![]() It's a strange way that the brain works, making it very hard for someone that wants to end their obsessive thoughts to actually take control. That's because when you focus on avoiding a thought, you’re reminding your brain that the thought exists at all, rather than simply forgetting about it and moving on. Numerous scientific studies have shown that trying too hard to "not" think about something may actually cause you to think about it more. The way that anxiety alters your brain chemistry makes it very hard to focus on the positives or the future, and so it's not your fault that you can't distract yourself from these thoughts or that you're having them at all. It's crucial to remember that anxiety genuinely causes these negative thoughts and negative thinking. Those that are concerned about doing something violent or sexual may try out any habit that causes the intensity of the thoughts to decrease - most often, however, the person performs safe and acceptable routines or rituals - not necessarily the violent or sexual act itself! In OCD, these obsessions are simply unwanted thoughts - they are highly unlikely to be acted upon. When the person fears the door being unlocked (obsession), they may need to lock it 3 or more times (compulsion) to stop that fear. When the person fears germs (obsession), they may need to wash their hands repeatedly (compulsion). Compulsions are the action that the person completes in order to reduce this obsessive thought. But one thing they all have in common is that they cause significant distress, and once the thought enters a person's mind, it becomes difficult to shake without some type of action. There are those that have unwanted fantasies about murder or rape, while others may simply constantly fear they haven't turned off the stove. Notice that some of these are obviously far more distressing than others. Worry over little things (did I lock the door, etc.).Focusing on some type of aggressive sexual act (with someone you know or strangers).Thinking about hurting a loved one or stranger.Some examples of obsessive thoughts include: The thought may change depending on the situation (more on that in a moment), but once they've entered your mind, you'll often do anything you can to get rid of them. These obsessive thoughts are often violent, sexual, or fearful in nature. Obsessive thoughts are required for someone to be diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. For example, your first crush back in high school may have led to obsessive thoughts at the time, if their affection was all you could think about.īut when these thoughts are negative or cause you anxiety/stress, then it's highly likely you have an anxiety disorder. Many people who don’t have anxiety disorders still experience such thoughts. The idea of "obsession" is that you cannot focus on anything other than a specific issue (or a few issues), and no matter how hard you try you cannot distract yourself. ![]() All Types of Anxiety Can Lead to Obsessive Thoughts Below, we'll look at examples of these obsessive thoughts and how they affect you. ![]() Obsessive thoughts are the hallmark of obsessive compulsive disorder, but there are types of "obsessive" thoughts that are present in a variety of anxiety disorders that won't necessarily cause a diagnosis of OCD. These thoughts are rarely positive, often related to your fears or distressing emotions, and in many cases, the existence of the thought causes further anxiety and often leads to more obsessions. Anxiety makes it nearly impossible to stop focusing on things that you don't want to think about. Persistent and negative thoughts are one of the most common signs of an anxiety disorder.
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