Intrusive Thoughts

Well I'm here because I don't really know what's wrong with me. I've had fairly severe social anxiety for my whole life and was pulling my hair out when I was 12. I somehow got that stopped thank goodness or I'd be bald. I've had a few panic attacks, mainly at the dentist. I can sort of deal with that stuff but for a few years now I get these intrusive thoughts that won't stop. It only happens if I hear a really terrible news story or something that even happened in history. It usually involves children and once I hear it I remember it forever. I imagine it's my kid or me. I think about it over and over and I feel all of the emotions. It will keep popping into my head and I really don't want to think about it. It makes me incredibly depressed and anxious and like the world is an awful place.

I just want to know if anyone else has ever dealt with this? I have to avoid the news and social media and other things because it seems to be getting worse. I am trying to push out these thoughts as they come. I distract myself and in my head I yell NO No No. Weird but it works a little bit.

Hi and welcome to the forum

I'm not a therapist (there's no professionals on the forum here), but it does sound like you've got a lot of anxious thoughts going on. The intrusive thoughts sound pretty awful to deal with.

I don't have thoughts about terrible news stories going over in my head, but I do get other anxious thoughts that keep popping up over and over and it's hard to stop them sometimes.

Have you ever thought about talking with a professional about it at all?

grumpiecatz wrote: I distract myself and in my head I yell NO No No. Weird but it works a little bit.

I don't think this sounds weird at all. I've done it too. Saying "No, I'm not going to think about that" and sometimes keep repeating it to myself. I find anything that requires a lot of concentration seems to help a bit with it- it doesn't leave space for the anxious thoughts.

Take care
Lily