Past couple weeks my intrusive thoughts have taken over everyday. My anxiety and ocd have made it even worse. The Instrusive thoughts are so intense and scary i feel like im going crazy...
How can I stop this? I dont have a doctor appointment till the 8th.
We can't really stop thoughts without training. And even with training, we don't really stop thoughts: they just kinda stop themselves. The best we can do, outside of training our minds, is to realize thoughts are simply thoughts and allow them to be just that. We are not our thoughts: if we were, then we couldn't examine them and see them. We can distance ourselves from our thoughts by saying 'I notice I'm having the thought that ...' We can also parrot the thought back to ourselves in a silly voice or the tune of a song such as 'Happy Birthday'.
There's all sorts of ways to deal with intrusive thoughts. A counselor is your best bet to help you with this. In the meantime you could explore Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other resources available on this site.
Hang in there: it does get better.
Thank you so much, also could a therapist or consuler work?
Yes.
Both have access to resources that they can give you to help with intrusive thoughts.
I find that talking out my thoughts to someone I trust really helps. I never can rid myself of those thoughts, but speaking them out loud tends to help me sort through them and file some of them for later. It takes hours sometimes, but then I can at least sleep a little better or feel my load isn’t as heavy. Another thing that helps is try to shut off your brain and listen to music that is calming and has a basic rhythm. Waking up to the same song all the time May get annoying but following asleep to a peaceful song that you love on repeat is the opposite and feels almost therapeutic. At least, it does for me. Maybe this method will help you as well
Perfect answer! Agree 100%
I no its hard sometimes I feel like I cant go on like this but you must be a stronger than me you can fight this i no u can iv been threw he'll amd back and still fighting h be strong my sister
Can attest ACT can be invaluable once you allow yourself to practice and ACCEPT. For me, a game changer.
OP I also integrate the ACT tools with tools learned from CBT (cognitive behavior therapy-which is another method you can look into). Talk with your doc next appointment, if not a therapist get a referral to one.
What's ACT?
Acceptance and commitment therapy.
What all does it do?
This is the book I read and used:
Try this video, it’s about catastrophic thinking, I’m assuming that may also be the problem with the intrusive thoughts??. You can click on the white letter title instead of the play button to take you to a separate page
I work with a lot of students with test anxiety. I try to teach them to use this grounding technique. Most don't get all the way to 1 before they feel like they cam focus again.
5: Name FIVE things you see around you. It could be a pen, a spot on the ceiling, anything in your surroundings.
4: Name FOUR things you can touch around you. It could be your hair, a pillow, or the ground under your feet.
3: NameTHREE things you hear. This could be any external sound. If you can hear your belly rumbling that counts! Focus on things you can hear outside of your body.
2: Name TWO things you can smell. Maybe you are in your office and smell pencil, or maybe you are in your bedroom and smell a pillow. If you need to take a brief walk to find a scent you could smell soap in your bathroom, or nature outside.
1: Name ONE thing you can taste. What does the inside of your mouth taste like—gum, coffee, or the sandwich from lunch?
Anxiety is driving me crazy
Anxiety is driving me crazy
Please tell me I am not crazy.
Whyyyyyyy must I allow my thoughts to swallow me? 