Dealing with negative intrusive thoughts

[lorisparkle]

I am getting lots of negative intrusive thoughts (around self harm and worse).

I was on sertraline- made things worse, then citalopram - did not help, now on mirtrazapine - the weight gain makes me depressed. Waiting whilst I reduce citalopram and mirtrazapine to go onto duloxetine.

I am having some counselling and waiting for some more intensive therapy from NHS

So what do I do when I have those thoughts? Should I try and push them away, or acknowledge them, or respond to them?

They can be fleeting or persistent, mild or intense.

I worry that one day they will be so persistent and intense that I will act

Driving on my own is often a trigger but it can be anything or nothing

I have the radio on when I’m trying to banish thoughts - or loud music. It distracts my brain

I have just read a really good book on this called Overcoming unwanted intrusive thoughts by Sally Winston and Martin Seif. In essence you acknowledge they are just intrusive thoughts and are not something you would act on, the more you try and fight them or reason with them you are reinforcing the problem. I’m not one for self help books usually but this is really good and teaches you how to deal with them

Don't get into a battle with them, as best you can just acknowledge them, recognise them as familiar intrusive thoughts, and allow them to pass. We all have thousands of thoughts every day, and most of them we don't pay much or any attention to - they just pop into our minds and pass away again. But some we get a bit fixated on, often because we think we shouldn't be thinking them - and then we try and push them away or panic about what they mean. Then they get stuck and we become hyper sensitised to them and it gets really sticky... But they're all just thoughts, and they all melt away and make room for the next one if we just accept they're here and trust they'll go. Good luck OP x

Came onto thread to recommend this book.
Absolutely life changing for when I was dealing with awful intrusive thoughts.

FYI OP I must come onto a thread like this every month and recommended this book.

That is how common these thoughts are, many people have these thoughts and understanding them and changing your perspective slightly makes them a non issue.

The other tool I have found very helpful if a book by another doctor called’Mindfulness - finding peace in a frantic world’. Would suggest audio book as it’s come with eight short and simple meditations.

One of the meditations focus’s on letting thoughts pass by, I do it every day and automatically let any intrusive thoughts drift, not a problem.

I really feel for you as I know how awful it can all feel, especially the fear that you are not totally in control and will act on a thought.

You won’t.

Often these thoughts are an issue for serious, risk aware people that take their thoughts too seriously.
They centre around things you hold dear so if you value life and reject violence they can make you feel you risk driving into someone when behind the wheel etc.

Please do read the book, wishing you the very best.

@OpalSpirit good to see another fan of this book, the exercise with the carrots was very funny

Brilliant advice from @TheOliveFinch and @Pamspeople

I'd just add this video which shares the same view;

Thank you so much for your knowledge and recommendations. I will order the book.

It does feel like you are flailing around with no help. None of the GPs I have spoken to have given me any suggestions on what to do and neither has the counsellor.

Thank you again

Ah yes, was a very good example of how actively trying not to think something is impossible!

This is brilliant advice.

Acknowledge the thought- hello, old friend- and then let it pass through.

I sometimes picture my thoughts as leaves on a river, and just try to imagine them passing me by!

@lorisparkle I've had diagnosed OCD for tears, mostly intrusive thoughts.
I also agree with @TheOliveFinch on the book recommendation, I've got this also.
I will also recommend a guy called Shannon Shy. He has a FB page with lots of help/advise and also I've found his book Turning Points of help. X