Description Intrusive thought

1 description

1.1 general
1.2 aggressive thoughts
1.3 sexual thoughts
1.4 religious thoughts

description
general

many people experience type of bad or unwanted thoughts people more troubling intrusive thoughts have, people can dismiss these thoughts. people, intrusive thoughts fleeting annoyance . psychologist stanley rachman presented questionnaire healthy college students , found virtually said had these thoughts time time, including thoughts of sexual violence, sexual punishment, unnatural sex acts, painful sexual practices, blasphemous or obscene images, thoughts of harming elderly people or close them, violence against animals or towards children, , impulsive or abusive outbursts or utterances. such bad thoughts universal among humans, , have been part of human condition .

when intrusive thoughts occur obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd), patients less able ignore unpleasant thoughts , may pay undue attention them, causing thoughts become more frequent , distressing. thoughts may become obsessions paralyzing, severe, , present, , can range thoughts of violence or sex religious blasphemy. distinguishing them normal intrusive thoughts experienced many people, intrusive thoughts associated ocd may anxiety provoking, irrepressible, , persistent.

how people react intrusive thoughts may determine whether these thoughts become severe, turn obsessions, or require treatment. intrusive thoughts can occur or without compulsions. carrying out compulsion reduces anxiety, makes urge perform compulsion stronger each time recurs, reinforcing intrusive thoughts. according lee baer, suppressing thoughts makes them stronger, , recognizing bad thoughts not signify 1 evil 1 of steps overcoming them. there evidence of benefit of acceptance alternative suppression of intrusive thoughts. study showed instructed suppress intrusive thoughts experienced more distress after suppression, while patients instructed accept bad thoughts experienced decreased discomfort. these results may related underlying cognitive processes involved in ocd. however, accepting thoughts can more difficult persons ocd. in 19th century, ocd known doubting sickness ; pathological doubt accompanies ocd can make harder person ocd distinguish normal intrusive thoughts experienced people, causing them suffer in silence, feeling embarrassed or worried thought crazy .

the possibility patients suffering intrusive thoughts ever act on thoughts low. patients experiencing intense guilt, anxiety, shame, , upset on these thoughts different act on them. history of violent crime dominated feel no guilt or remorse; fact tormented intrusive thoughts , has never acted on them before excellent predictor not act upon thoughts. patients not troubled or shamed thoughts, not find them distasteful, or have taken action, might need have more serious conditions such psychosis or potentially criminal behaviors ruled out. according lee baer, patient should concerned intrusive thoughts dangerous if person not feel upset thoughts, or rather finds them pleasurable; has ever acted on violent or sexual thoughts or urges; hears voices or sees things others not see; or feels uncontrollable irresistible anger.

aggressive thoughts

intrusive thoughts may involve violent obsessions hurting others or themselves. can related obsessional obsessive compulsive disorder. these thoughts can include harming child; jumping bridge, mountain, or top of tall building; urges jump in front of train or automobile; , urges push in front of train or automobile. rachman s survey of healthy college students found virtually of them had intrusive thoughts time time, including:

causing harm elderly people
imagining or wishing harm upon close oneself
impulses violently attack, hit, harm or kill person, small child, or animal
impulses shout @ or abuse someone, or attack , violently punish someone, or rude, inappropriate, nasty, or violent someone.

these thoughts part of being human, , need not ruin quality of life. treatment available when thoughts associated ocd , become persistent, severe, or distressing.

a variant of aggressive intrusive thoughts l appel du vide, or call of void. sufferers of l appel du vide describe condition manifesting in situations, wish or brief desire jump high location.

sexual thoughts

sexual obsession involve intrusive thoughts or images of kissing, touching, fondling, oral sex, anal sex, intercourse, , rape strangers, acquaintances, parents, children, family members, friends, coworkers, animals , religious figures , involving heterosexual or homosexual content persons of age.

like other unwanted intrusive thoughts or images, has inappropriate sexual thoughts @ times, people ocd may attach significance unwanted sexual thoughts, generating anxiety , distress. doubt accompanies ocd leads uncertainty regarding whether 1 might act on intrusive thoughts, resulting in self-criticism or loathing.

one of more common sexual intrusive thoughts occurs when obsessive person doubts or sexual identity. in case of sexual obsessions, sufferers may feel shame , live in isolation, finding hard discuss fears, doubts, , concerns sexual identity.

a person experiencing sexual intrusive thoughts may feel shame, embarrassment, guilt, distress, torment, fear of acting on thought or perceived impulse, , doubt whether have acted in such way. depression may result of self-loathing can occur, depending on how ocd interferes daily functioning or causes distress. concern on these thoughts may cause them scrutinize bodies determine if thoughts result in feelings of arousal. however, focusing attention of part of body can result in feelings in part of body, hence doing may decrease confidence , increase fear acting on urges. part of treatment of sexual intrusive thoughts involves therapy sufferers accept intrusive thoughts , stop trying reassure checking bodies. arousal in part of body due conditioned physiological responses in brain, not respond subject of sexual intrusive thought rather fact sexual thought occurring @ , engage automatic response. means arousal response not indicate person desires thinking about. however, rational thinking processes attempt explain reaction , ocd causes people attribute false meaning , importance these physiological reactions in attempt make sense of them.

religious thoughts

blasphemous thoughts common component of ocd, documented throughout history; notable religious figures such martin luther , ignatius of loyola known tormented intrusive, blasphemous or religious thoughts , urges. martin luther had urges curse god , jesus, , obsessed images of devil s behind . st. ignatius had numerous obsessions, including fear of stepping on pieces of straw forming cross, fearing showed disrespect christ. study of 50 patients primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder found 40% had religious , blasphemous thoughts , doubts—a higher, not statistically different number 38% had obsessional thoughts related dirt , contamination more commonly associated ocd. 1 study suggests content of intrusive thoughts may vary depending on culture, , blasphemous thoughts may more common in men in women.

according fred penzel, new york psychologist, common religious obsessions , intrusive thoughts are:

sexual thoughts god, saints, , religious figures
bad thoughts or images during prayer or meditation
thoughts of being possessed
fears of sinning or breaking religious law or performing ritual incorrectly
fears of omitting prayers or reciting them incorrectly
repetitive , intrusive blasphemous thoughts
urges or impulses blasphemous words or commit blasphemous acts during religious services.

suffering can greater , treatment complicated when intrusive thoughts involve religious implications; patients may believe thoughts inspired satan, , may fear punishment god or have magnified shame because perceive sinful. symptoms can more distressing sufferers strong religious convictions or beliefs.

baer believes blasphemous thoughts more common in catholics , evangelical protestants in other religions, whereas muslims tend comply laws , rituals of faith, , performing rituals perfectly. hypothesizes because considered inappropriate varies among cultures , religions, , intrusive thoughts torment sufferers whatever considered inappropriate in surrounding culture.