What If My Intrusive Thoughts are Dangerous? Harm OCD

Jul 25, 2025

Dr. Kat Green, an OCD specialist, shares transformative strategies for managing intrusive thoughts. She explains the concept of thought-action fusion and how trying to suppress these thoughts can amplify anxiety. Listeners learn valuable techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to break free from cycles of fear and reassurance-seeking. Kat emphasizes that facing fears rather than avoiding them is essential for taking control of one’s mental health, making this conversation a beacon of hope for many.

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INSIGHT

Why Intrusive Thoughts Feel Dangerous

Intrusive thoughts feel scary because they often involve thought-action fusion, making thoughts seem like they increase the likelihood of an action occurring.
This fear keeps thoughts stuck because the brain perceives them as dangerous and hard to approach.

INSIGHT

Cycle of Reassurance and Avoidance

Avoidance and reassurance seeking provide brief relief but reinforce the belief that intrusive thoughts are dangerous.
This cycle increases anxiety and causes intrusive thoughts to persist and escalate over time.

INSIGHT

Ego-Dystonic Nature of Harm Thoughts

Harm-related intrusive thoughts are typically ego dystonic, causing distress because they conflict with one's values and self-image.
Distinguishing these from thoughts reflecting true desires helps understand they are unlikely to lead to harmful actions.

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Dealing with OCD, Intrusive Thoughts, or unwanted thoughts? Dr. Kat Green teaches us valuable strategies from CBT and ERP to help you stop intrusive thoughts. Check out Kat's courses here: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/ocd-courses

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Struggling with OCD, intrusive thoughts, or unwanted mental images that just won’t go away? In this video, Dr. Kat Green shares practical tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—the gold standard treatment for OCD. You'll learn why trying to suppress or avoid intrusive thoughts can actually make them worse, and what to do instead. Whether you’re battling obsessive worries, mental compulsions, or scary “what if” thoughts, this episode offers hope and real strategies to help you break the cycle. Learn how to face your fears, stop fighting your thoughts, and take your life back from OCD. #OCD #IntrusiveThoughts #CBT #ERP #MentalHealth #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #AnxietyHelp #UnwantedThoughts #TherapyInANutshell

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

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