Dealing With Intrusive Thoughts and Paranoia
Intrusive thoughts and paranoia are one of the OCD symptoms that cause the most anxiety and distress, as sufferers often feel that these intrusions mean that they are a bad person.
This can understandably cause paranoia, and often becomes a prominent obsession that cannot be shifted. Intrusive thoughts and paranoia are related to the obsession side of OCD. This article discusses intrusive thoughts, images and impulses as a symptom of OCD.What Are Intrusive Thoughts?
These refer to the violent or sexual thoughts, images and impulses that frequently enter the minds of OCD sufferers against their will. These affect almost everyone at some point, but most people can easily push them aside and forget about them. For OCD sufferers, doing this is difficult or even impossible. The intrusions repeatedly plague OCD sufferers, despite any attempts to suppress them.Examples of Intrusive Thoughts and Paranoia
Intrusive thoughts, images and impulses can take a number of forms, but it is common for them to be of a violent or sexual nature. For example, some OCD sufferers have intrusive thoughts or images that are related to harming themselves or people close to them. Other common intrusive thoughts, impulses and images are of a sexual nature, and may concern family members or young children. Such thoughts and images cause a lot of anxiety to OCD sufferers in case they are an indication of incestuous or perverse feelings. Although these types of thoughts and images are highly distressing, it is rare that they will actually be acted on, despite feeling very real. The intrusions are purely mental.Intrusive thoughts can be as simple as feeling that your hands are contaminated by germs. This intrusion is usually followed by a compulsion to wash your hands repeatedly to clean them.
How Can Intrusive Thoughts Affect OCD Sufferers?
Intrusive thoughts are often accompanied by paranoia, and this combination can have a big effect on OCD sufferers. They tend to increase over time, becoming more frequent and intense. In many cases, compulsions are performed to reduce the anxiety caused by intrusive thoughts and paranoia.Intrusive thoughts and paranoia can have a significant effect on relationships with family and friends. Some OCD sufferers may find that it affects their job, particularly if they have trouble concentrating on anything else.
Intrusive thoughts and paranoia are some of the common symptoms of OCD. These thoughts and images are often violent or sexual. They frequently enter the mind and refuse to disappear, which can leave many OCD sufferers questioning their character. Many OCD sufferers feel that they are crazy, disgusting or evil for thinking the intrusive thoughts in the first place, and are afraid that they will actually carry out what is happening in the intrusive thoughts, images and impulses.
This is not true, but this paranoia can easily take hold of individuals with OCD as the feelings triggered by intrusive thoughts and images can feel very real. Over time, intrusive thoughts and images can turn into obsessions, and can be very difficult to get rid of. It is worth holding onto the fact that although they may be very unpleasant and disturbing, the intrusions are only in the mind. It is rare that OCD sufferers are actually compelled to carry out what is happening in the mind.Reader's Comment:
One of our readers has experienced this and offers the following tips:The best way to deal with these types of thoughts is actually to just let them run their course, meaning just ignore them. I've suffered with them for over 17years, but that is not constantly. If you dwell on them, they become stronger, because you mark them and they become hard to get rid of. If you ignore and do not try to fight them, they will ease and go away.Good food to eat for OCD is banana - least one a day.
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- Compulsive Buying
- Obsessive Checking Explained
- Obsessive Tidiness
- Repeatedly Performing Tasks
- Common OCD Obsessions
- Being Unable to Stop Hoarding
- What To Do if OCD Leads to Self-harm
- Obsessive Cleanliness
- Avoiding Stressful Situations
I have anxiety since I was 14, panic attacks, palpitations you name it.
I have beaten it so many times and I have even endured mickey taking. And of all the mickey taker's I have actually counselled them after they suffered it.
But it had reappeared and I'm struggling to get rid again its the thought I could hurt those close to me especially my son who I love so very deeply, I need help getting back on track and I need to nip this in the bud. Help.
Tomo - 17-May-16 @ 9:15 AM
I've had issues with intrusive thoughts and paranoia since I was around 14 (now 26) googling how to deal with them has brought me to this page, I haven't been diagnosed with ocd and the thoughts are usually of a different nature to the examples here(for example, would usually be about someone wanting to hurt me as opposed to me wanting to hurt them) but i have had similar thoughts in the past. Am wondering if anyone diagnosed with OCD has had intrusive thoughts to do with friends betraying them or partners being unfaithful etc. most of these thoughts are pretty much 100% irrational and only take the tinyest thing to trigger them and once they present themselves it's near enough immpossible to get rid of them without reassurance and I have found myself developing what could be seen as compulsions as a coping method.
eXpoJah - 9-Mar-16 @ 11:26 AM
Reading all these comments has made me feel so much better.... I made my situation a lot worse...I was getting intrusive thoughts and told my best friend everything which would of been ok if I didn't tell her the thoughts I was having about her children....I had this urge to tell her and just seemed to come out of nowhere.she was very supportive and came to a and e with me where I spoke to some from child services as I was convinced that jadbdone some thing a few years ago...the police got involvedI was questioned by police and I felt awful...he kept telling me it was all in my head but I truly believed I Did something still do tbh...80% of me now believes nothing happened but the other part keep questioning did I? Am I thinking its all in my head to get I've what I did??? It drove me mad...anyway my best friend of over 10 years told everyone my closet friends and her partner that I hate with a passion!! I understand y she was pissed off don't get me wrong I said things about herchildren!!! I was so hurt that she had betrayed my trust its taken me months to get over it...I am going for cbt at some point just waiting for appointment......honestly guys I couldn't get off the sofa for weeks, kept breaking down at work, wanted to kill myself it was awful....the heardest bit of all of it is seeking professional help but you have to remember they are here to help and will not judge you!! Keep being strong it does get easier believe me I still have bad days but no where near as bad as I was
ocd - 5-Mar-16 @ 11:08 PM
Im off work at the moment due to anxiety/intrusive thoughts, ive had ocd forever but i didnt really make an impact untill 18 years ago since then i have been on prozac 60mg and basically got my life back together, had a few little stresses and strains during that time but no missed work. Untill august this year, low mood anxiety depression and bang a thought because i was low it hit me, then again and again and again since august i have been to work but last weekend was the pinnacle of it because i havent had it for so long acutely, it hit me hard so i went to see odoc and my doc and have been signed off for A month, dont no what to do with myself
Apart from wanting to sleep a lot
Taximan42 - 27-Nov-15 @ 7:41 PM
I suffered with severe depression and anxiety 3 years ago, to the extent that I had 3 months off work and spent £1000 on counselling. I am no longer depressed to the point of despair but it seems to have manifested itself in this constant state of worry, paranoia and its expanding to other things like cleaning and checking the locks many times. Intrusive thoughts are dreadful, they can be very powerful and debilitating. Sometimes I go through phases where I am on the fringes of not being able to function.
I accept that there is no magic cure, it's part of my make up but I have to find a way of managing it before it all becomes psychosomatic. My hair is thinning and my eating habits go through extremes of feast or famine. I have a loving wife, a successful career but I walk in a haze of thought processes that constantly dictate my mood, it is a daily battle!!
I find some comfort through prayer, I am not that religious but asking for support, kind of helps me, however it is a sticky plaster approach until the next bout. I previously took Citalapram, it helped during my depression, just not convinced it is the way forward. Reading through this site shows just how common it is, that I am not crazy or abnormal, but suffer from a very real condition therefore thank you for your help.
I really do not know what my next step is, GP's are less than understanding in my experience, family would think I have lost my marbles but I so want to be free of the OCD/depressive chains.
Davey - 11-Sep-15 @ 1:39 PM
Stu - Your Question:
Guys this is makes me feel normal. I think you all have great courage just posting your experiences. I have had anxiety all my life. And intrusive thoughts just seem part of that. My thoughts are mostly always violent or sexual. Meditation and allowing the thoughts works most of the time for getting rid of them. But it's the feeling of guilt and what other people might think if they seen the horrible intrusive thought that I have, that is hard to deal with sometimes. Also the fear that the thoughts mean you want to do the act is also hard. A good tip is to get your self really still and relaxed, then bring up the thoughts, most of the time when I do this I see them for what they are just fear. It makes it easier the next time they come up.
Our Response:
Thanks for sharing your tips and experiences, it will be really helpful to other readers.
OCDSymptoms - 21-Aug-15 @ 1:50 PM
Guys this is makes me feel normal. I think you all have great courage just posting your experiences. I have had anxiety all my life. And intrusive thoughts just seem part of that. My thoughts are mostly always violent or sexual. Meditation and allowing the thoughts works most of the time for getting rid of them. But it's the feeling of guilt and what other people might think if they seen the horrible intrusive thought that I have, that is hard to deal with sometimes. Also the fear that the thoughts mean you want to do the act is also hard. A good tip is to get your self really still and relaxed, then bring up the thoughts, most of the time when I do this I see them for what they are just fear. It makes it easier the next time they come up.
Stu - 20-Aug-15 @ 12:32 PM
Do your intrusive thoughts feel so real that you believe you have committed the act you're worrying about?
Fearful - 13-Aug-15 @ 3:14 AM
Its a terrifying experience,I would have preferred something I could see and fight but its the mind,I have always had intrusive thoughts,sexual especially,I almost went nut but writting them down helped,lately I went through a breakup and I was doing just fine untill I heard of a girl who killed herself after her boyfriend left her,all of a sudden I started having these thoughts of killing myself,I hate it so much I just want to screammmmmm,I live in africa,therapists are not common here,so I have not been to one,I just put faith in God,I hate all this.I believe its ocd.what can I do?
overt - 12-Jul-15 @ 8:51 PM
I have had depression,anxiety all my life iam 28 now and I was told by cbt I have ocd negative thoughts.which include wishing love ones dead its so bad at times iam a loving caring person always have been and have always been a good person to everyone.... Its rekt my life going to doctors soon never told them I have ocd hope they can offer me help all the best to all on here
bob - 29-Jan-15 @ 9:53 PM
@Gabbyx. You should ideally see a councillor to get some help with this. You can never pinpoint the exact day of conception with that accuracy so you are letting your mind/OCD tendencies take over and build up. Your GP may be able to refer you to someone who can help.
OCDSymptoms - 22-Dec-14 @ 12:11 PM
I'm the stepmom of an OCD young adult with severe intrusive thoughts.Glad I found this article because now I'm able to understand him better.He has thoughts of harming his little sister. I live consumed in fear, only my faith in God helps me keep walking day after day.He's in counseling and medication but nothing seems to help.I'll lift a prayer for everything in the same situation.
wanttohelpmyOCDsteps - 22-May-14 @ 3:04 AM
I have also suffered for many years, forty to be exact and I have finally made an appointment to see my doctor.I have never told anyone about my obsession and just hope the doctor will listen!I don't want to be fobbed off with tablets I need help!
Trish - 16-May-14 @ 3:24 PM
I have suffered severe ocd since I was 7 yrs old. I am now 55, it has had a devastating negative effect on my whole life, failed degree, failed relationships, career opportunities etc. All those years ago ocd was unheard of and I considered myself completely nuts, I have suffered anxiety, depression and panic attacks all my life, I have always wished I was normal, its been totally exhausting and it hurts so much. Tomorrow February 12th I am finally going to the doctors and actually telling someone my problem, previously I have been totally ashamed and embarrassed to confess to my illness, however I am now at breaking point.
matt - 11-Feb-14 @ 2:45 PM
I started having intrusive thoughts when I was about 15 and in high school, usually just of people’s faces. I used to count floor and ceiling tiles a lot during class, and never knew why…it was just fun to me. It made me mad that I couldn’t control my thoughts with people’s faces though. It lessened over time, and years later I self-diagnosed this OCD disorder. I’ve never talked to a professional, or been on medicine for OCD and don’t want to be. I’m 40 now, and still have bouts of intrusive thinking (experiencing some tonight, actually). Just relax, it will pass.
jon smith - 8-Oct-12 @ 1:10 AM
I have suffered from Intrusive thoughts ocd my whole life but only recently has it turned more morbid and much worse. I was addicted to vicodin and once I decided to stop the withdrawals put my mind under alot of stress and the ocd went haywire. At first I was obsess with death and scared of death than it turned to my worst fear of losing my child to circumstances that where out of my control than a month later I started having thoughts of hurting my children which to me was the worse since my children are like the air I breathe. This have been going on for over a month now I've seen some relief since researching and finding that so many others suffer from this type of ocd and for the first time I see light at the end of the tunnel and I don't consider myself a monster.
darthpoe - 27-Sep-12 @ 7:34 PM
Pls start all with b complex. It helps....god bless :)
rita - 25-Sep-12 @ 3:47 PM
I cnt handle myself anymore, I am 19 . I don't know if i'm suffering from OCD. I do random hook ups but after that i feel like I have HIV ... The whole time I try telling myself that I dont have, it will go away for few minutes and then it will all come back again. I go for test and the result is negative after seeing the result I am extremly happy and do everything perfectly. But is not just about HIV , I have something new every week . I am always worried about something. I know its really stupid but one night I got so drank that I cant remember what happend at all, everyone is telling me that they got me home safe but I am worried about being pregnant !!! I cant remeber anything (at all) but there is this thought what if someone raped me and now i'm pregnant ??? I am sick and tired of myself ... I randomly cry and cant study anymore. I dont know what the hell is wrong with me ??? am just tired of being like this ! ! !
niloofar - 28-Aug-12 @ 8:39 PM
Hello everyone I am 28 years old and have been diagnosed with having pure o about five years ago - my specific problem is I have severe intrusive thoughts about harming others. It's been so good for a few years and my life has been great but the last 14 weeks have been pure hell! My OCD is worse than ever which has made me question who I am as a person. I am a very gentle person in nature very caring but my OCD is one of harm especially the people or things I love the most. I am currently on medication which does not seem to be working at all and my mind is clouded of awful thoughts 24/7 I am off work because I am simply petrified of what I could be capable of. I cry all the time and I am even physically sick! Concidering I have been through this before it still feels like hell! The doubt you experience with OCD is awful and scary.
Does anybody else experience this and have any advice. I would kill myself before I hurt anybody even though my thoughts tell me otherwise
Small sprout - 13-Aug-12 @ 7:52 PM
I am 13 years old and I have been dealing with intrusive thoughts basically my whole life. The most recent thoughts have been of my OCD making fun of tradgedies and just awful things in the world and this just makes me feel terrible for allowing these thoughts to pass through me. Please help!
Constantstress - 6-Jun-12 @ 4:29 AM
I am a single mom with two beautiful children. I have suffered from anxiety for years and in the past 5 months I have battled with compulsive thoughts. I keep thinking I'm going to hurt my children or myself and I am now petrified to be alone. The thoughts make me physically sick and I cry a lot. It is some comfort so see I'm not alone in this affliction. And I have started already to get help through medication,celexa. Hope for that rainbow at the end of this storm
southiemom - 22-May-12 @ 5:45 PM
I am fairly new to this. I started having panic attacks about two months ago due to stress from having no money, not being able to find a job, and moving to a very isolated place. Since then I have had severe anxiety and very intrusive thoughts about hurting my partner. I am afraid I have schizophrenia, and this is all I can think about. The thoughts disturb me so much; I am in absolute agony over them. I can concentrate on nothing else. I made the mistake of going on to schizophrenia message boards and reading about what they experience. Now I am afraid that I will think my boyfriend is the devil, the government is out to get me, everybody is a zombie, my food is being poisoned. Very creative thoughts about all of this go around in my head all day and I am scared I will start believing it! Has anyone else had paranoid thoughts they don't believe? Possibly even for years? I am feeling so suicidal. I just want my life back.
p.s. I am not hearing things or seeing things.
klee - 27-Mar-12 @ 7:20 AM
Hello to everyone on this site. I'm a sufferer of severe OCD for almost 20 years now. I have had obsessions and compulsions all my life which started as a teen . I can't be 100 percent certain but I think it was down to bullying at school . I used turn on/off things 3 times , have to touch things 3 times,checktaps , bless myself 3 times , rearrange things , check car windows, handbrake, put on left shoe first , left hand in jumper firstetc list is endless. Early teens got hocd which lasted few years. I obsess about almost everything my wife , childs excema, money etc I had to have control even over our shopping. My compulsions started again at age 28 at work were I would sometimes check my work over 100 times , write down on work gloves that I checked it , sometimes checked security cameras for more reassurance. This lead to checking everything at home from taps, electrical switches, doors, windows, etc.recently at a party my mind tgave me intrusive thought about a guy which I still say is not me . I have severe anxiety with intrusive thoughts since I can't eat , sleep , concentrate , and am deeply depressed. I'm not gay I'm happily married never had any feelings towards men or attractions for that matter. It's taking control over my life , I'm on seroxat 7 weeks , also have Xanax for anxiety . I can't believe this is happening to me I feel I'm gonna loose everything like I have no control cos everything in my eyes now is gay( I'm have nothing against gay people at all it's just not for me ). I have had suicidal thoughts even planned it , I have recently met with a psychiatrist and due to meet one ag again next week.I don't know what my outcome will be I'm deeply depressed . The mind is a very powerfully tool
Spud - 8-Mar-12 @ 1:26 PM
I know the answer now, why we have these thoughts we have! I have to share with you, it's because we don't love ourselves. And we cant' forgive our selves what ever it might be. So we continually beat ourselves up time and time again by having intrusive thought. We think we're not good enough, but we ALL are. We are all important, and you have to start by knowing that. You have it within you to heal yourself. This doesn't have to be a lifelong thing! It really doesn't. I'm realizing that now along with a whole lot of other stuff, wow! I am going to beat this and you WILL too. Seek knowledge, meditate.Meditation is a great way of knowing the true you. A great saying I came across is, "My heart is where the truth is stored - not in my mind - for my mind can alter the details of my experience in many ways." Mary Ann Luckett,D.C
scared - 9-Jan-12 @ 12:34 AM
i get these thougts all the time i am 14 quite young and the best way to deal with it is just to laugh at it and move on! i get alot of gay thoughts but i am not gay in the slitest bit it may lead you to liking them gay thoughts or what ever but just laugh at them!
ste - 27-Nov-11 @ 9:41 PM
Counter-intuitively, I think the best approach to handle this issue is to welcome the thoughts as they come into your head as it gives you the opportunity to bring out your true self by registering your disgust at the content of them. The longer you do this and stand up to these thoughts (rather than fear them and seek ways to escape from them) your brain will get the message that you are in control and are able to effectively ‘tame’ these thoughts. This will result in your brain sending you these thoughts significantly less often as it won’t deem them enough of a problem to warrant your attention.
Here2Help - 24-Oct-11 @ 3:05 PM
Dear worried mum,
Iknow EXACTLY how you feel! I ended up in the hospital recently( beginning ofSept 2011) because of it, I wanted to die! Stayed in the mental ward for almost a month.The thoughts areso terrible, and I feel so,so guilty. I just cry and cry all the time. But it is good to know I'm not alone, that there are other people out there going through almost exactly the same thing. I'm home now and stilltryingto deal with it.
I was searching the net for informationand came across The Linden Method. I think I'm going to try it. Charles Linden, the founder claims he can cure it (need to save 177.00, it's not cheap, not for me anyway). For now I'm doing therapy ( DBT) don't know whether that will work, I'm getting frusturated with it already( or maybe the therapist who's teaching it to me, it's taking forever).Also waiting to get in to see a Hypnotherapist. Wish me luck, and I wish all the best to you as well. If you have any ideas you think might help me post them for me ok.
Scared - 23-Oct-11 @ 12:35 AM
I have had OCD for about 13 years since I was a teenager and finally starting seeing a psychologist 18months ago. Everything went really well and started on luvox at a low dosage Whih seemed to help my OCD symptoms. I also have anxiety so am contantly worrying about everything in my life! I'm happily married with a little girl and lead a pretty normal life but it is really frustrating because my mind never relaxes. My medication worked well for about 10 months but then stopped working! I have always had intrusive thoughts but now they are worse than ever, I can't walk past someone in the street without picturing them turning around and stabbing me! I constanly have thoughts in my head that something bad will happen to my daughter, like if it's really windy outside I'm paranoid that a tree will fall through he roof and crush her in bed and I lay in bed feeling sick about it. I have found all my OCD checking and counting is worse than ever and all I want to do is sleep all day which is hard with a 2yr old so we lay in the lounge watching tv which makes me feel lime the worst parent ever! I feel like something is missing in my life and just wish I had a normal brain which didn't work at 100 miles and hour! I feel like I never actually get to just be at peace. No one can understand in my life and I wish that I could find the right medication to make me function as a semi normal member of society instead of constanly being afraid someone is going to break into my house and kill me in the middle of the night! I just need some peace and quiet from
My brain
Sammyocd - 20-Sep-11 @ 2:39 PM
i have suffered with ocd for over 30 yrs now and it never gets better, i was 11 yrs old when i first had my obsessional intrusive thought i was so scared and still am and i am in my mid forties and still have panic attaccks and wish i was dead as i find it very dificult to cope with the horrible things that go through my mind, it is everything that im not its everthing i am against in life, things did get better when i went on the medication, once i came off it managed 6 months i thought brilliant i am feeling normal, then i expereience alot of stress at work and home life, then out of the blue it was back i felt so ill all over again, saying why me why this again, i got straight back on the tablets as i know i cannot go bact to where i was a few years back, this condition is so cruel and i envy people that live a normal life. i am not alone after reading the above that as help me thanks to you all for having the strength to publish how you are all feeling it is not easy. thank you
chicken - 4-Jul-11 @ 11:27 PM
i get these thoughts to i am 19 and worried sick it makes me paranoid when a get these thoughts it started about 6month ago and as got worse and worse, but the strangest thing is when i am having fun with my mates it sort of dissapears completly when i am happy,, is it because i am depressed i dont no i need help !
ant - 19-Jun-11 @ 11:01 PM
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