Why do I imagine horrendous scenarios? My brain is trying to torture me

[EcclefechanTart]

I keep imagining awful things happening and how I would deal with them. I'm not naturally an anxious person at all, and I don't exactly worry about these things in RL, but it's as if my brain is trying to make me consider how I would respond to things like DC being tortured, being given horrendous "Sophie's Choice" type situations, having to endure all kinds of horrors. Another variant is that it's me doing the awful things (abusing children, other awful and taboo things that I wouldn't consider for a second in RL).

I have a suspicion that my mind is somehow trying to test me or prepare me for the worst, but as my DC are not likely to be kidnapped I'm not likely to turn into a child molester, I don't know why it's coming up with these awful things.

Can anyone relate? Is there any obvious cause and/or solution?

Intrusive thoughts are very common.
I've suffered from them as a symptom of anxiety and depression.
Most (if not all) of my friends have encountered this in pregnancy and after birth.
Do you feel stressed/ low?

Is this what intrusive thoughts are? I always thought that was more anxiety- related - sort of constantly thinking your DC might be in a road accident when they were on a school trip, or something. Mine seem to be more like I have to prepare for the worst scenario, even though I'm not actually anxious about it really happening...

I am stressed (permanently!). Not depressed as far as I know.

Yes this is intrusive thought s I'm a RMN antidepressants might help with them they can be horrible

I'm awake with the same thing, OP. Internet doesn't help as can read awful stories. Anxiety doesn't help you prepare.

I've been through therapy for death anxiety recently and he gave me this which I found helpful-

(Worry tree)

www.getselfhelp.co.uk/freedownloads.htm

But I don't think I am anxious ?? (Unless I'm kidding myself) It's more like I have to keep "testing" myself, to see how I would cope with horrible choices and situations. I guess it seems more like a worry about what kind of person I am, rather than a fear that something bad will actually happen.

I don't know if that makes any sense

Ugh, had this again last night. Wondering if I'd be able to resist torture to avoid giving away where family was hiding (Nazi type scenario). Why does my brain come up with these awful things?

Over the summer I hit a real low with my anxiety. We were on holiday and I became convinced DD2 would climb on a chair on the balcony and fall. I could see it clearly and it was horrendous.

Can you tell your GP? I'm finally getting the dosage better of my antidepressants and the catastrophic thoughts have dissipated.

Hmmm... you are all mentioning anxiety. Do you think this must be anxiety related? I don't feel at all anxious, I don't think. And my imagined scenarios are all next to impossible - they're not things I worry about really happening. Perhaps I put the wrong title on this thread!

Just thought id read this thread as I was curious - I sometimes have intrusive thoughts in the form of very very bad dreams that I think about for the rest of the day. Other than pnd after DD I have never been depressed. I would have said it was fairly mild - no meds - I was just very over protective of dd

I'm not anxious either so I'm confused myself op. I've always been comfortable with my mental wellbeing and health and again haven't really had any issues... I never thought that anxiety and depression were a part of the same thing either or that they correlated.

That's interesting. I often have bad dreams too and they tend to stay with me. These kinds of unwelcome thoughts are when I'm awake, though - often in the night or when I'm trying to get to sleep.

Disclaimers:
I don't currently suffer MH problems and am not depressed though I did have acute anxiety issues about 30 years ago.
I do not wish or intend to belittle, dismiss or minimise the OP's questions...

But... I thought this was quite common? I too have these strange thoughts that are completely unrelated to RL. I have put these down to simply losing all emotional rationality as a result of having children. I cry at anything and everything even vaguely soppy. I think they're triggered by a film I've watched (hence the torture / Nazi thing) or by a book or a a comment. My mind leaps from one stage to my children being in imminent danger.

I thought this was 'normal'!

I know this is very late :p
but this sounds a little like OCD - intrusive unwanted or uncomfortable or taboo thoughts that induce great anxiety and oppose who you/target the very things that you value most (aka. your children, your morality, etc). It is a torturous disorder. The compulsions that follow can be internal mental exercises/rituals - they are not always visible. Just something to think about and perhaps learn more about, so you don’t feel so alone and can find some answers. Perhaps bring it up to a doctor. I found CBT therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy strategies to be the most eye opening and helpful for me and my struggle with this disorder. It helped me reach remission. It is a disorder that can take over if you allow it. I wish you all of my best.