Intrusive thoughts - how to beat them?

[abitfunny]

I’ve suffered with horrible intrusive thoughts since the birth of my son two years ago.

I’m currently taking sertraline for anxiety and depression which is helping massively - but the bad thoughts still present themselves to me even when I least expect it. I won’t go into detail because it’s too painful to write & Im also ashamed of myself as a mother to say it but they surround my son.

I am currently having therapy once a week alongside the medication, which again is helping but she isn’t a specialist therapist so we cover everything not the thoughts in particular.

I’ve read a couple of books on it and am aware that the best thing is to just let them pass but how can I when they scare me so much and make me question who I even am?

I just get periods of time where I feel so angry that this is still happening to me, I honestly believe if I didn’t have these thoughts I’d be really bloody happy.

Answers on a postcard! X

Hello,

It's great that you are reaching out for support and having some therapy as this can be one of the hardest steps. Is there anyway to gear your sessions around your intrusive thoughts to make it productive?

Mindfulness, distraction and coping techniques are key, the challenge can be finding what works for you but when you do it is really good. You can usually find good resources online, there are apps too, calm and headspace are ones I've heard of.

Using the senses as distraction techniques can be good as you can use whats around you if you didn't have a phone etc on you. Look into grounding techniques too. Like you say, these thoughts will and do pass, but I understand they can be extremely distressing when they occur and that's where good techniques (which can require practice when you are feeling calm first) are a really good toolbox to have.

Hope you start to feel better soon

It really confuses me when we parent we encourage children to feel their feelings and ride them through. Yet in mental health we encourage endless distraction from thoughts and feelings. Totally baffling. Plus if you have intrusive thoughts you cannot just think of something else that's the whole point of the word intrusive! I feel for you Op I am in a similar position.

All the best

Hi op,
I’m diagnosed with intrusive thoughts ocd.
Sadly, there is no easy solution but the best way to deal with them is to let them pass. Easier said than done I know, and I’m struggling with a particular one right now that I can’t overcome.

Thoughts are just that. Thoughts! They mean nothing. The problem I’ve found is the more you give into them (ie doing rituals) the worse they become. Eventually the anxiety will subside.

I understand the utter horror and terror of these thoughts. My best advice is when they pop into your head, say "that's nice dear", or, "thanks for that" either outloud or in your head.

This way you acknowledge them and then send them on their way.

Do it as many times as necessary.

Remember, you are not your thoughts.

I just wish I could overcome this, have any of you managed to get past it?

It does get better OP, would the health visitor be able to help you?

Does tiredness make it worse?
Also it might be worth jotting down the dates that they are worst, you might find the week before your period is when they get worse for example.

You would benefit from seeing a CBT therapist who specialises in intrusive thoughts

Hi, I’ve got a diagnosis of OCD with intrusive thoughts too. It’s so hard, I’m really sorry you’re going through this too.

I’m doing mindfulness every day and that’s really helping me to recognise them and catch myself before I respond with a ritual.

Talking about them with my therapist is also good. Saying then out loud makes them less scary, like I’m making peace the fact that they’re there. She also gives me ideas of how to handle them, but they lose most of their power just by naming them to her.

Its hard, but they really do pass. The more you notice that happening the more confident you will be that it will happen again this time.

@Tish008 that sounds like a really good plan - takes all the power out of them!

This is the massive problem that I suffer with that heightens my anxiety and mood.
So your not alone, it’s so hard to not take notice as it’s happened so so quickly.
Thoughts happen in literally a second
Before you know it the fear is there!
We know it just a thought and whatever that may be.
Mine are never horrible nasty thoughts, there more of how I feel.

I’ve had many many therapies, and it’s always the same thing that affect my anxiety or mood.
I’m constantly saying to myself
It’s a thought, acknowledge and carry on.
That’s the bloody hard part. Especially when it starts the psychical symptoms off, the chest pain, headache, shaking etc etc

I have to keep re reading a book I’ve bought to stop them escalating further.
Overcoming unwanted intrusive thoughts
Sally M Winston psyd
Martin N Seif phd