How to: Intrusive Thoughts

If we're judging stuff in our heads as bad and wrong and dangerous, it's natural to experience feelings we don't like. That's not an anxiety disorder or OCD or a problem with intrusive thoughts. Everything is working perfectly normal! Judging brain stuff causes feelings like that. We can also not practice that unhelpful judging in our heads if we don't like the outcome of that practice.

#mentalfitness #recovery #ocd

[zzzcocopepe]

I love this!! For me, I've always dealt with intrusive thoughts by just sort of pausing and taking a moment to allow my brain to move on. Then somewhere along the way I started treating my brain as if it was making choices and yelling at my brain. I don't know why I ever started doing that.

[pompomkitty]

Such a beautiful and well-put illustration! 😊🥰

[Teodora]

I literally found myself laughing at how easy it is and how much sense it makes 😂 thank you Mark for everything you do for your community

[Elle-hxji]

Stuck in a two-week pure-o loop and my theme is especially worrisome😢. I haven’t slept consistently well in a week.

[Advika-up]

I just love the way you explain with the help of cartoons.. This is more effective than just explaining verbally.. ❤❤.. Keep doing it more..

[andrehernandez]

Thank you for this sometimes I feel stuck with my ocd and erp😅

[armandomorenoromero]

I don’t know, some thoughts are so scary they trigger anxiety and panic attacks😢

[TRU..]

I keep having these invasive thoughts about death, like, , " what would I do if someone I’m close to dies?" or " When will it happen?" or " It’ll be __"

I’ve been trying to stop having them, I always feel like I’m jinxing myself.

[drakefulton]

Thank you Mark, this is very wise and I will practice this. My question is, do we judge/label things and ideas in the world we perceive as bad and immoral to help form our values? And is the labeling and judgement of thoughts our attempt to prevent those bad and immoral actions from occurring in ourselves?

[Cheeto_Puffii]

Okay, so I *should* be feeling bad abt these things! Tysm!

[phoenix]

Hey there! I saw many of your videos on intrusive and unwanted thoughts. I have noticed that whenever someone says things like "I failed in a test today", I actually sympathize for them but my mind checks itself by saying "What if you're secretly happy for their failure?" Then i ruminate and keep on doing that.
Would you consider this an intrusive thought?
Please help

[Loveyourself]

Stay hydrated
Eat consistently
Sleep on time
Take a warm bath

[ratedsaad]

I sometimes have urge to micromanage my thoughts
For eg : While walking i had a thought that I have to walk mindfully.
Then another thought comes that if you are walking mindfully how come you are having a thought in first place.
Then my mind questions what is the natural way i should be reacting to these things.
Is this part of compulsion or is this different thing altogether

[nopenope-el]

what creates the me that sees and labels the thoughts? Maybe there is just thinking
and not a thinker and their thoughts

[StuSiney]

I dont get this. Are you saying judge your bad thoughts?