Intrusive Thoughts: Are your Thoughts Dangerous?
Dark thoughts
Intrusive thoughts hit us at the worst… and strangest times. It’s like they know how to make a bad situation worse… and they can be SCARY!
Thoughts of hurting ourselves, escaping from this world or hurting others… can contribute to mental health issues.
Are these thoughts dangerous? Should you be worried about thinking thoughts such as these? These are very legitimate questions.
A lot of times are instinct is to stop these thoughts from happening because they are ‘wrong’. The question is can they be stopped from coming into your head or is trying to stop them just making them stronger and the effort is making your life worse?
Intrusive and Dark Thoughts: Readings and Videos
Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-based Guide to Getting OVer Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts
by Sally M. Winston and Martin N. Seif - thoughts are just thoughts. Intrusive thoughts are not the problem. The problem is how we react to these thoughts… hugely important mindset!
https://youtu.be/MbxSMyK41Eg?si=oGXxcxzR05j6PLSK
https://youtu.be/b64S2I4V32I?si=L0el1IML9beap1M-
The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living
by Russ Harris - this book is not about intrusive thoughts but it is massively important to stop struggling against them and have more acceptance and that is what this book is all about!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-28U1q83ec
Pure O OCD: Letting Go of the Obsessive Thoughts with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
by Chad LeJeune - specifying the above book to obsessive and intrusive thoughts. This is personally where I stand with intrusive thoughts… to a degree. There does come a point where these intrusive thoughts need to be ‘walked back’.
https://youtu.be/M0x0Q2qMPj4?si=fQ7E9003csUpsTKp
Internal Family Systems Therapy
by Richard C. Schwartz and Martha Sweezy. This book may seem strange when reading it, but it has a great way of looking at what you can do with your intrusive memories.
https://youtu.be/KuuoLT-fq4s?si=L_m7cij60xVd3h-S