Disturbing thoughts that pop into your mind unbidden may make you feel uneasy, but they are common — and there are strategies you can use to manage them.

When an intrusive thought occupies your brain, it can sometimes feel like it will never go away. But thoughts are always temporary, and there is no such thing as a permanent state of mind. This can make it a great way to cope with intrusive thoughts because you’re not denying that the thoughts are present — just changing your relationship with them. Don’t fight with it. When you have an intrusive thought, just accept it. "Don’t try to make it go away." If you have unwanted thoughts, you should remember that you aren't alone. In fact, there are millions of people just like you--good people who have awful thoughts, gentle people with violent thoughts, and sane people with "crazy" thoughts. This book will show you how to move past your thoughts so you can reclaim your life In OCD, intrusive thoughts cause serious distress. A person with OCD often makes significant efforts to try to suppress or stop their unwanted thoughts (obsessions). This usually involves repeating particular behaviors or habits over and over.Everyone has an inner monologue, a steady stream of thoughts, ideas, images, aspirations and recollections. But sometimes when you’re going about your business — thinking about what’s for dinner or where you put the TV remote — that flow of ideas is interrupted with an unsettling thought or image. I have been really struggling to come to terms with it, but it’s something I am learning to live with through help and support. I know my OCD will never go away, so I am learning to make it my friend rather than my enemy. Here are a few of the most common treatments you might experience with your health care provider. Cognitive behavioral therapy

Without even realizing it, you may be spending a lot of your time living in the past, or obsessing about the future. The more you think about it, the more anxious you get and the worse the thoughts get," says Dr. Williams. Instead of fighting intrusive thoughts, it’s better to learn to live with them. When these thoughts emerge, try taking the following steps:Taking a walk or jog in a green space can help you to break a cycle of rumination, by engaging your body and your senses in a way that gets your mind off your thoughts. Approach the thought with curiosity I’m not a religious person but I would pray to God that ... he would make these horrible thoughts go away." There are also lots of meditation apps available, with courses specifically geared toward beginners and people living with intrusive thoughts, that may help you. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Tens of millions of people have bothersome intrusive thoughts, and most often these thoughts are so unacceptable or embarrassing that many people have trouble telling anyone about them—even their closest family members or friends. At worst, these intrusive thoughts are part of severe problems such as OCD, but we know that almost anybody under stress can occasionally experience intrusive thoughts. Now, at last, a state-of-the-art psychological program written by two of the leading clinicians in the country with years of experience treating this problem is available. The program in this remarkable little book may be sufficient to help you overcome your intrusive thoughts, if therapeutic assistance may be needed, to guide you to the best available resources. I recommend this program very highly as a first step for anybody dealing with this issue.” Get the Spanish version of the book " Guía para superar los pensamientos atemorizantes, obsesivos o inquietantes" here. The thought is bothersome. If a thought is disturbing and it’s something you want to push out of your mind, it might be an intrusive thought.The best way to manage intrusive thoughts is to reduce your sensitivity to the thought and its contents. The following strategies may help. Ways to manage intrusive thoughts The vast majority of people experience occasional intrusive thoughts that feel weird or a little uncomfortable but are easy to let go. But, for others, having intrusive thoughts is a recurring issue that may benefit from medical help. Causes of intrusive thoughts Radomsky AS, et al. (2014). Part 1—You can run but you can’t hide: Intrusive thoughts on six continents.