I often have bad thoughts in my head telling me that I'm going to die and I have a 1yr old child that I want to be here for. Idk what it is but it keeps telling me that something might happen to me or a loved one. Can anyone help me understand?
BAD THOUGHTS TELLING ME IN GOING TO DIE - Anxiety Support
BAD THOUGHTS TELLING ME IN GOING TO DIE
Hi, Shawn. I wanted to reply as I recognise these thoughts exactly! I want to tell you that these are something called 'intrusive thoughts' and are just another evil trick of anxiety! There are are some very good articles out there (very reassuring, don't worry) that explain about this phenomena if you do a web search. My CPN explained all about these to me and it was a BIG revelation that this is just another way the anxiety bully tries to get to us!
I hope this helps a little, and please know that these thoughts are not fact and that you'll be ok - even though I know for sure it's terrifying. Sending you hugs!
Hi Shawnb95!!
So I'm more or less going through the same thing.
My OCD or Pure-O likes to manifest in several ways. One of those is my intrusive thoughts that are centered around "Harm OCD."
I've had OCD my whole life, but my intrusive thoughts got really bad two years ago. I've had reoccuring thoughts of killing people closest to me and killing myself. Mostly, my current obsession revolves around hurting myself and I've neutralized the thoughts of hurting other people (doesn't bother me anymore).
So anyway, I've learned a lot about OCD because my intrusive thoughts feel so REAL. You know? Some times I even feel like I'm on the verge of doing it.
But what's important to know, is that it is just an obsession. Thoughts are NOT reality. Feelings are NOT reality.
Everyone has these thoughts believe it or not, but OCD sufferers get stuck on these thoughts. Scientifically, the OCD brain experiences "brain lock." Because of an overactive amydala and a lack of serotonin in our brains, when we have a distressing thought we get STUCK and we OVERREACT about it.
Now when you understand that it's not your fault that you have these thoughts, consider going to therapy or if it's not something affordable (which I totally understand) there a TON of books out there on how to stop obsessing. So far, I have an OCD Workbook and "Stop Obsessing" by Edna Foa.
There's even youtube channels dedicated to teaching you about ERP which is the most effective type of therapy for OCD. There's instagram communities for OCD sufferers as well.
Anyway, these thoughts can be very scary at times, but with the right help, they will habituate and not bother you anymore.
Much love!!! ❤ Rachel
Hey Shawn, this same exact thing has been happening to me since November of 2015. I had a panic attack the first time that year and suffered a nervous breakdown 2 weeks after the panic attack. Idk if these types of thoughts are because of that or what but it's been happening ever since then. I hate it, it's scary and depressing af.