Intrusive thoughts are a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental health condition in which a person experiences involuntary obsessions and compulsions that may cause distress.

The violent thoughts came to me suddenly, and without hesitation, in the summer of June 2017. It was 5pm, and I was lounging around the beach house with my parents, when all at once, I was hit with a ...

‘I was terrified of everything; I was terrified to sleep. It was just a constant state of panic’ (iStock) Zachary James remembers the exact moment that his first intrusive thought lodged itself in his ...

None of us can escape intrusive thoughts, the random and usually off-putting musings that include visions of shoving your hand through the center of a beautifully decorated cake or a bridge collapsing ...

OCD and BFRBs can look alike, but they’re not the same. Discover the similarities, important distinctions, and what they mean ...

Many people with OCD first get advice from internet chat forums or therapists untrained in OCD. Although the advice-givers are usually well-meaning, the messaging isn’t always consistent with best ...

Author’s note: This article discusses my own personal experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is in no way authoritative to anyone’s experience but my own. Every person’s experience with ...

One writer shares her experience with OCD and intrusive thoughts, and why stereotypes about the condition prevented her from getting help sooner. For a long time, my only exposure to OCD ...

Cohen calls intrusive thoughts a form of "mind babbling" or "random, involuntary and unintentional thinking" that can be relentless and difficult to quiet down. "While not all the 'babble' is harmful ...

You're standing on a balcony enjoying the view, and suddenly, a disturbing thought flashes through your mind – "What if I jump?" Or maybe you're holding your ...