What are obsessive thoughts like?

Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, worries or doubts that repeatedly appear in your mind. They can make you feel very anxious (although some people describe it as 'mental discomfort' rather than anxiety).

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What are examples of obsessive compulsive thoughts?

Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others. Fear of losing control and harming yourself or others. Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images. Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.

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What is the most common obsessive thought?

Common obsessions include: fears of contamination/germs, causing harm (perhaps by hitting someone with a car that you don't mean to), making mistakes (leaving the door unlocked), disasters (causing a fire), certain numbers (such as 13 and 666), unwanted violent thoughts (thought of harming a loved one), blasphemous ...

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What triggers obsessive thinking?

Ongoing anxiety or stress, or being part of a stressful event like a car accident or starting a new job, could trigger OCD or make it worse. Pregnancy or giving birth can sometimes trigger perinatal OCD.

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Do I have obsessive thoughts?

You may have obsessive thoughts of a violent or sexual nature that you find repulsive or frightening. But they're just thoughts and having them does not mean you'll act on them. These thoughts are classed as OCD if they cause you distress or have an impact on the quality of your life.

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What are Intrusive Thoughts? [& When They Signal Pure O OCD]

30 related questions found

Do I have OCD or am I overthinking?

While both mental health conditions involve repetitive worrying, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often engage in unwanted and repetitive behavior in response to their worry. People with anxiety, however, tend to overthink their worry, but don't act in specific responsive manners.

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How do I know if I'm too obsessive?

The following are some typical signs of obsession: Thinking about the other person most of the time. Stalking the other person online or following them around. Forging relationships with everyone close to them, such as friends and family, to have a part in all of their interpersonal interactions.

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Is obsessive thinking a form of anxiety?

SUMMARY: Obsessive thoughts – defined as persistent thoughts that are difficult to remove – are common in many anxiety disorders. The irony is that the anxiety caused by the thoughts themselves often lead to more of these same thoughts.

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How do you calm an obsessive mind?

How to Deal with Obsessive Thoughts: 7 Tips
  1. Acknowledge your thoughts. ...
  2. Recognize the patterns and name them. ...
  3. Accept that it's out of your control, but manageable. ...
  4. Explore meditation and mindfulness benefits. ...
  5. Find ways to distract yourself. ...
  6. Challenge your thinking. ...
  7. Seek Therapy.

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How do I stop unwanted obsessive 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.

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What do OCD thoughts sound like?

Examples of intrusive thoughts

Here are some examples of what intrusive thoughts might sound like: Harm: “What if I stab that person?” Responsibility: “What if my dog dies because I didn't touch the wall three times?” Religious: “What if I'm a devil worshiper because I read the number 666?”

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What are the four major types of obsessions?

While all types of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include a pattern of obsessions and compulsions, the obsessions or intrusive thoughts themselves can take on different themes. OCD manifests in four main ways: contamination/washing, doubt/checking, ordering/arranging, and unacceptable/taboo thoughts.

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Why do people have obsessive thoughts?

Intrusive thoughts are often triggered by stress or anxiety. They may also be a short-term problem brought on by biological factors, such as hormone shifts. For example, a woman might experience an uptick in intrusive thoughts after the birth of a child.

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What are 3 major symptoms of OCD?

OCD symptoms include obsessions, compulsions, or both. An obsession is an uncontrollable thought or fear that causes stress. A compulsion is a ritual or action that someone repeats a lot. Compulsions may offer some relief, but only for a little while.

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Is obsessive thoughts a mental illness?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts ("obsessions") and/or behaviors ("compulsions") that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.

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What are the 7 forms of OCD?

Common Types of OCD
  • Aggressive or sexual thoughts. ...
  • Harm to loved ones. ...
  • Germs and contamination. ...
  • Doubt and incompleteness. ...
  • Sin, religion, and morality. ...
  • Order and symmetry. ...
  • Self-control.

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What are looping thoughts?

Here is what we know. The Psychology of Looping Thoughts. A reoccurring thought loop is a fixation on fears, motives, or how we feel we should have acted or not acted. While looping thoughts are a bi-product of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), other individuals with anxiety can also have looping thoughts.

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Does ADHD cause obsessive thoughts?

Obsessing and ruminating are often part of living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No matter how hard you try to ignore them, those negative thoughts just keep coming back, replaying themselves in an infinite loop.

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Can obsessive thoughts go away?

So, it's understandable why people might hope it would simply go away after some time. Unfortunately, OCD doesn't just go away. There is no “cure” for the condition. Thoughts are intrusive by nature, and it's not possible to eliminate them entirely.

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Why do I keep repeating phrases in my head?

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a mental health condition that causes people to have intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. One of the most common symptoms of OCD is repeating words or phrases. This can be extremely distressing and can interfere with daily life.

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How does an obsessed person behave?

Signs of Obsessive Love Disorder

Obsessively keeping in contact with the subject of your affection. Ignoring the personal boundaries of the subject of your affection. Behaving in a controlling manner with the person you love. Feeling extreme jealousy of other relationships the person you love might have with other ...

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What are the traits of an obsessive person?

OCPD traits include preoccupation and insistence on details, rules, lists, order and organisation; perfectionism that interferes with completing tasks; excessive doubt and exercising caution; excessive conscientiousness, as well as rigidity and stubbornness. Imagine this is a description for a potential partner.

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Is being obsessive toxic?

Obsessive love may be a sign of a serious mental health condition, and without treatment, it may be destructive to friendships and relationships. It could also lead to other serious mental health concerns for anyone involved. In severe cases, obsessive love may lead to legal difficulties or violence.

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