What are negative intrusive thoughts?

Negative intrusive thoughts are unwanted, recurrent, and distressing mental images, ideas, or impulses that can cause extreme anxiety. Examples of negative intrusive thoughts include thoughts of harm coming to yourself or others, unwanted sexual thoughts, thoughts of death or suicide, and thoughts of being contaminated or polluted. People can have intrusive thoughts due to a variety of factors, such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and mental health conditions.

Some examples of intrusive thoughts are:
- "I'm going to get sick if I touch this."
- "I'm going to fail this exam."
- "I'm going to hurt someone."
- "I'm going to make a mistake."
- "I'm going to embarrass myself."

Treatment for intrusive thoughts typically involves cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based interventions. These approaches can help individuals to identify, challenge, and manage their intrusive thoughts.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and modify problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT is typically provided by a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed clinical social worker. CBT helps individuals to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, challenge negative thinking patterns, and develop healthier coping strategies. This can help them to overcome negative intrusive thoughts by learning to recognize, reframe, and manage them.

Mindfulness can help to stop negative intrusive thoughts by helping individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings. This awareness can help them to identify and challenge their negative thinking patterns and develop healthier coping strategies. Mindfulness can also help individuals to become more aware of their physical sensations, which can help to ground them in the present moment and provide a sense of calm. Finally, mindfulness can help individuals to cultivate self-compassion and a sense of acceptance, which can help them to better manage their intrusive thoughts.

Intrusive thoughts can cause people to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and scared. They can also lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and inadequacy. People may become preoccupied with intrusive thoughts, leading to a decrease in their overall quality of life. Always seek professional help early to avoid long term mental health illness.