hasn't.
Not sure if this post adds to the discussion. But I wanted to try and keep this thread going... and interesting if possible |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I think the thing that's shocking and ultimately embarrassing about intrusive thoughts (and disturbing dreams) is that they appear to come from you. For me, it shocks me that I can think some of these things. They're so out of character. But there's still the strong sense that it was indeed me who conjured up this hellish thought. So perhaps the key reason why it unnerves me is because it sews a seed of distrust in my head for a moment... that I can't trust myself. When I'm near the edge of high walls I have to consciously back myself away, the compulsion to jump is so strong. I feel I can't be trusted. But obviously I can. It's just that I've freaked myself out and momentarily lost that trust in myself.
I had a similar experience, albeit very disturbing, when I was in my late teens when I had the strong sensation of being possessed by a powerful ancient/unearthly spirit. The sense was so strong that I felt it had taken control of me and was spinning me around the room. I told my girlfriend at the time that she needed to leave me because I didn't know what I was going to do next.
The god experience is very different from either of these. It never feels as if it's you. It is quite clearly a very unique and different voice in your head. When you receive an answer which is surprisingly wise and graceful it never occurs to you, unlike with intrusive thoughts, that it's come from yourself. The sense is that it clearly hasn't.
Not sure if this post adds to the discussion. But I wanted to try and keep this thread going... and interesting if possible "
Are you saying it wasn't interesting until now?
Joking btw |
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"I think the thing that's shocking and ultimately embarrassing about intrusive thoughts (and disturbing dreams) is that they appear to come from you. For me, it shocks me that I can think some of these things. They're so out of character. But there's still the strong sense that it was indeed me who conjured up this hellish thought. So perhaps the key reason why it unnerves me is because it sews a seed of distrust in my head for a moment... that I can't trust myself. When I'm near the edge of high walls I have to consciously back myself away, the compulsion to jump is so strong. I feel I can't be trusted. But obviously I can. It's just that I've freaked myself out and momentarily lost that trust in myself.
I had a similar experience, albeit very disturbing, when I was in my late teens when I had the strong sensation of being possessed by a powerful ancient/unearthly spirit. The sense was so strong that I felt it had taken control of me and was spinning me around the room. I told my girlfriend at the time that she needed to leave me because I didn't know what I was going to do next.
The god experience is very different from either of these. It never feels as if it's you. It is quite clearly a very unique and different voice in your head. When you receive an answer which is surprisingly wise and graceful it never occurs to you, unlike with intrusive thoughts, that it's come from yourself. The sense is that it clearly hasn't.
Not sure if this post adds to the discussion. But I wanted to try and keep this thread going... and interesting if possible "
sorry i dont know how to break down the thread. I wanted to talk about the godlike experiences. Do your senses all feel extremely hyper sensative. Does every thing become crystal clear clearer than anything before. Do you feel like you have the answers to everything and therefore an overwhelming peace? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"sorry i dont know how to break down the thread. I wanted to talk about the godlike experiences. Do your senses all feel extremely hyper sensative. Does every thing become crystal clear clearer than anything before. Do you feel like you have the answers to everything and therefore an overwhelming peace?"
By "god experience" I'm not talking about an ego manic experience where I feel like a god. I'm referring to the religious experience of feeling the presence of something we might describe as being god and then communicating with it in your head.
The experience starts by me mentally tuning into a very specific location beyond myself that I discovered through messing around with different meditation techniques. I quickly get the sense of a vast presence who's awareness is fixed on me. The nature of the presence is entirely benign and graceful. I then direct a question to it. Then words start entering my head without me having thought them. It's like hearing a voice but it's also like someone else is thinking your thoughts for you. The thoughts are always entirely surprising, like intrusive thoughts. What makes them unusual is that they often include massive perspective shifts that help to see the situation in a much more loving way. As such, they seem much wiser than petty little me. It's possible that I'm tapping into a much wiser subconscious. But the profound sense of a presence beyond me, and of the words coming from that presence, works against that conclusion.
It's a common enough experience that at least a few scientists are looking to replicate it and get to the root of it. Google "god helmet" if you're interested.
There are definite parallels with intrusive thoughts, most notably surprising thoughts that appear in your head from a very different location and with a very uncharacteristic perspective to them. But, as I've explained, there are also some big differences. Fascinating imo though |
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"sorry i dont know how to break down the thread. I wanted to talk about the godlike experiences. Do your senses all feel extremely hyper sensative. Does every thing become crystal clear clearer than anything before. Do you feel like you have the answers to everything and therefore an overwhelming peace?
By "god experience" I'm not talking about an ego manic experience where I feel like a god. I'm referring to the religious experience of feeling the presence of something we might describe as being god and then communicating with it in your head.
The experience starts by me mentally tuning into a very specific location beyond myself that I discovered through messing around with different meditation techniques. I quickly get the sense of a vast presence who's awareness is fixed on me. The nature of the presence is entirely benign and graceful. I then direct a question to it. Then words start entering my head without me having thought them. It's like hearing a voice but it's also like someone else is thinking your thoughts for you. The thoughts are always entirely surprising, like intrusive thoughts. What makes them unusual is that they often include massive perspective shifts that help to see the situation in a much more loving way. As such, they seem much wiser than petty little me. It's possible that I'm tapping into a much wiser subconscious. But the profound sense of a presence beyond me, and of the words coming from that presence, works against that conclusion.
It's a common enough experience that at least a few scientists are looking to replicate it and get to the root of it. Google "god helmet" if you're interested.
There are definite parallels with intrusive thoughts, most notably surprising thoughts that appear in your head from a very different location and with a very uncharacteristic perspective to them. But, as I've explained, there are also some big differences. Fascinating imo though "
very interesting seems like youve managed to put yourself in a deep meditation and unlocked the key to something. I will have a read but when ive got more concentration |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Mine used to sabotage pretty much everything I did when I was younger, so many things that should have been just good times like dates or nights out were spoiled by these unwanted horrible thoughts popping in and causing me anxiety spikes, followed by days/weeks/months of ruminating on why I was thinking them. But nobody ever knew because I kept all of it to myself till it reached a crescendo. They don't affect me in that way any more so life is far more enjoyable, but they'll always be there. They key to it is just ignoring them and not letting them cause you anxiety, some days when you're in a funk it can seem a bit harder but is still achievable "
I got a good tip; don't fight them and don't feed them |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My wife confessed to these all the time. I thought it was psychotic tendances (I’ve a thing for crazy chicks apparently).
But what do these thoughts mean, don’t we all have them, at least a little bit? |
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The other type that I frequently get are the painful, cringe-inducing memories of something mildly embarrassing or humiliating that I did or said years ago which really isn't that big a thing, but has festered in my sub-conscious for so long that it's become literally physically painful when - apropos of nothing - my brain decides to remind me of it. Often to the extent that I will wince, cry out in pain or have to do something like bite the back of my hand...
Not once has my brain randomly gone "Hey! Hey you!! Remember that time...17 years ago, when you said/did that thing and everyone thought you were really funny/intelligent/charming/good"
Oh no...painful and embarrassing all the way. Thanks brain |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The other type that I frequently get are the painful, cringe-inducing memories of something mildly embarrassing or humiliating that I did or said years ago which really isn't that big a thing, but has festered in my sub-conscious for so long that it's become literally physically painful when - apropos of nothing - my brain decides to remind me of it. Often to the extent that I will wince, cry out in pain or have to do something like bite the back of my hand...
Not once has my brain randomly gone "Hey! Hey you!! Remember that time...17 years ago, when you said/did that thing and everyone thought you were really funny/intelligent/charming/good"
Oh no...painful and embarrassing all the way. Thanks brain"
Brains are wankers ! |
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"Yes I’ve heard of this before!
I’ve probably had more intrusive thoughts when d*unk! Some I’ve followed through like jumping through a bedroom window when I was 18!
I can imagine alcohol could exasperated them"
It does frustrate them a lot, yes |
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