Intrusive thoughts are often triggered by stress or anxiety. They may also be a short-term problem brought on by biological factors, such as hormone shifts. For example, a woman might experience an uptick in intrusive thoughts after the birth of a child.
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How do I stop intrusive compulsive thoughts?
Attend to the intrusive thoughts; accept them and allow them in, then allow them to move on. Don’t fear the thoughts; thoughts are just that—thoughts. Don’t let them become more than that. Take intrusive thoughts less personally, and let go of your emotional reaction to them.
Can intrusive thoughts be cured?
While there isn’t yet a cure, therapy can help manage your obsessions and compulsions so that they don’t interfere with your daily life. Many people can experience complete remission of symptoms. For others, treatment will reduce their symptoms and make their condition more manageable.
Are dark thoughts normal?
In fact several well-conducted studies have discovered that close to 100% of the general population has intrusive and disturbing thoughts, images or ideas. These can range from the mild and odd, to the graphic and horrifying*.
Are intrusive thoughts normal?
They’re usually harmless. But if you obsess about them so much that it interrupts your day-to-day life, this can be a sign of an underlying mental health problem. Intrusive thoughts can be a symptom of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).