Intrusive Thoughts (Pt. 1)- How to Overcome Intrusive Thoughts
Jul 17, 2017
How to Overcome Intrusive Thoughts: Understanding the Basics (Part 1 of 3)
Hey there, everyone. Matt here from Restored Minds. Welcome to the first installment of our three-part series on overcoming intrusive thoughts. In this series, we aim to dive deep into what intrusive thoughts are, why our attempts to eliminate them often backfire, and eventually, we’ll explore effective strategies to manage them.
What Are Intrusive Thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts, images, urges, or memories that pop into your mind out of nowhere. The key characteristic that makes them intrusive is that they are unwanted. These thoughts often disturb and distress us, intruding on our daily lives and peace of mind.
Intrusive thoughts can generally be categorized into three main types:
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Unwanted Violent Thoughts: This category includes violent thoughts towards yourself or others. It could involve worrying that you might have done something harmful or that you might do something harmful in the future.
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Unwanted Sexual Thoughts: These can be unwanted images or urges related to sexual acts, concerns about sexual orientation, or fears about becoming a pedophile one day.
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Unwanted Religious Thoughts: This involves thoughts regarding religious figures, doubts about eternal damnation or salvation, and other religiously themed concerns.
The Real Issue: How You React
One of the most crucial insights about intrusive thoughts is that having them is not the problem. The actual issue lies in how you react to these thoughts. For example, if you are driving on a bridge and think, "What if I just drove my car off the bridge?" that’s an intrusive thought. The key moment is your reaction to it.
When you face an intrusive thought, you have two choices:
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Reacting to the Thought: This can involve trying to suppress it, questioning why you had it, or debating its meaning. These reactions give the thought credibility and fuel its impact on you.
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Letting the Thought Go: You can acknowledge the thought and then move on with your day. By doing this, you rob the thought of its power and influence over you.
Compulsive Behaviors: Physical and Mental
Compulsions to combat intrusive thoughts can be both physical and mental. Physical compulsions might include actions like avoiding bridges if driving over them triggers intrusive thoughts. Mental compulsions can include trying to suppress the thought, replace it with another thought, or question its meaning.
