Intrusive Thoughts

Intrusive thoughts are a key feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and they can greatly impact a person's daily life and well-being.

They are unwanted, distressing, and often repetitive thoughts, images, or impulses that repeatedly enter a person's mind.

Intrusive thoughts in OCD can be related to a wide range of topics, such as contamination, symmetry, or harm, and can generate significant anxiety.

People with OCD often find these thoughts to be intrusive and frightening and try to suppress or ignore them.

However, this can often lead to increased anxiety and the development of compulsive behaviours or mental acts aimed at reducing the anxiety.

Intrusive thoughts about having committed actions that you don't actually remember doing is a common experience for some people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

These thoughts can be distressing and generate significant anxiety, leading to the development of compulsive behaviours or mental acts aimed at reducing the anxiety.

People with OCD may fear that they have committed a crime or acted in an unethical manner, even though they have no actual memory or evidence of doing so.

They may also engage in repetitive checking behaviours, such as checking that they have not left the stove on or that they did not hurt someone, in an effort to ease their anxiety.

It's important to remember that intrusive thoughts are a symptom of OCD and do not reflect your true beliefs or values.

However, if these thoughts are causing significant distress, it's a good idea to seek help from a specialist mental health professional who can provide a proper evaluation and treatment.