Do dogs have intrusive thoughts

Intrusive Thoughts: Why We Have Them and How to Stop Them

Intrusive thoughts are unexpected images or thoughts that seem to pop into your head. Theyre often strange or distressing. But these thoughts happen to almost everyone from time to time.

Intrusive thoughts seem to come out of nowhere. These thoughts and images are unwanted and often unpleasant. The content can sometimes be aggressive or sexual, or you could suddenly think about a mistake or a worry.

You might feel distressed when this happens, but having an intrusive thought once in a while is a typical part of life.

In most cases, intrusive thoughts do not have any particular meaning. As long as you recognize that these are only thoughts, and you have no desire to act on them, intrusive thoughts are not harmful.

However, if theyre happening often, causing significant concern, or interfering with your daily activities, its a good idea to talk with a doctor.

Read on to learn more about why intrusive thoughts happen and how you can manage them.

There are several different types of intrusive thoughts. Some people may have intrusive thoughts about:

• germs, infections, or other kinds of contamination
• violent acts, aggression, or causing harm to other people
• doubts about doing tasks wrong or leaving tasks unfinished
• religion, blasphemy, or being an immoral person
• sexual acts or situations
• acting out or saying the wrong thing in public

Its also possible to have other types of intrusive thoughts that do not fit into these categories.

Sometimes, people who experience intrusive thoughts become worried about what they mean. This can lead to someone trying to control or stop the thoughts. People may also feel ashamed and want to keep them secret from others.

Keep in mind that the image or thought might be disturbing, but it does not usually have a particular meaning. If you have no desire or intention to act on the thought, and you can easily move on with your day, then its probably nothing to worry about.

Its common to have an intrusive thought every once in a while. In fact, it happens to almost everyone. A 2014 study found that about 94 percent of participants had at least one intrusive thought in the 3 months prior to the study.

In the 2014 study, doubting intrusions or worries about doing tasks correctly were the most common. Intrusive thoughts of a sexual or religious nature were the least likely to be reported.

Although intrusive thoughts are usually nothing to worry about, sometimes they can start to interfere with your daily life.

People who feel fear or guilt about their intrusive thoughts, or feel like they need to take action to control the thoughts, may be experiencing something more serious. If thats the case, its a good idea to talk with a doctor.

Intrusive thoughts may not have a cause. They can just happen randomly. Some thoughts wander into your brain. Then just as quickly, they exit, leaving no lasting impression.

Less commonly, intrusive thoughts are related to an underlying mental health condition, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These thoughts could also be a symptom of another health issue, such as:

Signs that there might be an underlying cause include intrusive thoughts that:

• last longer than a brief moment
• continue to pop back into your head
• cause distress over time
• make you feel like you need to control your thoughts

Changes to mental health are nothing to take lightly. Early symptoms of some conditions may also include:

• changes in thought patterns
• obsessive thoughts
• thoughts of disturbing imagery

These thoughts are nothing to be ashamed of, but they are a reason to seek a diagnosis and treatment so that you can start to feel better.

Intrusive thoughts are not always the result of an underlying condition. Anyone can experience them.

But there are several conditions that include intrusive thoughts as a symptom. They include:

OCD

In OCD, intrusive thoughts cause serious distress. A person with OCD often makes significant efforts to try to suppress or stop their unwanted thoughts (obsessions). This usually involves repeating particular behaviors or habits over and over.

The behaviors and habits, known as compulsions, can interfere with a persons quality of life. But its possible for OCD to improve significantly with treatment.

PTSD

People living with PTSD may have intrusive thoughts related to a traumatic event theyve experienced. These thoughts or memories can bring forth other symptoms of PTSD, such as insomnia or an unpleasant state of overalertness.

PTSD can interfere with a persons daily functioning. However, with trauma-focused treatment, its possible to get relief from symptoms.

Eating disorders

People with an eating disorder may experience intrusive thoughts about their body, losing weight, or what they eat. This can include guilt, shame, or fear related to food or body image. These intrusions can cause serious distress.

Eating disorders can also cause significant changes in behaviors related to food and eating.

Its important to talk with a doctor if you have eating disorder symptoms. With treatment, it can be possible to avoid serious complications.

Intrusive thoughts are powerful because they seem to stick in your mind. Theyre upsetting because they feel so foreign.

The best way to manage intrusive thoughts is to reduce your sensitivity to the thought and its contents. The following strategies may help.

Ways to manage intrusive thoughts

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT, youll work with a therapist to learn ways of thinking that can help you become less sensitive to the intrusive thoughts. In a controlled setting, your therapist may also expose you to triggers for your intrusive thoughts so you can learn to react to them differently.
• Medication. Sometimes, medications are used to treat conditions like OCD and PTSD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to treat these mental health conditions.
• Self-care. A good step toward treating intrusive thoughts is recognizing what they are: just thoughts. You can learn to label them when they happen and recognize that thoughts are not the same as intent or behavior. This may help reduce the frequency or intensity of unwanted thoughts.

The first step toward a diagnosis is talking with a doctor. Theyll review your symptoms and medical history. They may conduct a physical exam and, in some cases, use questionnaires or tests to find out more about your symptoms.

If they find no physical issue that could be leading to intrusive thoughts, they may refer you to a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. These individuals are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of possible causes for intrusive thoughts, including OCD and PTSD.

A psychologist or psychiatrist can work with you to identify the thoughts when they occur and how you respond to them. This will help them come to a diagnosis and decide whether theres another possible cause.

Intrusive thoughts can feel distressing, but if one pops up once in a while, its probably nothing to be concerned about. In many cases, they are not caused by anything in particular. By recognizing that its only a thought, you can help yourself move past it.

When intrusive thoughts are related to an underlying condition, like OCD or PTSD, getting started with a diagnosis and treatment may take some time.

But sticking to your treatment plan can help ease symptoms and make the thoughts less frequent. Options like medication and CBT can help you cope with the thoughts when they do happen.

If your intrusive thoughts are interfering with your day-to-day life, talk with a doctor about your experiences. Getting treatment can help make intrusive thoughts more manageable.

Coping with unwanted and intrusive thoughts

What are intrusive thoughts?

{ @context: https://schema.org, @type: FAQPage, mainEntity: [{ @type: Question, name: What are intrusive thoughts?, acceptedAnswer: { @type: Answer, text: Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts and images that can cause anxiety and distress. A global study found that 94% of people have intrusive thoughts, from the innocuous Did I remember to turn off my curling iron? to more disturbing thoughts of losing control and harming someone. Unlike regular thoughts, intrusive thoughts can feel strange and uncomfortable and are difficult to control. } },{ @type: Question, name: How to deal with intrusive thoughts, acceptedAnswer: { @type: Answer, text: 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. } },{ @type: Question, name: Do intrusive thoughts mean anything?, acceptedAnswer: { @type: Answer, text: Generally, no. For most people, intrusive thoughts are just byproducts of their busy brains going rogue. Neuroscientists suspect that more than 50% of thinking is stimulus-independent thought, such as daydreaming. Experts recommend accepting that intrusive thinking is a part of life. Its not positive or negative, its just how brains work. } },{ @type: Question, name: Why do I have intrusive thoughts?, acceptedAnswer: { @type: Answer, text: If youre having intrusive thoughts, it might be because youre stressed, overtired or mentally spent. However, if youre having intrusive thoughts several hours a day or obsessing over what your intrusive thoughts mean, you should be evaluated by a health care provider to see if you have OCD or a similar disorder. } }]}

Everyone has an inner monologue, a steady stream of thoughts, ideas, images, aspirations and recollections. But sometimes when youre going about your business thinking about whats for dinner or where you put the TV remote that flow of ideas is interrupted with an unsettling thought or image.

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts and images that can cause anxiety and distress. A global study found that 94% of people have intrusive thoughts, from the innocuous Did I remember to turn off my curling iron? to more disturbing thoughts of losing control and harming someone. Unlike regular thoughts, intrusive thoughts can feel strange and uncomfortable and are difficult to control.

Mayo Clinic psychologist Craig N. Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P., says, If youve ever been in a really high place and looked down, you may have thought What if I lost control right now and pushed somebody over this ledge? Thats an intrusive thought.

The vast majority of people experience occasional intrusive thoughts that feel weird or a little uncomfortable but are easy to let go. But, for others, having intrusive thoughts is a recurring issue that may benefit from medical help.

Causes of intrusive thoughts

Intrusive thoughts can be prompted by many things such as songs, news stories or a call from an old friend. Sometimes they just come out of the blue. Additionally, studies show that intrusive thoughts may happen more frequently when youre experiencing stress, anxiety, lack of sleep or mental fatigue.

For some people, intrusive thoughts are more than just an odd occurrence here and there; theyre a part of daily life. These people may have a disorder, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that makes intrusive thoughts more prevalent and distressing.

Dr. Sawchuk says, Intrusive thoughts can point to a disorder when they consume more and more of your time, effort and energy during the day. For OCD, the relative cutoff is spending more than an hour a day caught up in the intrusions and rituals. But there are other important factors to consider. The intrusions can cause you a great degree of distress and start to interfere with personal, social or work responsibilities. If your quality of life is suffering, its a good idea to seek help.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Intrusive thoughts are a common symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD experience:

• Obsessions. Repeated unwanted, intense thoughts or images, like an intense fear about germs or violent thoughts of harming someone.
• Compulsions. Behaviors that attempt to ease the distress caused by the obsessions or prevent something bad from happening. For example, repeatedly washing hands to get rid of germs.

In some cases, obsessions and compulsions can take up several hours of the day. Dr. Sawchuk explains that OCD can be unbelievably consuming. He says people with OCD have, a high sense of responsibility and guilt, as in, If I dont take care of this, something bad will happen.

For example, a person with OCD could be leaving for work and think, Did I lock my door? Dr. Sawchuk says, The question isnt coming from a place of idle curiosity. Its coming from the idea that, If I didnt lock up, somebody could break into my house and itll be my fault. These thoughts tend to go to the worst-case scenario, and to someone with OCD, these scenarios feel likely to happen.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also often have intrusive thoughts. PTSD is a mental health condition thats triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Signs of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Anxiety disorders

People who have anxiety disorders, such as general anxiety disorder (GAD), have a persistent feeling of anxiety that lasts for months or years often interfering with daily life. Many people with anxiety have recurring intrusive thoughts on a daily basis.

Examples of different types of intrusive thoughts

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:

• Sexual acts. Engaging in a violent or inappropriate sexual act.
• Violence against children. Dropping a baby out the window.
• Aggression. Killing a co-worker.
• Religion or aspects of religion. Yelling obscenities in church.
• Death. Jumping out of an airplane or off a mountain.
• Safety. Imagining a loved one getting hit by a car.
• Trauma. Recalling memories from a traumatic experience.

How to deal with intrusive thoughts

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.

Dr. Sawchuk says, Some health care providers are not familiar with OCD and may be alarmed by a description of these thoughts. But providers with experience in OCD and intrusive thoughts will recognize them for what they are, will not judge you, and will give you effective strategies to deal with these thoughts.

Here are a few of the most common treatments you might experience with your health care provider.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based talk therapy (psychotherapy) addresses the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. CBT is based on the idea that your thoughts, behaviors and feelings are all related to each other and have a significant influence on one another. Its used successfully as a treatment for many psychological problems, and research has shown that CBT significantly helps 75% of people with OCD.

Most people with anxiety of any kind can benefit from CBT. People can experience long-lasting effects from a course of CBT that lasts about 4 to 12 sessions.

Exposure and response prevention

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is one type of CBT. With ERP, therapists encourage people with intrusive thoughts or OCD to do the opposite of their compulsions.

According to Dr. Sawchuk, repetitive behaviors are like overlearned habits. Exposure and response prevention is a treatment designed to break those habits, he says. This isnt simple, but we try to make it a fair fight by starting with smaller challenges before working up to difficult ones. Then we practice these exposures many times to retrain the brain.

ERP treatments can lead to some strange but helpful situations.

Dr. Sawchuk explains, Someone with OCD may be taking showers for hours at a time, multiple times a day. Eventually, we try to get that person touching floors and then touching their face, then resisting the urge to wash and disinfect. This can be a powerful learning experience and a fair test of ones fears. It demonstrates that what seems extreme (to the person with OCD) is often actually quite safe.

When people struggle with intrusive thoughts, Dr. Sawchuk sometimes recommends that they write out scripts of their imagined worst-case scenarios and reread them several times in a given day. He says, Initially, their anxiety might build, but with more readings those thoughts start to become boring and lose their significance. When that happens, the thoughts become less frequent.

You can receive ERP at therapy appointments, intensive outpatient programs or residential programs. One important thing about treatment with ERP is that you are learning how to be your own best therapist. That way you can maintain and build upon your progress outside of therapy appointments, says Dr. Sawchuk.

Medication

Medication does not eliminate intrusive thoughts but can help control obsessions and compulsions. For example, when discussing intrusive thoughts related to OCD, Dr. Sawchuk says, Generally, ERP is enough for mild OCD. For moderate to severe OCD, your care team will typically add medication usually an antidepressant to behavior therapy.

Mindfulness

Research shows that mindfulness exercises can improve attention control, reduce anxiety and reduce intrusive thoughts. There are several variations of mindfulness or mindfulness meditation. People can learn to reduce the significance of their intrusive thoughts by observing them without judgment. The simplest form of mindfulness is focused on paying attention to the present moment sometimes focusing on breathing or a specific object. Another option, called acceptance mindfulness, encourages you to look inward, noticing and acknowledging your thoughts and emotions, while choosing action based on important values.

Do intrusive thoughts mean anything?

Generally, no. For most people, intrusive thoughts are just byproducts of their busy brains going rogue. Neuroscientists suspect that more than 50% of thinking is stimulus-independent thought, such as daydreaming. Experts recommend accepting that intrusive thinking is a part of life. Its not positive or negative, its just how brains work.

Why do I have intrusive thoughts?

If youre having intrusive thoughts, it might be because youre stressed, overtired or mentally spent. However, if youre having intrusive thoughts several hours a day or obsessing over what your intrusive thoughts mean, you should be evaluated by a health care provider to see if you have OCD or a similar disorder.

Dr. Sawchuk says, Without treatment, OCD doesnt tend to go away on its own. But OCD is very treatable, even if youve had it for years or decades.

Relevant reading

Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness

Combining groundbreaking insights from neuroscience and psychology, and wisdom from philosophy and spirituality, this new book reveals how to reduce everyday anxiety and find greater fulfillment in life. Here, renowned Mayo Clinic physician, Dr. Amit Sood, argues he has created an actual formula for happiness a specific recipe for