How to Stop the Thoughts???

[mvillarreal]

My phobias and intrusive thoughts keep popping up when I'm trying to get stuff done and it's so distracting. I'm full of fear about hurting people or turning evil and about a bunch of existential and ethical questions. I need to work through these for sure, but preferably not when I'm trying to get a paper done. How do I make it so these thoughts are less distracting?

[XoxoFaith]

Me too the hardest I try to concentrate or to distract myself I cannot negative thoughts keep poping out it’s so frustrating I understand you

[Jeff1943]

Don't worry, we are allowed to have strange thoughts. Let them come, they are irritating but harmless. You will never act on them.

You fear fuels them by making your nerves over sensitive. Stop fighting them and recognise them for what they are: random thoughts caused by sensitised nerves and maybe nervous exhaustion.

Fighting them only causes more stress and fear. Accept them as unwelcome guests and the less attention you pay them the sooner they leave.

Do not fear these strange flights of fancy and do not keep trying to block them out. By learning to live with your strange thoughts you'll be able to live without them.

[Depresseddoglover]

I used to get horrible intrusive thoughts - very frightening ones that would totally repulse me about hurting others or about doing something very evil. Please know that these are common themes within OCD and that they are harmless. They don't mean that you will ever act on them. In fact, it's quite the opposite because these thoughts are distressing to you. The more you try to push them away the stronger they will become because you are still thinking about them (in an effort to get rid of them). The goal is to not follow them, don't give them any attention whatsoever, let them arise and fade away over and over until they lose their power. I promise you that these thoughts are meaningless and are simply a symptom of your condition. When I started taking antidepressants they went away and now if they return I can ignore them. Don't drive yourself crazy worrying about them!