What To Do When Your Intrusive Thoughts Turn Into Urges

It’s time to put your anxious mind on a leash! Michelle Cavanaugh and Aida Beco answer questions to ‘what if’ thoughts and how to work through urges you might experience.
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[@Pimmie0132]

Sometimes my brain is like: what if I just do... and my 'good' mind is like no don't And is scars me because what if I do the what if? I could ruin my life in a few seconds.

[@raikantshashi8337]

Same 😞

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

When it reaches the urge point it is terrifying. Important that viewers are told these are unwanted. The feeling of danger and dread for me can be MASSIVE. I hate it. I hate OCD and after 35 years although I can cope I would be lying if I didn't say it hasn't dramatically affected my life. If prone to OCD can experiences from other people, what they might say or ask etc... make the OCD levels worse, as if 'evidence' is being put forward in a court of law saying you are guilty or at least a danger. People who post such useful videos are doing an incredible service to help those in great need. I appreciate it even if I make one or two negative points in my comment. That is just to be honest and when tired it is nice to be honest. I have been told I need to accept uncertainty - that makes sense but it is scary. My OCD is harm OCD - I am so scared of hurting others which makes me think how can I risk getting better at the potential danger of hurting someone.

[@Nothinghere42345]

I’m not sure if she could help me since the specific ones I’m experiencing are the more disturbing ones

[@michaelmartin4527]

I watch every one of Michelle's videos and with her guests. They're incredibly helpful.

[@redbeardsbirds3747]

Ever had the horrible intrusive thoughts about disrupting a important work meeting…shouting explicit or embarrassing things ? I have been in this situation a few times and now I make sure I sit closer to an exit door …I feel like I can relax a bit if I can see the way out…even though the anxiety is still below the surface. I’ve even had these intrusive thought in the dentist chair…I kept asking myself…..what if I just start freaking out and get up midway through this procedure and they have to shoot me up with a sedation or call the police about a wild patient…it really is a mental torture and so exhausting ! 😑 Crazy thing is eventually if I’m there long enough I finally relax and coach myself through it the best I can by trying to distract my brain with happy or positive thought …however those intrusive thought never turn into anything whatsoever …because it’s the last thing I want to do and my self control is a natural safeguard ! Lol Usually the dentist or his helper will be very nice and make me laugh occasionally with something funny they say or talk about while working..that always relaxes me a bit. I eventually tell myself..it’s almost over buddy…you did good despite the intrusive thoughts. Your video is very helpful..thanks.

[@json7598]

Yep 👍 she is amazing at articulating how

[@Daughterofthemosthigh1987]

Very helpful thank you 🙏🏻

[@kbpanchal22]

Idk It's Urges or normal But I Just Tend To Be in Freeze Mode always When Intrusive Thoughts Attacks The Most..😓💯

[@rdevalentin]

If I’m not happy in life, I need to find ways to be happier. If I don’t function well in life, I need to find ways to function better. That’s human nature. The problem is that it could lead to compulsions. What you propose as a solution is to tell yourself “I don’t need to find the answers to everything or even to fight the need to find the answers to everything. Let it be, so to speak. Be Zen”. That works well if your degree of anxiety is not too high. However, if you can’t deny the possibility that by ignoring an intrusive thought you may miss something critical and that possibility makes you very anxious, do you think you can persuade yourself that what counts is not the problem itself, but how you react to it? It’s like asking an individual who is afraid to spend the night alone in a supposedly haunted castle to surrender to not knowing (or to not fighting the need to know) what will happen next. He probably could do it daytime or in the presence of a friend, but could he do it nighttime alone when the atmosphere and his mood change? How can you distance yourself from your thoughts if it could be costly (they may be connected to reality) and you’re not ready, in the mood of the moment, to do it?

[@R1pTide_]

This helped a lot actually through I do know I will have to deal with this for a while it gives me a little conformo knowing there is people that understand what I’m going through

[@natz8274]

thank you heaps

[@juris9546]

Good one 🔥

[@sobaanmohammed3304]

View your thoughts, rather than clinging to them Put your anxious mind of a leash Thoughts and feelings are separate. Feeling or thinking like danger doesn't mean danger actually. Urgency = I must do something Thoughts are coloured by the way we feel. When anxious we have anxious thoughts naturally. Fear adrenaline and cortisol are designed to give you energy and racing thoughts. Anxiety increases the 'light' so we see much more. Stop shining your flashlight so much. Focus on what you want more of, not less of. Worry = trying to be in control, an illusion, surrender to not knowing; trust yourself and your body