**Trigger warning** Intrusive thoughts...

[guitarfreak357]

Hi does anyone else suffer with depression, and intrusive thoughts about self harm?

When this happens I put my headphones in to try and drown the thoughts. Does anyone else have this problem or could suggest anything?

I am on medication and have therapy once a week

[bigsadmoon]

I have these thoughts all the time. I am really sorry that they're weighing you down like this. It can suck away and your day and energy.

The way I work against those thoughts is to acknowledge them and stop them in their tracks. Drowning it out sometime makes me feel more lost so sometimes just looking at those thoughts and saying "hey not today, I am good and I am worthy of goodness".

Because you are! No matter what these thoughts tell you you are good!

Also working through these thoughts in therapy helps. Talk and feel yourself through it with someone else there.

If you need to talk through anything let me know! I'm here

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi guitarfreak357,

Yes, it's not uncommon to experience intrusive thoughts with depression.

May suggest that you have a chat with your doctor as you may well be struggling with one of the classic symptoms of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Also, check your Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that is inside your medication box, and check the list of possible side effects, as very often if you are beginning to experience thoughts of self-harm, your doctor will need to know, and may have to adjust your dose or medication. To manage OCD type intrusive thoughts requires a combination of both medication and targetted psychological therapies to help you deal with this disorder. Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) come in many forms and can be overwhelming and cause unhelpful behaviours (compulsions) to negate or minimize their impact. Take a look at this information:

Mind UK - OCD: mind.org.uk/information-sup...

OCD-UK: ocduk.org/ocd/obsessions/

Hope this helps.

Take care,

MAS Nurse and Moderator

PS I have edited your post title to include a *Trigger warning* and removed the reference to self-harm. This warns other members who may be feeling vulnerable at the moment to avoid your post if it may upset them. Could I ask you to do that in future with any posts of this nature? Many thanks

[guitarfreak357]

Hi thanks for your comment means a lot. I have therapy on Wednesday so will speak to my therapist about this then, and see what he can suggest