Intrusive thoughts are those pesky unwanted thoughts that pop into your mind. While everyone has them, they can be distressing. Learn how to stop them from distracting you.

Key points There are three distinct kinds of OCD thoughts: intrusive thoughts, compulsive thoughts, and appraisals. Each kind of OCD thought requires a different coping strategy. Understanding the ...

Anxiety disorders: “While anyone can experience [intrusive thoughts], they’re more common for people with conditions like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress ...

OCD: In OCD, intrusive thoughts trigger anxiety, which people try to manage by performing compulsions. These compulsions might offer temporary relief, but the cycle continues.

You must have heard people recklessly throwing around the term ‘OCD’ whenever they want to convey how much they love ...

Sometimes it feels like everyone has OCD, yet I’m still met with such disgust and confusion when I perform these odd compulsions. If everyone else is letting their intrusive thoughts win, why ...

Disturbing intrusive thoughts can lead to intense shame, embarrassment, guilt, depression, and anxiety or fear about one’s character or what they might do, experts said.

Intrusive thoughts are often connected to certain mental health conditions or as a symptom of anxiety or depression.

"Intrusive thoughts that I would have once dismissed became stuck in my head like a cartoon character in quicksand and the only way to rid myself of this increasing conviction that this thought ...