Feeling as though the thoughts are ‘on a constant loop’ in your mind, repetitively coming and going.Feeling like the thoughts are very hard or impossible to control, and you can’t stop them even though you want to.But some common feelings that people have reported when experiencing intrusive thoughts include: They may vary in content, intensity and frequency. So how can we distinguish if we are experiencing a normal thought compared to an intrusive one?Įveryone might experience intrusive thoughts differently. They might cause different feelings in different people. Show more What do intrusive thoughts feel like?Įxperiencing intrusive thoughts can be a deeply personal and emotional experience. But there are some common themes people report, such as: The specific content of these thoughts can be different from person to person. Intrusive thoughts can range from passing thoughts that come and go to persistent thoughts that hang around longer. So, if you’ve ever found yourself dealing with these strange, unwanted or even unsettling thoughts, remember that you are not alone. In fact, 9 out of 10 people experience intrusive thoughts at least once in their life. Research has shown that most people experience them at some point. Even though they come out of nowhere, and you have no control over them, they might make you feel guilty or ashamed. For example, you might have thoughts of hurting someone you love, although you would never actually want to do that. Intrusive thoughts can often be about things that are considered taboo or inappropriate. They can even make it feel impossible to continue with tasks you’re trying to complete. They might say things like, 'you’re going to say something offensive' or 'you're never going to succeed.' These thoughts can be quite unsettling. Imagine you're trying to focus on something important, like preparing for a job interview, but these intrusive thoughts keep barging in. Such thoughts can disrupt our thinking, affect our daily life, and cause us a lot of distress.

They can often repeat themselves, even when you try to push them away. Unlike these passing or fleeting thoughts, intrusive thoughts tend to stick around. Most of us will experience these thoughts, think ‘that was odd’, shrug it off, and continue with our day. You know those random thoughts that sometimes pop into your head? They can be really weird, like imagining something bad happening or picturing yourself doing something you'd never do.

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