

Avoid trying to fight the thoughts, as it will only make matters worse if you try to push them away.You do not have to identify with it, as those thoughts are likely not even your own. Label the thoughts for what they are: intrusive thoughts that you cannot control.For example, if you have intrusive thoughts about your lack of self-esteem, think back and try to find moments or situations that caused you to compare yourself to others. Try to navigate where the thought came from.Ask yourself, “Do I really believe this?”.If you or your loved one is struggling with intrusive thoughts, it is crucial to understand that there are ways that you can challenge them.Ĭonsider the following ways to challenge your thoughts when they surface: Thinking about something does not mean that you have to act on it, nor is it a cue that you believe what your thoughts are telling you. It is essential to acknowledge that even the most intrusive thoughts are just merely thoughts. An example of a delusional thought pattern is hearing voices that are not there or always believing that someone is out to get you. Delusional thoughts: These thoughts cause a person to think that they are paranoid.Examples include harming loved ones or engaging in self-destructive behavior. Violent intrusive thoughts: These thoughts involve an individual being violent towards others or themselves.People that overanalyze their faith, fear a lack of God’s forgiveness, or fear that they have lost touch with their religious beliefs may be experiencing religiously intrusive thoughts. Religious or spiritually intrusive thoughts: These are thoughts that cause a person to doubt their place in the world or in the afterlife.Sexually intrusive thoughts: These are thoughts that revolve around a person’s sexuality, gender, or sexual abuse.Conditions like anxiety and depression often encourage negative self-talk. Negative self-talk: This form involves thought patterns that cause us to think negatively about ourselves.The most common types of intrusive thoughts include: The main commonality is that they are generally unpleasant they may be violent, disturbing, or reoccurring. Understanding the Different Types of Intrusive Thoughts Regardless of how or why they develop, it is vital to recognize them as they surface. In other situations, there is no specific root cause for where intrusive thoughts come from. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other trauma.Depression and depression-related disorders.Conditions that are accompanied by intrusive thoughts may include: Intrusive thoughts do not always come from our surroundings, as many are symptoms of various mental health conditions. These thoughts may stick in our subconscious and surface when we feel anxiety or self-doubt. Most of the time, they come from what we read, the shows or movies we watch, or the things that we hear. There are several different sources for where intrusive thoughts come from, although for many, they surface randomly.
Intrusive thoughts how to#
It is essential to learn how to challenge intrusive thoughts when they surface so that they do not take control over an individual’s sense of self. If intrusive thoughts are not challenged, they can wreak havoc on a person’s mental and physical health. Many people fail to realize that, although many people have them, living with intrusive thoughts can be detrimental to an individual’s well-being. Intrusive thoughts can impair our sense of identity. For others, intrusive thoughts encourage individuals to commit a harmful or violent act towards themselves or others.

They are the thoughts that come from comparing ourselves to others, which keep us from moving forward.įor some, intrusive thoughts serve as unwanted reminders from painful trauma or other past experiences that produce feelings of guilt, shame, and embarrassment. They are the voices inside our heads telling us we aren’t good enough, smart enough, or worthy enough. Intrusive thoughts affect all of us from time to time.
