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When intrusive thoughts occur with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), patients are less able to ignore the unpleasant thoughts and may pay undue attention to them, causing the thoughts to become more frequent and distressing. [7] Attempting to suppress intrusive thoughts often cause these same thoughts to become more intense and persistent. [11]
“Intrusive thoughts are spontaneous, unwanted thoughts that we have that are usually unpleasant in some way,” says Ayanna Abrams, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and founder and executive ...
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[1] [5] In the fifth and most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel (DSM-5) the criteria for Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized as of obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are unwanted chronic distressing thoughts, sometimes called intrusive thoughts. [6]
Primarily obsessional OCD has been called "one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD." [5] [page needed] People with this form of OCD have "distressing and unwanted thoughts pop into [their] head frequently," and the thoughts "typically center on a fear that you may do something totally uncharacteristic of yourself, something... potentially fatal... to yourself or others."
These aren’t just scary what-ifs—they’re intrusive thoughts, and, don’t worry, we all have them. “They’re part of the everyday human experience,” says Chandler Chang, PhD, a clinical ...
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts or images that are often very disturbing to the individual who has them. These are often distressing, and therefore may lead to carrying out compensatory behaviors (i.e. compulsions) to alleviate the distress (see obsessive-compulsive disorder ) for a period of time.
Intrusive thoughts happen on a spectrum, from fairly minor to serious. Our advice columnist, Minaa B., offers guidance on how to deal with them.