Intrusive thoughts are unwelcome involuntary thoughts, images, or unpleasant ideas that may become
obsessions, are upsetting or distressing, and can be difficult to manage or eliminate.
[1] When they are associated with
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),
depression,
body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and sometimes
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the thoughts may become paralyzing,
anxiety-provoking, or persistent. Intrusive thoughts may also be associated with
episodic memory, unwanted worries or memories from OCD,
[2] posttraumatic stress disorder, other
anxiety disorders,
eating disorders, or
psychosis.
[3] According to Lee Baer (a specialist at the OCD clinic of
Massachusetts General Hospital),
intrusive thoughts, urges, and images are of inappropriate things at
inappropriate times, usually falling into three categories:
"inappropriate
aggressive thoughts, inappropriate
sexual thoughts, or blasphemous religious thoughts
Intrusive thoughts seem to haunt me. When my depression is out of control I seemed to be over run by intrusive thoughts. They are so disturbing and freighting. I try to control them but they are over powering. They are very self destructive. They cause a lot of distress. I am working in therapy to try to overcome these impulses. The thoughts are so demanding, demanding an action. The thoughts are violent in nature. They frighten me. I think something is majorly wrong with me.
