Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts that pop into our minds and make us feel distressed, upset or uncomfortable. The nature of these vary, but they can be violent, distressing, or a recurring fear that you might say or do something harmful or inappropriate. Almost everyone experiences intrusive thoughts at some time or another, but people are usually able to ignore them and carry on with their day. When intrusive thoughts start to cause distress and affect your daily life, this can be a symptom of a mental health condition like OCD or anxiety.
I have OCD, so I experience intrusive thoughts regularly, and there have been times in my life where they have caused a lot of distress and made me unwell. Because of this, I have read a lot of self-help books and spoken to professionals to learn how to manage my thoughts. As a result, I have drawn up the below 7 steps to responding to an intrusive thought, which I hope might help other people.
How To Respond To Intrusive Thoughts: A 7-Step Guide
