The term “intrusive thoughts” has become common parlance from mental health creators on social media such as TikTok, and people have resonated with it. In psychiatry, we don’t usually talk about ...

Intrusive thoughts are sudden, involuntary thoughts, mental images or urges. They often cover difficult themes such as causing or experiencing harm, contamination, making a mistake, or sexual or ...

Separating from negative thoughts is a major mental health challenge. When we feel sad or anxious, thoughts like “I am worthless” or “I can’t survive this" can seem very real. The kicker is that the ...

Too often, people say they “let their intrusive thoughts win” after spontaneously dyeing their hair or making a late-night purchase. There’s a difference between impulsive and intrusive thoughts, ...

Intrusive thoughts often feel stronger during periods of overload because stress narrows attention and raises the brain's threat response. When someone is feeling overwhelmed, emotionally overloaded, ...