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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 ...
Such interpretations increase attention to unwanted intrusive experiences, making them more distressing and increasing their frequency. [21] Individuals with OCD try to control, neutralize or prevent intrusive thoughts from occurring using washing, checking, avoidance, suppression of thoughts or other mental and behavioral rituals (compulsions).
It is also thought to be a cause of memory inhibition, as shown by research using the think/no think paradigm. [4] Thought suppression is relevant to both mental and behavioral levels, possibly leading to ironic effects that are contrary to intention. Ironic process theory [5] is one cognitive model that can explain the paradoxical effect.
Intrusive thoughts can also increase or become problematic when they occur in tandem with certain mental health conditions, including OCD. “Someone with OCD might believe they need to do ...
Similarly, identify your intrusive thoughts for what they are: just thoughts. Tell yourself exactly that—“It was just a thought”—however many times you need to. This helps you weaken the ...
While those without primarily obsessional OCD might instinctively respond to bizarre, intrusive thoughts or impulses as insignificant and part of a normal variance in the human mind, someone with Pure-O will respond with profound alarm followed by an intense attempt to neutralize the thought or avoid having the thought again.
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