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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bonnie_ann on February 9, 2002, at 18:47:13
What is the difference between intrusive thoughts, worries, and bad thoughts?
what are the differences if any - and could you give me an example for each?
Thanks,
Bonnie
Posted by IsoM on February 10, 2002, at 0:06:01
In reply to Difference between intrusive thoughts,worries and , posted by bonnie_ann on February 9, 2002, at 18:47:13
Please forgive me if my version sounds simplistic - I tend to be a fairly uncomplicated sort of person though.
Instrusive thoughts: feelings, thoughts, & memories that will come unbidden into our conscious awareness perhaps triggered by something we've seen, heard, or smelled. To me, intrusive thoughts are unwelcome & not particularily pleasant thoughts or memories.
Worries: ideas, real or imagined (more often imagined), that we unnecessarily dwell & fret on to an excessive amount - especially about things we can't control or change, or that sometimes don't even matter much.
Bad thoughts: harmful thoughts & ideas that only serve to disrupt our own mental health & possibly that of others too & never lead to anything good.
Posted by Noa on February 12, 2002, at 18:29:49
In reply to Difference between intrusive thoughts,worries and , posted by bonnie_ann on February 9, 2002, at 18:47:13
I would guess that there is some overlap for many of us in how we define these.
But...to me, intrusive thoughts means unwanted thoughts that feel like they intrude into my mind out of my control. I think for some people this can be fearful thoughts or images, taboo thoughts or images or unexpected thoughts or images that intrude at the most inopportune times. I think sometimes they can feel like the thoughts just won't leave the person alone.
I think worries can occur as intrusive thoughts or not--ie the worried thoughts or ideas intrude unwanted or maybe to some people feel like "normal" even if unpleasant--normal in the sense that they don't feel like they are intruding into their minds.
I think that some people might feel a sense of intrusion by unwanted thoughts to the point of having the feeling or sense that the control of the thought is coming from outside themselves, while others know that the thoughts are thier own thoughts, but just don't know how to have more control over them.
"Bad" thoughts is defined by what you think of as "bad", I think. But I think there are people for whom stuff that is "bad" or taboo becomes what they think about a lot and then they feel awful about it, but don't feel control over thinking about these things. Sometimes, this is what people with OCD experience.
If you participate in a religion that holds the belief that just to think something forbidden is as bad as doing it, well, I would guess that having forbidden thoughts would be very distressing. But even without such "rules", we all have taboo areas that we try to avoid thinking about--even superstitions that if we think something it might come true, etc. This can be distressing, too.
Can you say more about why you are asking this?
Posted by Krazy Kat on February 12, 2002, at 21:09:32
In reply to Difference between intrusive thoughts,worries and , posted by bonnie_ann on February 9, 2002, at 18:47:13
Intrusive thoughts for me, as a manic depressive with OCD symptoms, are thoughts that simply will not go away.
They can range from something such as "Did I turn the stove off" to "What if I ran over someone? What if I hurt someone without even knowing it?"
I think worries are what "most" folks have re: life.
IMHO, there are no bad thoughts. Thoughts almost have "a mind of their own", so to speak - we are not responsible for them - we are, however, responsible for how we act on them.
- KK
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