People Tormented by Intrusive Thoughts
These individuals experience persistent, unwanted thoughts and mental loops that cause distress, anxiety, and exhaustion. They describe rumination, overanalysis, a sense of detachment from their own thoughts, and a feeling of being overwhelmed by internal mental processes. This often leads to feelings of depression and burnout.
SOURCES (60)
“It's pretty vague, don't think there's enough there to diagnose someone. Plus a bunch rando redditors such as myself shouldn't be diagnosing on reddit to begin with! 😅”
“hi. for the past year i’ve been really troubled by thoughts that come into my head that don’t go away unless i do a specific thing and i didn’t recognize the pattern until i kept looking online and saw that what i was experiencing was like that of obsessions and compulsions. i could go through a list of strange irrational things i do or think about in a day, but they’re really only annoying and slightly worrisome at times, not overly distressing like some obsessions can make you, so i’m really s”
“wow, that’s exactly what’s making me spiral. having to worry ab this in the future. idk how to stop 😔”
“The imagined fear, of being stuck like this forever is likely driving the monitoring. i.e. that’s the ‘what if’ that has become the obsession if we’re talking on OCD terms and anything you’re doing to in relation to this possibility, to try and avoid it or reassure yourself it won’t happen is the compulsion. It feels like facing a problem when it is really attempting to avoid an imagined feared scenario, keeping it alive.”
“You write very formally and with correct grammar and punctuation. I guess educated means autistic?”
“I definitely think it's worth the time to get evaluated. I am in a similar situation and I haven't gotten a specific diagnosis yet, but I still am receiving treatment. Hearing voices, paranoia, and nightmares are all very valid reasons to get checked out. I hope your mom will be understanding, and it is important to prioritize your health.”
“i have dpdr so i was researching stuff, i somehow got to a comment talking about hyperawareness and ever since then ive been super hyperaware of my blinking….i don’t know if i have OCD or if im just focusing on this bc my anxiety is already high but im really scared of being stuck like this and having to worry about it in the future. any tips on how to stop thinking about it? submitted by /u/yourfavscorpioooo [link] [comments]”
“I had this happen before when I was 19 and in a bad situation life wise. I would be able to zone out and felt like I was hearing things talk to me, I was constantly trying to search for the source of it and communicate back. I would write down stuff in journals about it and felt like maybe demons or different entities wanted to talk to me. It went away when things improved in my life. But now I'm 26 and I'm actually in a spot that is really good life wise: married and I love my husband,”
“Antidepressants. Maybe therapy. I’m not even kidding. I come from generations of OCD and ADHD people. You don’t have to live like that.”
“Hey all, this is my first ever post and I'm kind of struggling at the moment. Not sure if I have severe or mild OCD as I haven't been diagnosed, but my dad has, and has a pretty serious case of it and he's been diagnosed with it for years and I know OCD is hereditary in most cases and I seem to have every symptom there is. Anyway I just started a new job, hours are a bit much but it's good work tbh. But literally on my only two days off I've just been obsessing about lifes bi”
“Today was a shit show. I drove and had a straight panic not moving for 5 mins caused a huge melt down to the point I wanted to park my car and walk away. I was crying screaming I can't do this. Twice it was unbearable I almost threw up out of panic. Even if I have harm ocd my body and mind still wants to be safe. Even if I think about harming others I run for safety. I don't know if I should drive anymore since this melt down. Now I'm in bed sulking because I looked crazy and people”
“It sounds like you’re experiencing a really intense wave of anxiety around getting older, and when anxiety locks onto something, it can make it feel much more threatening than it actually is. The more you try to push the thoughts away or get reassurance that everything will be okay, the more your mind may keep returning to them. Rather than trying to make the thoughts disappear, try acknowledging them: “I’m having a lot of anxiety about turning 24. I don’t have to solve this right now.” Then gen”
“This sounds OCD-adjacent, and an app is not going to help if you’ve already taken steps to ensure it’s done. I would attempt mindfulness techniques for a while, and if it’s still interfering with your life enough, some medications do relieve the obsessive symptoms. In my experience with this it’s when I was anxious and thinking about the past or worried about the future, or high trying to calm myself. Mindfulness works.”
“Due to chronic illness, Ive spent a lot of time alone in hospitals and at home, especially during my late teens. I think it’s an adaptive response but I’ve developed constant inner dialogue which I didn’t realise other people don’t have. My mind is always busy, I didn’t realise other people’s minds are quiet?? Anyone else relate? submitted by /u/Original_Put_7803 [link] [comments]”
“TRIGGER WARNING Existential topics Or more accurately it just never fully leaves. I’ve been going through a sort of waxing and waning existential crisis for about four years now. I wouldn’t say that the fears I have ever completely go away unless they are replaced by a newer, more terrifying fear. Good news is, I haven’t been truly depressed in a while now. Not since early this year. But the anxiety and internal rambling persists. It’s so annoying. I started freaking out about death. That was wh”
“Just wondering if there are any explanations for this: I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety as a kid, with some trauma. I also have some symptoms that closely align with bpd, although tbat is not confirmed yet; I’ve been told to go to therapy. I recently smoked weed for the first time and did 10 hits, I got caught in an event loop and had a panic attack. When I regained consciousness, I started drawing demonic figures uncontrollably. Is there any reason for these drawings, I wasn’t intendi”
“I’m really worried about someone close to me. He says he hasn’t slept properly for 7 days and now feels like he can’t think straight and is having a lot of bad thoughts. Yesterday, I spoke to him and he seemed completely normal we talked, laughed, and he seemed okay, but today he’s back in the same state. He lives in Europe and I’m in Asia, so I can’t be there physically. He has a few friends there, but I’m not sure what I should do. Has anyone experienced something similar or can suggest what m”
“I don’t really know how to explain this properly, but a few days ago I was watching a video about the universe and started thinking about death — how it’s forever, and even if there’s a heaven that’s still forever. The whole concept of existence suddenly felt terrifying. I had a panic attack and spiraled into the idea that if we just die anyway, then life, decisions, and suffering don’t mean anything. I can still rationalize the thoughts enough that they aren’t conceptually scary, but I’ve been”
“It sounds like depression. There's a certain point in depression where even maladaptive coping skills no longer provide relief. It's not a forever state, but it can certainly feel unusual. I hope you have access to mental health care. Talk therapy and medication might be helpful. If not there are some resources online. It seems like right now body and nervous system needs to rest. Please be kind to yourself.”
“Do you think allowing your self to think the though instead of fighting it could help ? Then once sitting with it try to rationalise it instead of constantly fighting it ?”
“looking into a diagnosis is a start, but even if you do have it there’s different therapy types like DBT and medications you can take along with it to improve. you never have to be alone all, you are a minor after all and there’s a lot of life left for you. just wish you luck 🫂”
“I literally don't know if it's a FALSE MEMORY and it's so freaking bad. PLEASE DON'T SKIP, I'M IN GENUINE NEED OF IMMEDIATE ADVICE. For context, I (21) have horrible POCD and false memory/real event OCD regarding interactions with my little cousins, who are much much younger than me. I had a terrible breakup last year which triggered my OCD which I had for years already, it developed into ROCD and me being scared of I was a cheater for what I did in our talking stage, I start”
“I fucking hate not being perfect and I hate being such a perfectionist. I am so much of a perfectionist that I feel EXTREMELY bad when I try new things that I am not yet an expert in it's so excruciatingly painful. I get so mad and angry and frustrated with myself, why can't I be perfect? My obsession with being good at everything and anything has ruined my life and there's nothing I can do to change it. submitted by /u/Artistic_Green9260 [link] [comments]”
“My whole life so far was controlled by systems and strategies that make me look very well functioning externally but are exhausting to a point I think I can not uphold them anymore. Multiple times doctors noted a burnout risk over the last 10 years, the most recent one led to an OCD diagnosis. When I told my close circle and family about this, the common answer was "that definitely tracks" (because of my lock/door/stove checking) and "but it can't be that bad" (because of”
“i know it’s silly to say because nobody will ever truly know exactly how another person thinks. i’m just struggling so badly with the fact that i have people who care and love me deeply, yet the fact they don’t understand is fucking killing me. i’m struggling so badly but when i open up i feel stupid. i feel like i sound totally insane and that the people around me just think im silly. i just wish i had somebody, anybody who understands how debilitating anxiety is. all i want is compassion and e”
“I feel like my brain won't turn off lately. It makes me paranoid every time I worry about my baby, obviously, but then my brain jumps to work, maternity leave, childcare, money, sleep, my relationship, my career, whether I’ll be a good mom... There’s always something that's missing or maybe I thought pregnancy would be mostly excitement and preparing for the baby. I didn't realize how much I would overthink what my entire life is going to look like afterward. Sometimes I just want my”
“it's true though nothing I ever worry about ends up happening but my brain tricks me into thinking "what if this time I'm right" it's a bit weird to deal with because I am self aware but also can't stop thinking this way 😭”
“i’m 15 (f) & i’m not formally diagnosed with OCD but i am asking for help. I have a-lot of traits linking with contamination OCD & my paranoia is starting to become a real burden for me and my family especially my mum. I feel really guilty, I ask the same questions probably over 20 times a day because i’m terrified of something happening to me. for example yesterday i went snorkelling and accidentally swallowed salt water and the rest of the day contained me repeatedly asking If i was go”
“Ik it doesn’t make sense but whenever I enter my room I keep looking if there was someone hiding or a camera hiding. In the bathroom too. And now when I write, I feel like I’m being stalked and I can never fully be able to express my genuine thoughts and I always kept things private so “they” don’t know about it. I been diagnosed w BPD idk if this has to do with that but I been like this since I was 16. I’m always scared I’m always careful and I just avoid doing anything even living my normal li”
“Alright so this isn’t exactly about breastfeeding, but this is my third child and this keeps happening to me (all ebf). My brain just…isn’t working..? I’ve struggled with depression basically my entire adult life, and it’s not exactly what’s going on right now. I keep forgetting things. Things I know I should be doing. Appointments I’m aware of that same day, but realize I never went to them hours later. Can’t focus. Can’t get organized, even under deadlines. It’s making life so hard. So what is”
“4 years and it's still in my mind how to deal with it submitted by /u/unknown3_g [link] [comments]”
“I am a 21 year old male living abroad. I am not a native english speaker, so please show some patience with me. From as far back as I remember, I have always been extremely anxious, and always suffering from some sort of anxiety, whether it is about school or about personal issues. To me, stress feels natural at this point. I cannot imagine any scenario where I can go one day without being stressed or worrying about something in general. I have convinced myself that anxiety and stress are part o”
“Lately, I’ve been overthinking a lot. If my dad doesn’t pick up my call, I immediately think, “Did he have an accident?” If my mom suddenly leaves, I start thinking something happened to my dad or other family members. My heart starts beating fast too. Even when I know there’s probably a normal reason, my mind goes straight to the worst. Why am I like this? How can I stop these thoughts? submitted by /u/Celestia_15 [link] [comments]”
“What is the specific thing you are avoiding doing today by saying you feel foggy? It is almost always a cold message, a phone call, or asking for money. Name the exact task and do that one first.”
“Sorry for the long post. There’s a lot of history behind this, but I would genuinely greatly appreciate anyone who takes the time to read it, especially if you can relate to any of this or have any insight into what might be happening. About 3 years ago, I looked in the mirror one day and thought I looked ugly. For some reason, I became convinced that holding my jaw forward would fix how my face looked, partly because I had been influenced by the whole “mewing” thing. I ended up holding my jaw i”
“My ex boyfriend assaulted me when I was trying to sleep a few months ago. Im in therapy. I don't talk about it. It wasnt anything that could have gotten me pregnant. But I remembered falling asleep next to him for an hour a month before, and having a nightmare a week before he SAd me about being assaulted in a way that could have gotten me pregnant. I don't think he did anything more but I keep having the thought I'm pregnant and everything is a sign or symptom. I cleaned my room, I&”
“The beeping is always there. A countdown to an explosion you’re certain is to come. It is soft at first. It’s always present, ticking its quiet warning. It echoes in the corners of the rooms you enter, a metronome raising the tempo slowly but surely, counting down to something you can’t quite name but feel anyway. Some days it blares red hot, insistent, as if the whole world shrinks to a single blinking wire you’re too terrified to touch. Other days it stays quiet. A faint pulse under the skin,”
“I’ve had this!!!! It’s called ego-dystonic SI. It essentially means that you are having intrusive SI bordering on OCD-like without consciously wanting to die. I had this really bad, I was sure I was going to die because of it. We adjusted my meds and I saw my team very frequently until things got better. What helped me was removing things I could harm myself with, not being alone, telling others what was going on, and making a safety plan with my therapist. This sounds very similar to what I dea”
“I have been dealing with intense anxiety since last 3-4 months. I don't even know how I am keeping myself alive right now. Everyday feels like a different battle with anxiety. No one except for one of my friends knows about this not even my family. I don't even know what's going on with myself. I try to distract myself and be happy but it all just feels fake. The inside of my mind is one big chaos. Every sensation in my body triggers a panic attack because of health anxiety. The phys”
“Hello there, starting to like "losing my mind" even as i am typing this. Maybe my brain is just tired or it just been like that Idk. Im starting to lose myself and that way my brain works its not like that anymore, maybe also causes because of the trauma I've had to endure at a young age, the happenings that i had to experience in a simultaneously, the sleepless night and having my mind destroyed by my doings. I start lately forgetting stuff or should i say forcing to forget stuff”
“Long story short I feel like I’ve definitely been in survival mode for so many years probably since I was 12 years old. And it’s been well over a decade even more if I really do think about it. During Covid, I noticed that things I’ve really gotten bad, especially when it came to college and all because I was in this isolated environment, and my mom wasn’t exactly the most supportive person that I had met at this point . I just remember a lot of her frustrations were directed towards me, especia”
“This is my first time posting here so bare with me. My thoughts were very messy but this is what I felt so please bare with me. There are times where I reflect on myself, frequently when I wake up or before I fall asleep. I keep nitpicking about the times where I act or say things that can make others uncomfortable or upset, like speaking loudly to get attention just for me to say something terrible when I didn't have to and bystanders like classmates, who I want to have a good impression to”
“I dont know what it is i am not diagnose and dont want to self diagnose but things arent as enjoyable as before my brain feels odd like i can feel the organ there i get headaches alot of i dont take medications i feel like emotionally like crap 24/7 for no reason if someone talks to me in a sad or harsh way for a second just a sec it hurts i have yk what thoughts trued ones didnt have enough now i do but i really want my brain to be fixed i dont have access many like sources that help like thera”
“I’ve noticed that I tend to assume things in life are supposed to go well, so when they do, I barely acknowledge it. It’s almost like anything positive gets brushed off as, “Well, that’s how it should be.” But the second something goes wrong, doesn’t go the way I expected, or something negative happens, I hyper-fixate on it. It can take up way more of my attention than all the things that are actually going right. I can recognize the imbalance pretty clearly: I focus heavily on the negative whil”
“It’s been really really really bad for these last 8 months and I can’t handle it sober. I’ve only ever smoked about 10 times and that’s socially but I think I need to change that for my brain so I can calm down. submitted by /u/boblol12334 [link] [comments]”
“I can’t help but get reminded of hurtful things that have been said my people in my life, namely my family. Their words end up playing in my head automatically like a tape recorder on whenever I’m experiencing a negative emotion that I had been feeling during those times, or someone will say something. It doesn’t even have to be negative- just anything that vaguely resembles to my distorted brain a phrase or statement that had hurt me in the past, and all the intense sadness, shame, etc that goe”
“You‘re probably still on the younger side of life .. not to put down anything you say. These kind of thoughts hurt really badly and i‘m sorry you have to go through them, but you will learn to cope with them better, i promise. Always remember that you are inherently worth something and you arent alone out there <3”
“Today, I was walking and it was getting super dark out. Omg just writing this out is making me wanna throw up. It was super dark out, and I walked past this car. Some guy happened to get out of his car just as a walked by and he walked to rhe back of his car to grab something. I felt a cold chill run down my spine ans just kept walking despite the literal TERROR I felt. I genuinely thought he was going to pull put a gun and send 6 rounds into my back. I was so fucking scared I couldnt breathe an”
“How do I overcome this? I struggle with this since a while but only got worse because of a bad panic attack due to an ex drugging me basically. I want to drop my kid off school and have a normal life but I'm worried if I panic, or anything. What if I hurt someone and freak out and go nuts. That's my biggest worry like always. What if I hurt my loved ones and no one can help. I used to have a normal life. I take medicine and see my therapist every week and psychologist and do exposure the”
“For example changing the lyrics to I wanna dance with somebody to I wanna punch somebody. Or (in the tune of Farmer in the Dell) shoot me in the face , shoot me in the face. Oh I want someone to shoot me in the face. Idk. Just something we do to deal with the stress and have some fun with each other making up messed up songs. If you do it too post your songs so we can add to our collection. submitted by /u/Donttrustaskinnychef [link] [comments]”
“tw for talks of mental health problems and symptoms (im not sure whether these type of posts are allowed on here so if they are not please lmk and i will delete it!) for the last 3-4 months i developed severe health anxiety to the point where i cannot eat and have lost 13kg, i have not gone out with any friends in the last 3 months, i have developed dpdr, and idek how to specify it im just gonna say things and hope at least 1 person out there can give me a tip. ive noticed a lot of peoples healt”
“Is anyone else insanely block happy? As soon as I get a weird vibe I so quick to hit the block button. First message you send to me weird? Block. Talking around in circles? Block. Can’t follow basic instructions? SO blocked. I just don’t have time, or patience, or genuinely energy for anything that disturbs my vibes. I wonder sometimes if I’m too quick to the draw or if it’s worth it to keep standards high with cleaning out the garbage. What about you guys? How often do you block subs and what m”