Intrusive thoughts caused by stress… It’s better to let them go naturally.
Entered 2023.12.25 22:00 Views 13 Entered 2023.12.25 22:00 Modified 2023.12.25 19:18 Views 13
It is important to treat intrusive thoughts, which are unwelcome thoughts that arise unconsciously, as a natural phenomenon caused by stress and to deal with them resolutely. [사진=게티이미지뱅크]What if a family member suddenly dies? What happens after an accident? There are times when unwelcome thoughts or images suddenly appear, such as: These thoughts that suddenly appear in your head without you realizing it are called ‘intrusive thoughts.’ Usually, it is temporary and harmless, but if it turns into an obsessive thought that shakes your life, it can lead to problems with your mental health, so you need to be careful. What is the cause of these intrusive thoughts and how should we deal with them?
Everyday Health, an American health information media, cited information released by the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the U.S. Intrusive thoughts are unpleasant thoughts that are usually caused by excessive stress and can spread into unwelcome, involuntary thoughts, impressions, or compulsions. It was introduced that there are many cases.
If your daily life is shaken, it’s a problem
Whether intrusive thoughts are a problem or not is determined by the impact they have on daily life. It is not unusual for certain thoughts to come up unconsciously, so it is not a problem in itself, but it becomes a problem if it takes a toll on your daily life, such as making it difficult to sleep or concentrate on work. Intrusive thoughts turn into obsessive thoughts, which can take a toll on not only your mental but also your physical health, so active action is needed.
Obsessive thoughts are repetitive and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are felt to be intrusive and inappropriate in a person’s life and cause severe anxiety and distress. When evaluating whether you suffer from obsessive thoughts, medical staff use questionnaires that ask how often you have had these thoughts over the past week and how distressed they were.
Even if the same thought occurs to some people, the intensity of shock and pain may be greater, and the resulting feelings of anxiety, guilt, and fear of loss of control may be much greater. For example, when they repeatedly think about the possibility that a loved one, such as a family member, might get hurt or die, some people not only have a hard time getting these thoughts out of their heads, but they also believe that it will actually happen. It is a characteristic of people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and can occur in people with anxiety disorders, depression, or similar mental health conditions.
If you feel uncomfortable, find a specialist, recognition is important.
What efforts should I make to protect myself from unpleasant thoughts that keep coming up?
Basically, if you see signs that intrusive thoughts are turning into obsessive thoughts, it is a good idea to see a specialist and receive counseling. This is because, depending on the specific content, the number of times it comes to mind, and the impact it has on one’s life, it may be related to mental illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety disorder. If you have a disease, combining psychotherapy through conversation and drug treatment can help alleviate symptoms. Even if you do not have obsessive-compulsive disorder, it is a good idea to receive psychological treatment if you feel distressed or out of control.
It is also important to recognize that unpleasant thoughts that suddenly arise are not a bad thing because they are something the human mind does. Experts agree that acknowledging that this is a completely normal and natural phenomenon without guilt or excessive imagination can help reduce pain. Trying to solve a thought by treating it as a serious problem or trying to find out the reason, content, or meaning of the thought may be counterproductive. It is important to simply respond by saying, “That’s just the way it is.”
In the journal Psychological Science, a study was published showing that the act of letting go of intrusive thoughts helps solve problems. When people wrote down parts of their appearance that they disliked on a piece of paper and then had them tear the paper up, the negative effects were felt. The thought has disappeared. However, it is pointed out that this is not an appropriate coping method for people who are already suffering from mental illness such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Reporter Kim Geun-jeong
lunakim@kormedi.com
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2023-12-25 13:01:09
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