Your Anxiety Toolkit - Practical Skills for Anxiety, Panic & Depression

442 What 99% of People Get WRONG About Intrusive Thoughts

Jul 14, 2025
This discussion highlights common misconceptions surrounding intrusive thoughts and how they differ from public understanding. It emphasizes the importance of a compassionate response to these thoughts. Listeners gain actionable strategies to better manage their reactions and foster a healthier mindset, ultimately breaking the cycle of anxiety and OCD.
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INSIGHT

Nature of Intrusive Thoughts in OCD

  • Intrusive thoughts in OCD are repetitive, unwanted, and cause significant distress.
  • They target what we value most, causing intense pain and self-doubt.
INSIGHT

Misinterpretation of Intrusive Thoughts

  • We mistakenly believe intrusive thoughts are important and must mean something.
  • Treating them as important creates a trap reinforcing their significance and anxiety.
INSIGHT

Intrusive Thoughts Don't Define You

  • Intrusive thoughts do not reflect who we are or our core values.
  • They usually contradict what we value, showing our brain's alarm system.
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