Chances are that you probably have, because research shows that about 94% of people worldwide experience them (Richard Moulding et al, 2014)
An intrusive thought is an unwanted thought that comes into your mind, without warning and that makes you feel uncomfortable.
They can be more sillyl things like having a thought to “throw your bag out of the car window” or “put your dinner in the bin”, or they can be more upsetting such as “push that person down the stairs” or “drop that match on that wooden table”.
Intrusive thoughts are very, very common in times of stress, but they can make you worry because they are often upsetting in nature and you might feel scared that you will act on the thought.
Here are some tips for dealing with intrusive or unwanted thoughts:
- Rather than trying to push the thought away because you are scared of it (which often makes it more likely to come back quickly), notice it come into your mind, say to yourself “oh, that’s a weird thought” and then let it slowly start to fade.
- Remember to say to yourself “this is just a thought”. “You are not going to act on this thought”. “This is just my brain’s way of telling me that I am feeling stressed”.
- Remember, you are in charge of your actions. Your thoughts are not the boss of you and they cannot tell you what to do.
- Carry on doing whatever it is that you were doing before the thought came into your head. This can help you to see that you are still in control
- Remind yourself that most people have these thoughts on a regular basis and they do not act on them. The reason that people don’t talk about it is because they feel embarrassed or worried of what others will think of them
- Don’t forget that having an increase in intrusive thoughts can actually act as a “warning alarm” for you. It’s your brain’s way of telling you that you’re feeling stressed and then you can take steps to try to feel better (like using some of the resources on this website!)
