What exactly counts as an intrusive thought?

Once, an American psychiatrist asked if I experience "strange thoughts." I assume she was referring to some specific psychiatric definition—if such a term even exists—but I wasn't quite sure what she meant by it.
I told her I don't have any strange thoughts, to which she responded with a skeptical "Are you sure?" It seems some professionals just don't know how to do their jobs properly.

"There was a time when a cigar was just a cigar."

When my therapist asked me if I ever dealt with any particularly strange thoughts, I didn't hold back—I told him straight up that I frequently find myself fantasizing about taking out my enemies, only to have them somehow crawl back to life again and again...

He immediately scribbled something down in his notepad.

I never did get around to asking him exactly what he wrote...

Jason Kim6 said:Once, an American psychiatrist asked if I experience "strange thoughts." I assume she was referring to some specific psychiatric definition—if such a term even exists—but I wasn't quite sure what she meant by it.
I told her I don't have any strange thoughts, to which she responded with a skeptical "Are you sure?" It seems some professionals just don't know how to do their jobs properly.

Yeah, definitely the second part.
But seriously, why didn't you just ask her, "What do you mean by that?"?

How is anyone supposed to know what she meant? And man, the context matters too.

Jason Kim6 said:Once, an American psychiatrist asked if I experience "strange thoughts." I assume she was referring to some specific psychiatric definition—if such a term even exists—but I wasn't quite sure what she meant by it.
I told her I don't have any strange thoughts, to which she responded with a skeptical "Are you sure?" It seems some professionals just don't know how to do their jobs properly.

When people talk about "weird" thoughts, they usually mean stuff that's intrusive, disturbing, or repetitive—those thoughts that just won't quit. If those thoughts are making you super anxious, or if you feel like you can't stop them—like they're basically hijacking your brain—then yeah, that's a real issue you should probably look into.
We all dwell on problems sometimes, but normally we can switch gears when we start something new, or the thoughts fade after a good night's sleep. But if that's not happening—if the same loop is just playing constantly in your head and leaving you stressed out—that's when it becomes a problem...

neonsailor26 said:"There was a time when a cigar was just a cigar."

When my therapist asked me if I ever dealt with any particularly strange thoughts, I didn't hold back—I told him straight up that I frequently find myself fantasizing about taking out my enemies, only to have them somehow crawl back to life again and again...

He immediately scribbled something down in his notepad.

I never did get around to asking him exactly what he wrote...

It’s interesting—I was recently chatting about psychological evaluations and heard this piece of advice: if they ever ask you, "Have you ever had the urge to kill someone?", you should actually say "yes," because otherwise, it looks like you're lying. 🤣

That honestly gave me the creeps. I argued that normal people don't really think like that—honestly, even for me, it’s only happened once (I felt like lunging at a woman who had been making my life miserable for years, but apparently, you aren't supposed to strangle people at the office, so I let it go. 🕺).

I really don't know how those kinds of thoughts are classified, but personally, I’d probably keep them to myself, just to be safe.

Joseph Bailey41 said:It’s interesting—I was recently chatting about psychological evaluations and heard this piece of advice: if they ever ask you, "Have you ever had the urge to kill someone?", you should actually say "yes," because otherwise, it looks like you're lying. 🤣

That honestly gave me the creeps. I argued that normal people don't really think like that—honestly, even for me, it’s only happened once (I felt like lunging at a woman who had been making my life miserable for years, but apparently, you aren't supposed to strangle people at the office, so I let it go. 🕺).

I really don't know how those kinds of thoughts are classified, but personally, I’d probably keep them to myself, just to be safe.

First off, having dark thoughts isn't a crime—you aren't legally responsible until you actually go out and clock someone over the head.
And regarding the rest—look, if you tell anyone you've completely lost it and might be a danger to yourself or others, they'll probably lock you up in a mental health facility for observation. It's probably better that you mentioned not hitting someone before things get too far gone.
Those intrusive thoughts—like wanting to kill, stab, screw, spit, swear, crush, or wreck someone—we all deal with them from time to time... they just come and go...

So, apparently being blunt or letting out a little frustration is considered "weird" now? Fine, I guess I won't mention my thoughts on it then. At least not while someone's busy taking notes in a little notebook. 🤣

Jason Kim6 said:Once, an American psychiatrist asked if I experience "strange thoughts." I assume she was referring to some specific psychiatric definition—if such a term even exists—but I wasn't quite sure what she meant by it.
I told her I don't have any strange thoughts, to which she responded with a skeptical "Are you sure?" It seems some professionals just don't know how to do their jobs properly.

One ought to consider the actual intent behind her question...
Thoughts are deemed "strange" when they lack a logical, causal connection to reality.
They can trigger—and often do trigger—extreme violence. Frankly, what we are discussing here is merely scratching the surface...

http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/si...range-thoughts

I personally view them as the "toxic byproduct of sustained stress" that almost every individual encounters or endures.
That byproduct is refined and far more perilous than the initial stress itself; one truly must "protect" oneself from it.
Those with intelligence can manage it, so I suggest surrounding yourself with intelligent people... it certainly makes the process easier if you choose to become one yourself. 😁

Donna White50 said:When people talk about "weird" thoughts, they usually mean stuff that's intrusive, disturbing, or repetitive—those thoughts that just won't quit. If those thoughts are making you super anxious, or if you feel like you can't stop them—like they're basically hijacking your brain—then yeah, that's a real issue you should probably look into.
We all dwell on problems sometimes, but normally we can switch gears when we start something new, or the thoughts fade after a good night's sleep. But if that's not happening—if the same loop is just playing constantly in your head and leaving you stressed out—that's when it becomes a problem...

Those are what we call intrusive thoughts, and yes, they are undeniably strange.
On the flip side, individuals living with ASAP don't really deal with these kinds of intrusive loops; their thoughts don't cause that specific type of distress or tension that leaves someone feeling miserable—though, interestingly enough, they are often quite aware that their thought patterns are unconventional.

In short, my take is that intrusive thoughts are essentially a specific subset of the broader category of "weird" thoughts. 😁

I have this rather peculiar thought whenever I’m staring at my morning coffee—it’s as if I suddenly start thinking about cars 🤦. To be fair, that kind of mental wandering is actually part of my diagnosis, but somehow, over time, those intrusive thoughts just seem to be tapering off.

I’ll just stare at a dandelion for a bit, and suddenly I'm thinking about how many people out there just feel this intense urge to push me away.

"Stay" healthy. It is worth remembering just how many people out there are living without sight, hearing, or the ability to walk... so please, do not allow yourselves to become "subservient" to anyone else.
Most erratic thoughts are simply the byproduct of being overwhelmed by life's burdens and the inadequate methods we use for "cleansing" ourselves as long as you remain conscious ...

I get these bizarre, intrusive thoughts while I’m driving—specifically right when I’m hitting a curve. I find myself vividly imagining that I just won't straighten the wheel. Instead, I’ll floor the accelerator, smash straight through the guardrail, and end up Flying into the abyss at 3 PM. It’s some pretty intense imagery ☕
. Fortunately, my current medication regimen has managed to push those impulses out of the spotlight.

Andrew Doyle said:I get these bizarre, intrusive thoughts while I’m driving—specifically right when I’m hitting a curve. I find myself vividly imagining that I just won't straighten the wheel. Instead, I’ll floor the accelerator, smash straight through the guardrail, and end up Flying into the abyss at 3 PM. It’s some pretty intense imagery ☕
. Fortunately, my current medication regimen has managed to push those impulses out of the spotlight.

Until just a little while ago, I actually thought this was normal. 😳

The semi-trucks are the worst part for me. I constantly find myself imagining them swerving straight into my lane. 😲

Andrew Doyle said:I get these bizarre, intrusive thoughts while I’m driving—specifically right when I’m hitting a curve. I find myself vividly imagining that I just won't straighten the wheel. Instead, I’ll floor the accelerator, smash straight through the guardrail, and end up Flying into the abyss at 3 PM. It’s some pretty intense imagery ☕
. Fortunately, my current medication regimen has managed to push those impulses out of the spotlight.

Don't just throw out "lithium" as a catch-all... that's only a solution for how you feel internally😁, but have you actually attempted to dissect the root cause of why these thoughts surface in the first place?

Jerry Robinson56 said:Don't just throw out "lithium" as a catch-all... that's only a solution for how you feel internally😁, but have you actually attempted to dissect the root cause of why these thoughts surface in the first place?

Yes, I have figured it out. They flare up when I'm under heavy stress or when anxiety and depression decide to kick down my front door. When those episodes hit, the thoughts just come crashing in. My medication has stabilized the anxiety and depression, so as far as my brain chemistry goes, I'm finally "level."
As for lithium—no, I haven't taken that. And frankly, I hope I never have to. I feel like I’ve already crossed some kind of threshold where I could easily spiral straight into the absolute abyss of mental illness.

Joseph Bailey41, I didn't realize either that so many things I considered totally normal and natural actually had specific psychiatric labels. It really is a case of the less you know, the more convinced you are that you're perfectly sane. 😁

For instance, I used to view my bouts of derealization and depersonalization as something almost interesting—a sort of lucid, creative facet of my personality that helped me channel my artistic side... until I sat down with the professionals and got handed a formal diagnosis.

Andrew Doyle said:Yes, I have figured it out. They flare up when I'm under heavy stress or when anxiety and depression decide to kick down my front door. When those episodes hit, the thoughts just come crashing in. My medication has stabilized the anxiety and depression, so as far as my brain chemistry goes, I'm finally "level."
As for lithium—no, I haven't taken that. And frankly, I hope I never have to. I feel like I’ve already crossed some kind of threshold where I could easily spiral straight into the absolute abyss of mental illness.

Joseph Bailey41, I didn't realize either that so many things I considered totally normal and natural actually had specific psychiatric labels. It really is a case of the less you know, the more convinced you are that you're perfectly sane. 😁

For instance, I used to view my bouts of derealization and depersonalization as something almost interesting—a sort of lucid, creative facet of my personality that helped me channel my artistic side... until I sat down with the professionals and got handed a formal diagnosis.

Those are merely the "aftershocks" that trigger larger waves; if you dig just a little deeper, you eventually arrive at the root cause. You know the old adage—conquer yourself and you have conquered the world.
It truly begs the question: why subject yourself to such torment if you aren't causing harm to anyone else?

Andrew Doyle said:Yes, I have figured it out. They flare up when I'm under heavy stress or when anxiety and depression decide to kick down my front door. When those episodes hit, the thoughts just come crashing in. My medication has stabilized the anxiety and depression, so as far as my brain chemistry goes, I'm finally "level."
As for lithium—no, I haven't taken that. And frankly, I hope I never have to. I feel like I’ve already crossed some kind of threshold where I could easily spiral straight into the absolute abyss of mental illness.

Joseph Bailey41, I didn't realize either that so many things I considered totally normal and natural actually had specific psychiatric labels. It really is a case of the less you know, the more convinced you are that you're perfectly sane. 😁

For instance, I used to view my bouts of derealization and depersonalization as something almost interesting—a sort of lucid, creative facet of my personality that helped me channel my artistic side... until I sat down with the professionals and got handed a formal diagnosis.

🙂

Andrew Doyle said:Yes, I have figured it out. They flare up when I'm under heavy stress or when anxiety and depression decide to kick down my front door. When those episodes hit, the thoughts just come crashing in. My medication has stabilized the anxiety and depression, so as far as my brain chemistry goes, I'm finally "level."
As for lithium—no, I haven't taken that. And frankly, I hope I never have to. I feel like I’ve already crossed some kind of threshold where I could easily spiral straight into the absolute abyss of mental illness.

Joseph Bailey41, I didn't realize either that so many things I considered totally normal and natural actually had specific psychiatric labels. It really is a case of the less you know, the more convinced you are that you're perfectly sane. 😁

For instance, I used to view my bouts of derealization and depersonalization as something almost interesting—a sort of lucid, creative facet of my personality that helped me channel my artistic side... until I sat down with the professionals and got handed a formal diagnosis.

🤣 Don't worry; they deal with these issues too, they are simply better trained to manage them.
One cannot even fathom how thin that line actually is, despite their insistence on maintaining "professionalism." Regardless, one should strive to avoid inflicting pain upon oneself or others... it brings clarity...

*unless it is absolutely essential

Andrew Doyle said:Yes, I have figured it out. They flare up when I'm under heavy stress or when anxiety and depression decide to kick down my front door. When those episodes hit, the thoughts just come crashing in. My medication has stabilized the anxiety and depression, so as far as my brain chemistry goes, I'm finally "level."
As for lithium—no, I haven't taken that. And frankly, I hope I never have to. I feel like I’ve already crossed some kind of threshold where I could easily spiral straight into the absolute abyss of mental illness.

Joseph Bailey41, I didn't realize either that so many things I considered totally normal and natural actually had specific psychiatric labels. It really is a case of the less you know, the more convinced you are that you're perfectly sane. 😁

For instance, I used to view my bouts of derealization and depersonalization as something almost interesting—a sort of lucid, creative facet of my personality that helped me channel my artistic side... until I sat down with the professionals and got handed a formal diagnosis.

I honestly don't trust them, even when they're telling me what's right under my fingernails. Look, I know dissociation is actually a superpower, and I won't let anyone talk me out of that. If I didn't have it, I’d probably resort to physical violence way more often. Some people just don't realize how incredibly boring they are while they're busy enjoying the sound of their own voice. With this, though? I don't even hear them—it's like watching a silent movie. 😬

Jerry Robinson56 said:Those are merely the "aftershocks" that trigger larger waves; if you dig just a little deeper, you eventually arrive at the root cause. You know the old adage—conquer yourself and you have conquered the world.
It truly begs the question: why subject yourself to such torment if you aren't causing harm to anyone else?

🙂

🤣 Don't worry; they deal with these issues too, they are simply better trained to manage them.
One cannot even fathom how thin that line actually is, despite their insistence on maintaining "professionalism." Regardless, one should strive to avoid inflicting pain upon oneself or others... it brings clarity...

*unless it is absolutely essential

Maybe we don't always need to overanalyze everything. How do you even know it isn't some weird epigenetic fluke? I mean, if you're a Kwisatz Haderach, sure, that makes sense. I don't know about Andrew Doyle, but I'm just a regular misfit. 🤣

Joseph Bailey41 said:Until just a little while ago, I actually thought this was normal. 😳

The semi-trucks are the worst part for me. I constantly find myself imagining them swerving straight into my lane. 😲

🤣🙂

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
I spent a good chunk of high school dealing with thoughts just like these.
As my life circumstances shifted, my headspace shifted too.
There was always something spinning around in my brain—it evolves depending on what I'm going through, and yeah, it can get pretty creative.

It kind of pisses me off how every tiny little movement or quirk now has its own cataloged diagnosis, just so doctors can crunch numbers and navigate this whole nightmare.

Any thought that doesn't involve hurting yourself or someone else really ought to be considered "normal."

The real question is, what does "normal" even mean anymore? 🤔

http://www.popsci.com/hearing-voices...=fb&con=Quartz