intrusive thoughts

You’re enjoying a lovely road trip when all of a sudden you think about your car driving off the road or your dog dying. Intrusive thoughts like these can be deeply unsettling, but they’re also common. When unwanted thoughts pop up, it’s natural to wonder where they came from, why…

You’re lying in bed when an unexplainable wave of dread hits. Or maybe an irrational fear that something bad is about to happen ambushes you during your morning commute. These scenarios highlight how impending doom is like a party crasher: It doesn’t knock, but barges in, takes up the whole…

Your mind won’t stop racing. Maybe it’s replaying that awkward thing you said three hours ago, or spiraling into worst-case scenarios about tomorrow’s presentation. You’ve tried telling yourself to “just stop thinking about it,” but somehow that makes the thoughts louder. If this sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone. Research…

If you or someone you know struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you’re probably aware of intrusive thoughts. These are those unwanted, stress-provoking thoughts and urges that seem to come out of nowhere and prohibit you from thinking straight or performing certain tasks. For example, you might be running late for…