How do you stop intrusive irrational thoughts?

1. Label these thoughts as “intrusive thoughts.”
2. Remind yourself that these thoughts are automatic and not up to you.
3. Accept and allow the thoughts into your mind.
4. Float, and practice allowing time to pass.
5. Remember that less is more.
6. Expect the thoughts to come back again.

Why do I keep thinking about intrusive thoughts?

They’re usually harmless. But if you obsess about them so much that it interrupts your day-to-day life, this can be a sign of an underlying mental health problem. Intrusive thoughts can be a symptom of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Is OCD a thought or a feeling issue?

In the brief overview of the OCD cycle above, you likely noticed that I mentioned thoughts and feelings. Wouldn’t this suggest that OCD is both a thought and a feeling issue? Yes, but in practice not really. People with OCD often get wrapped up in three potential issues; the trigger, the feared story, and the feeling.

What are intrusive thoughts in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?

OCD is characterized by unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or urges (obsessions) that cause distress and drive people to engage in compulsions. Intrusive thoughts represent one major grouping of OCD symptoms.

How do people with OCD deal with compulsions?

Generally speaking, people with OCD are capable of combating their feared thoughts with rational alternatives. However, compulsions exist because a feared thought comes with, or takes the form of, an uncomfortable and unwanted feeling that overwhelms the sufferer.

What is OCD deception and how does it affect anxiety?

Once done, the sufferer gets a false sense of security that unfortunately reinforces the anxiety cycle. OCD’s deception is that you have to struggle with and resolve the content of the thought. You have to clarify, rectify, and examine the thoughts to determine whether they are true or false.