Don’t judge yourself. Know that having a strange or disturbing thought doesn’t indicate that something is wrong with you. When to seek help https://parkinsonsblog.stanford.edu/2020/03/non-motor-symptoms-of-parkinsons-disease-how-they-impact-relationships-webinar-notes/

Without even realizing it, you may be spending a lot of your time living in the past, or obsessing about the future. Intrusive thoughts are often odd, disturbing and startling. Many include violence or inappropriate behavior — that the person who is having the thought would never consider doing. Some of the most common intrusive thoughts revolve around: What a great book for people who struggle with intrusive thoughts! Two highly skilled and respected experts in the treatment of chronic anxiety explain how intrusive thoughts work, what they mean and don’t mean, why they defy your best efforts at getting rid of them, and most importantly, how to change your relationship with these thoughts so they don’t remain a persistent, negative focus. They help the reader understand that intrusive thoughts don’t persist despite your best efforts; they persist because of your best efforts at arguing with, struggling against, and seeking to avoid these unwanted thoughts. Their book offers plainspoken instructions with lots of good examples that will help you let go of the guilt, fear, and confusion that so often accompanies intrusive thoughts. This is a must-read for anyone experiencing such thoughts, as well as the professionals who seek to help them.”

This book will probably be useful to those whose problem is described in here (I was looking for something about anxious rumination instead). Still a nice book, I think, although one thing that irked me was how the authors focused on the main topic so exclusively that they neglected possibilities that didn't fall under the umbrella of "intrusive thoughts". For example: There are also lots of meditation apps available, with courses specifically geared toward beginners and people living with intrusive thoughts, that may help you. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

I have also been reading an amazing book which has helped me so much called ‘Overcoming unwanted intrusive thoughts’. It’s a CBT-based guide to getting over frightened, obsessive, or disturbing thoughts. I try and read this book every night. It’s helped me to realise I’m not the only person in the world that has these thoughts and it helps you understand the science behind it. Pascual-Vera B, et al. (2019). The cross-cultural and transdiagnostic nature of unwanted mental intrusions.When an intrusive thought occupies your brain, it can sometimes feel like it will never go away. But thoughts are always temporary, and there is no such thing as a permanent state of mind. I’m not a religious person but I would pray to God that ... he would make these horrible thoughts go away." Please note that there is a review process whereby all comments posted to blog posts and webinars are reviewed by ADAA staff to determine appropriateness before comments are posted. ADAA reserves the right to remove or edit a post containing offensive material as defined by ADAA.

Intrusive thoughts are not always the result of an underlying condition. Anyone can experience them. Hypothetical reader: "I'm having this and that sexual thought involving children, does that mean I'm a pedophile?" Focusing on the present moment can be a powerful way to manage this. Grounding techniques that can help you center your focus may include: Finding a health care provider who is knowledgeable about intrusive thoughts, OCD or PTSD is the first step in treating these conditions. The International OCD Foundation or the National Center for PTSD can help you find therapists, clinics and support groups. According to the American Psychological Association, there’s a lot of evidence that spending time in nature can boost mental health and sharpen cognitive abilities.

Our brains can be incredibly good at telling us stories that feel like reality. So, an intrusive thought can take on outsized power when it only exists in your mind. Instead, you might consider focusing on ways to make them less overwhelming and create some distance between you and the thought. The goal is to feel that you’re in control of your thoughts, not the other way around. Mindfulness meditation This approach can be difficult to apply. But for anyone who keeps applying it for just a few weeks, there is an excellent chance that they will see a decrease in the frequency and intensity of the unwanted intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts can often lead you to focus on the negative and create stories that aren’t based on reality.

Tens of millions of people have bothersome intrusive thoughts, and most often these thoughts are so unacceptable or embarrassing that many people have trouble telling anyone about them—even their closest family members or friends. At worst, these intrusive thoughts are part of severe problems such as OCD, but we know that almost anybody under stress can occasionally experience intrusive thoughts. Now, at last, a state-of-the-art psychological program written by two of the leading clinicians in the country with years of experience treating this problem is available. The program in this remarkable little book may be sufficient to help you overcome your intrusive thoughts, if therapeutic assistance may be needed, to guide you to the best available resources. I recommend this program very highly as a first step for anybody dealing with this issue.” Disturbing thoughts that pop into your mind unbidden may make you feel uneasy, but they are common — and there are strategies you can use to manage them. People are often too embarrassed or ashamed to talk about it, says Dr. Williams. "A lot of times when patients bring it up to me, they might preface it with something like, ‘I’m not crazy, but this weird thought comes into my mind,’" she says. "They might think about hurting a family member, such as a baby. When the thought happens, they’re horrified—‘I can’t even believe that came into my mind. I shouldn’t tell anyone; they might think something is wrong with me.’" Identifying intrusive thoughtsYou don’t need any special equipment to start meditating, just a few spare moments, and somewhere quiet to practice, if possible. A large 2019 study involving animals showed that interacting with them can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which plays a role in many mental health conditions.