Self-Harm OCD - Intrusive Thoughts

[Mama_Bear_x2]

I have suicidal intrusive thoughts. They are driving me crazy and really making me worry and wonder why it won’t leave me alone... anyone else?

[Jeff1943]

First, Mama_Bear, I need to tell you that if you do ever feel like self-harming for real you must go straight to your doctor or the ER of a hospital and tell them how you feel. They will help you, top priority.

You see, you're not going to feel like this for ever, you WILL enjoy happy days once again, but you'll lose all that joy if you do anything to yourself.

Anxiety takes many forms but it is always still anxiety. Intrusive thoughts are quite common and they can become obsessional. Some people it's a song they can't get out of their head, they come to hate the song but it won't go away. It can drive people to distraction.

Understand that when you have anxiety disorder every bad feeling or worrisome thought becomes exaggerated in our minds tenfold. People occasionally think of doing away with themselves but in the healthy mind the thought soon passes.

In your case the exaggerated thought grows and starts to take over. That's because your nerves have been sensitised by anxiety disorder. The worst thing is to keep fighting the thought because fighting causes more stress and strain, the last thing hyper sensitive nerves need.

Instead, it's O.K. to accept the obsessional thought for the moment. After all, it's only a thought: it needs your active cooperation to make it reality. And that you're not going to do.

Although the obsessional thought is irritating agree to live with it for the time being. Accept it without resistance. Do not be cowed when the thought comes. That way acceptance replaces fear and you stop feeding your nervous system with negative energy.

Intrusive thoughts are often caused by a tired mind which is nervously exhausted so relaxation and good quality sleep are a must.

Address the cause of your anxiety disorder and sort it even though it may need drastic action. As you attach less and less importance to the intrusive thoughts they will weaken and depart.

I sincerely hope that your quiet and happy mind returns to you before too long.

[Mama_Bear_x2 in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you so much for your response. I was beginning to think no one was out there. Harming myself in any way is the last thing I want to do and I believe that is just a thought I’ve become obsessed with. Please tell me, how do I accept it? Every time I even think about, “what if it’s true?” I get hot and feel very scared. I want to do whatever it takes to make this better or go away.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Mama_Bear_x2]

Acceptance is the method advocated by Doctor Claire Weekes in her book 'Hope and help for your nerves' which over the years has helped literally millions of people to free themselves from anxiety disorder in all its forms. You can pick up a new or used copy on Amazon or Ebay for a few dollars.

None of us can help 'first fear' when a symptom such as an intrusive thought manifests itself. But we can control the flash of 'second fear' that follows.

First we must constantly remind ourselves that the power of anxiety is limited and that unwanted thoughts in themselves cannot harm us. When the symptom comes we must pass through it by completely relaxing all our muscles including the jaw muscle and even an imaginary muscle where our brain is. Feel yourself go limp and offer no resistance as the intrusive thought sweeps over you and recedes. Refuse to be drawn into a fight with it as fighting only causes more tension.

It's a case of do nothing in the face of your symptoms because 'that which we resist will persist'. With practice and persistence Acceptance becomes a spontaneous reaction and replaces thr fear on which anxiety feeds.

To fully understand Acceptance I recommend the book.

[Mama_Bear_x2 in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you again for your response. I will definitely check these things out and work on acceptance.

[Hidden]

Yup… I’ve had it since August 2021. How are you now?