what helped you with intrusive thoughts

[andreas]

Hi guys

I have strange intrusive sexual and violent thoughts that used to come and go but now seem to be here for good. My psych says this is all linked to my depression and anxiety and prescribed zoloft. I really dont want to take it due to the side effects i have read about... does everyone get these side effects.

How many of you guys have had intrusive thoughts and what has helped you to get rid of them or reduce them.

any ideas would be great

 

[bunnyrabbitz]

I just go with them, saying them out loud to people reduces the impact I feel and transfers it to others.

 

[herbavore]

^hmmm, that could get you in more trouble than it's worth depending on how extreme the thoughts are and the people you are telling them to.

I think that I would treat them like any other kind of intrusive thoughts. I would answer back with, "This is just a thought I am having. This is not me." Then I would go further in my mind and ask, "What do these thoughts give me that I obviously need?" Release? Testing boundaries? Do I need an healthy outlet for anger and am I denying myself that outlet?

 

[Asclepius]

I having been having, bouts of paranoia and fear lately - which have led me to feel extreme anxiety and feeling like im just going to lose control.

In terms of intrusive thoughts, they have mainly been more 'fear based' ime ie. obsessing about the death of loved ones but I have also, felt a lot of anger toward certain people I know, whom I have ambiguous and paranoid, feelings about.

The main thing I am trying to practice is, minimising my stress levels. I am trying to do everything slower and am attempting to be extremely mindful, regarding all my actions ( ie focusing on how I need to treat myself with respect to how delicate I feel atm). It is helping.

To be honest, talking about this with a therapist would help you a lot imo. If these thoughts are scaring you, then sharing them may reduce the potency of these unconscious fears, that are surfacing and taunting your mind.

These kind of OCD symptoms are awful. Please focus on trying to treat yourself very, gently, they are just thoughts and are not indicative of your conscious self, so be very compassionate with yourself and let the thoughts just be, like Herb mentioned; without judging yourself harshly. We all can all think of the most nightmarish things, it has nothing to do with who we are fundamentally but is just part of the unconscious, manifesting itself - feelings that have been buried/disregarded and need to be acknowledged and addressed.

Are you alone a lot atm or are these thoughts occurring when you are in company??

 

[bunnyrabbitz]

^hmmm, that could get you in more trouble than it's worth depending on how extreme the thoughts are and the people you are telling them to.

I think that I would treat them like any other kind of intrusive thoughts. I would answer back with, "This is just a thought I am having. This is not me." Then I would go further in my mind and ask, "What do these thoughts give me that I obviously need?" Release? Testing boundaries? Do I need an healthy outlet for anger and am I denying myself that outlet?

Does get me in a fair bit of trouble and mine are very extreme sexually and violently. I'm one of those people who couldn't give less of a fuck. To each his own though.

 

[Corazon]

sex and violence can relate a lot to power issues

for example, feeling powerless or frustrated in life

easier said than done, but addressing those life things can sometimes help.

exercise is pretty easy and as long as your health permits, pretty much everyone can work out and feel somewhat better about themselves while using some energy.

 

[andreas]

thanks for the replies guys

yeah i think you hit the nail on the head corazon.... i have been under immense emotional and financial stress for over 6 years now and I really do stuck and frustrated.

 

[T. Calderone]

That's a long time to be so stressed out. Have you ever used medication or is this the first time prescribed? It may give you some relief and if you don't have to use it if it doesn't agree with you. I've been on so many meds over the years, some helped more than others.

 

[Pilll_head]

The only way to deal with negative intrusive thoughts is to chase them out with positive thoughts. Try and avoid "brooding" or long periods of idleness with nothing to do. For me at least, that is usually when the bad intrusive thoughts take root and poison my mind. Keep a source of positive things going in your life, something you can point to as an accomplishment or sense of pride.

It's a daily battle. There is no easy panacea for this problem.

 

[Lolie]

CBT is pretty good for changing the thought patterns which feed anxiety, so if your current therapy isn't CBT-based you might want to consider asking your therapist to use CBT or changing to a therapist who uses CBT if your therapist doesn't.

MoodGYM and e-couch are CBT-based online programmes which you can use to reinforce what you're doing with your therapist.

Medication-wise, the atypical antipsychotics like Seroquel are good for reducing intrusive thoughts. It's not possible to predict who'll suffer side effects from what medication which is why your prescriber should monitor for side effects. Even if you do suffer side effects, they may still be preferable to uncontrolled depression and anxiety. Medication may help you to participate in therapy more effectively, too.

Meditation is good for helping you learn not to engage intrusive thoughts. You mental health professionals should already be teaching you techniques to manage stress and anxiety - if they aren't, either ask them to teach you those techniques or change providers.

 

[Allein]

I got a great deal from CBT but it took some persistence to find a quality practitioner, I'd tried online stuff and audio courses but really needed the one to one part in order to start to effectively challenge some of my thought patterns.

I've had have problems with obsessive thinking, but this is more about me getting side tracked by questions of reality and consciousness that do nothing for my genuine understanding of things.

It's quite normal to have fleeting thoughts of taking actions that are extreme or dangerous, I could list common ones but I'm not sure that would be appropriate material.

It's the fixation on these thoughts and as hebravore is saying the adoption of them almost as if you have in some way down these things that is damaging. You haven't done these things and you disgust indicates that you've no actual intention of doing so either, let them pass and give them no value.

As yet there are no thought police