About Intrusive Thoughts



Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts that often involve something abhorrent or uncomfortable for the individual. They pop up unexpectedly and cause people with OCD to obsess over their contents. While I could probably write a book on the topic, and perhaps will in the future, I'll leave it to these good sources to explain to you what intrusive thoughts are, so you can better understand them, whether you have them, know someone who has them or are simply trying to better understand mental illness because you're a decent human being.

Definitions and Descriptions of Intrusive Thoughts: 

"What exactly are obsessions and compulsions?" from the International OCD Foundation

"Common Obsessions in OCD" from the International OCD Foundation (Note: the terms Intrusive Thought and Obsession can sometimes be used interchangeably, but not always, so watch out.)

"Intrusive Images in Psychological Disorders" from American Psychological Association

"Thinking Bad Thoughts" from Deborah Osgood-Hynes, Psy.D. Director of Psychological Services and Training MGH/McLean OCD Institute

Note: If you know of any good resources that describe intrusive thoughts, please feel free to contact me via comment or wherever and I'll check it out. Thanks!

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