This guy is one in a million. He has a natural gift for conveying positivity in a way I've never known before. It's almost as if he's speaking to you alone. It's no wonder his videos are so popular. Love from London.
I've had intrusive thoughts for many years- they get worse under stress, they torment me day and night. They are one of the leading reasons for my depression. (among other reasons) Only time they stop is if I am completely busy, work until exhaustion, or asleep.
My intrusive thoughts are *so* unbearable disturbing at times - I have to consciously push them back in my head, until they kind of becomes static or white noise. It takes so much energy when my brain is at its worst! I can't see how these thoughts would come from things I have seen or heard, since they can be worse than anything I ever have heard of... Nice to know that I'm not as messed up as I sometimes feel. Thank you!
Kalmekris (or is it Kallmekris) has a channel where she often makes videos about "If I said my intrusive thoughts out loud" and they are so relatable while also funny. You might find them helpful
I think about de@th, in general, every single day. It's not about harming anyone. I am the most morbid person I know. I think about when and how several times a day. I watch videos about it. It has consumed me for a few years. I would say that it's been one very long existential crisis. My brain is like a broken record, so it constantly skips over the worst-case scenarios. It makes me sad because I feel like a completely crazy person.
I get that. when it happens, I ask Death "is this the way I'll meet my end" and if I don't get a chill (like someone walking over my grave as they say), i chalk my thought to paranoia. maybe your subconscious is pushing thoughts of your mortality at you because you aren't living the way that pleases you, personally and so "the clock is ticking" is you pushing you the change things for the better for yourself? ❤️🩹
@john-ic5pz I have boatloads of medical problems that started when I was a child. I'm 49, so I've lasted about 35 years longer than what some docs thought. Both my parents abandoned me when I was a toddler. I am thankful for all I have now, but I still live this weird morbid life. I guess I feel like I managed to avoid the young death so I'm going to pay eventually. My anxiety and depression is crazy as well.
Thank you I needed this. I have thoughts of losing a loved one. When I was small I obsessed on the fear something would happen to my dad who was a fire fighter or my mom who was held up by gun point at work. Now its my husband or children and my parents of course mom has pneumonia my little guy has been sick and my mind goes straight to the worst case scenario to the point im extremely anxious and sorta depressed. I been watching your videos and trying to change my thought patterns. I would love t9 see more like this
I have su1cd1al Ideation and intrusive thoughts from OCD and think of it all the time too. It's like my brain is looking for ways to escape itself. The hardest times is when the ideas and old/bad "voices" seem to make sense.
Being on antidepressants made negative and sucidal ideation worse. When I'm doing creative projects the inner critic starts throwing random thoughts usually trauma of other people being abusive to me and I did nothing at that time. There are times I told my brain to shut up because I need peace to focus. I'm creative but also destructive I channel this through video games such as rpgs where you get destroy enemies. Negative thoughts become worse when I don't get enough sleep, I feel like dying many times over.
Wow. This is incredible. Those intrusive thoughts will make you want to jump out of your skin for sheer shock of even having that thought. Oftentimes I got freightened when a thought would pop up again on a different occasion. This is a phenomenal video and I would hope that anyone who suffers from unwanted thoughts could see this.....God bless you Dr. Scott for all your knowledge and sharing
Dr. Scott, I have been watching a lot of your videos for the past month and all of your content is amazing. I came across this one because I have been struggling with the intrusive thoughts I had two days ago at a football game. My alma mater was playing, I was surrounded by friends I hadn't seen in years, and while I had fun, I couldn't stop thinking about all of the problems in my life, all of the unrealized dreams and goals and anxiety about the future
Thank you for this topic. I can now stop beating myself up for the intrusive thoughts!!! I have had therapy too many years not to have learned this 😢❤❤❤❤
Reassurance is always helpful. Knowing others go through the same things as we do, and that it's ok to talk about it. Not talk about ugly details, no! But that it's the the imperfect human condition we're all experiencing. Thank you Had to re- subscribe to your channel😦
You are a true original, and talk about things that no one else can even formulate. Please keep up your good work. Its helping everybody, either a little or a lot. Thank you.
This is definitely an important message. In the past, I thought there must be something wrong with me. I do still have intrusive thoughts based on fears that have, and they"ve interfered with certain aspects of my life, like going out anywhere alone. Thank goodness I don’t watch those other videos. Appreciate it, Dr. Scott. 😊
Scott, I’m not surprised you are plagued with intrusive thoughts when most of your days are taken up with listening to other’s. How do you switch off? Surely you must feel the need to unburden and be told that you are not to blame for what you think. I would like to feel that perhaps presenting these videos gives you some sort of comfort both to voice your feelings and remind yourself that you are not alone in your musings. For what it’s worth, from someone miles away in England and a total stranger, I would say that you are a very well adjusted man albeit still a little vulnerable. You have a special gift of communication and knowing exactly the right things to say backed up by a wealth of knowledge and personal experience of how our minds work. I am so pleased for you that you can now ‘live your dream’ in your own practice. You have secured your family’s future through personal heartache and dogged determination. I won’t wish you luck with your endeavour because you don’t need it and ‘luck’ has not been a part of your success - it all came from you never giving up - you are an inspiration to us all. I have somewhat drifted away from your video. From about when she was 80 (she was 95 when I lost her) I had constant anxiety of what it would mean to me when she died. Was that the result of intrusive thoughts? And what is my despair now that she has gone and I can’t cope with the reality. Grief, obviously, anxiety, certainly. Will I ever get over it - I’m 72 with health issues so I probably won’t live long enough (hopefully). Suicidal ideation, strongly. The final straw was losing my 19 year old hugely loved and needed cat 6 weeks ago. I now live alone and no one needs me anymore. My thoughts now are focussed on MY death and they are not random nor will they go away. Probably my psychiatrist was right - I AM beyond help. I’m not just saying this but quite sincerely having you to watch every night is my only solace right now. Somehow you make me feel loved and enveloped in a big hug. Of course it’s all in my imagination but if I can focus on you perhaps my wayward thoughts and fears might give me some measure of peace. I’m not crying for the moon, I just want to feel I still belong to this world since it is all there is - good and bad. Thank you to anyone who got this far I guess I need a safe outlet so write too much. Especially you, Scott, for taking the time to make this channel what it is❤
Hi Julie, your psychiatrist is Wrong! How dare he, or she. I lost my beloved 24 year old cat and was so devastated that I was sober and went out and drank. I am sober again, thank God. Listen Julie, there is a lost cat at a shelter who needs you and is waiting for you. Please go and let me know. I love you.
Thank you so much for this video. For years since I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I always thought that I was a monster for having the thoughts I did. The thoughts I’ve had in the past scared me sh*tless. Love what you said at the end: “your intrusive thoughts do not say anything about who you are as a person, other than what freaks you out.” That really hit home for me and I can try and not beat myself up for having these thoughts when they do happen. ❤
Great video! Dr. Scott had to be brave to do it, cause not everybody talks about these things. I'd say there is probably a 3rd or more types of subconscious thoughts: there are ones that are not impulsive, neither intrusive, but straight up stupid (silly, don't make any sense, or sometimes even funny), and not neccesarily point out to something criminal, or a deep desire of any sort, but just "clowning" thoughts. You ever have those?
This is really comforting. I thankfully don't have a ton of intrusive thoughts, but the days in which I do experience them really do "leave a bad taste in my brain". Love that way to describe it by the way lol. I remember the first time I had a truly terrible, disturbing intrusive thought, I wasn't even 10. It was insanely violent, and it involved someone I love very much. It really took me by surprise and I felt like a monster. I was horrified that I would ever even think of such a thing, and the more I tried to shove that thought away and back to whatever hell it came from, the louder it was. I cried pretty hard and my family never knew the real reason why. It never helps that I have ADHD (and the depression and anxiety are pretty much a given on this channel), because my brain is wired to take whatever train of thought I have and branch off into several directions based off of it, whether I like it or not. So I can't NOT run with an idea if that's what my brain is focused on. Therefore, it's way too easy for me to spiral very quickly on disturbing thought processes. This is why I love psychology. It is an immense relief to know why I think, feel, and act the way I do. And when I know that, I can be much more effective and intentional about what I want myself and my life to look like. I'm happy to know that my intrusive thoughts don't make me a bad person, and I wish I could tell the scared child in my past what I know right now. (And I'm also one of those people in the comments going off on others about mental health terminology. It just bothers me so much! And much of the time I'm just dismissed, saying I'm too sensitive, I care too much, it's just a joke, I don't know what I'm talking about and no one cares, etc. People on the internet are mean 😅 I recognize the fact that I'm a highly sensitive person and I care too much. My perspective is limited just like everyone else, and some offhand comment from a troll isn't worth my attention. But dang it, misinformation about mental health is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Thanks for reading my TH-cam comment novel haha)
One thing I wish you had addressed is intrusive thoughts that are the result of trauma, because they aren't things that necessarily freak us out, they're just really inappropriate thoughts, often violent, that come out of nowhere. We're not fixated on the topic or ruminating on it. We're just blindsided by something like "I wonder what would happen if I jammed this pencil in my eye?" You dont have a fear of people jabbing pencils in your eye. Your brain just took a bland experience (getting a pencil) and turned it into something self-harming. I've also known people with ADHD or OCD who have this type of intrusive thoughts as well. So it suggests one or both of those conditions make a person far more likely to have intrusive thoughts. Edit:missing word
I absolutely love your channel! You explain things so succinctly and I wish I had somebody like you as a child growing up. My life would have turned out so much better. I am going to send these videos to my 36 year old son and his wife, they have two little girls, and I want them to understand life better than I did growing up. Thank you for all these videos!
I have OCD. I get well.. difficult intrusive thoughts and images. But its just not the thought thats the problem.. its that they are charged with some kind of emotion be it anxiety, fear, anger etc. I might have unresolved powerful negative emotions due to early trauma. But i dont know whaf to do about it as my therapists have never wanted to go there i think they dont see it as a problem! :(
Hi Dr. Scott! Enriching as always! So I’m wondering which category one of my thoughts is in then. When driving I sometimes think and picture going off a cliff or such. Or when walking, stepping off the curb in front of a fast moving bus or heavy traffic. Yeah I am one of those people who knows it doesn’t matter if I wake up or not, and sometimes cry that I woke up. I’m 66 and been like this forever. But I don’t ‘think’ I really want to drive off a cliff or into a mountain or in front of a moving train (mainly because I’m afraid of MORE pain or even worse, SURVIVING and having an even worse existence). I’ve been told they’re Intrusive thoughts but I never knew about the different types. So where would these types of thoughts fall? Thank you Scott for everything you do. I’m so glad you’ll be doing YOUR own therapy full time now. You help people way more than the average therapist ❤
I used to have the same thoughts when driving. I would think, what if I just kept going straight at high speeds on the freeway instead of turning with the curve...from how I understand it, our thoughts like this would fall under intrusive thoughts.
Not Dr Scott, but I believe that’s what is called “l’appel du vide” which translates to call of the void. I think it’s our brain/instinct telling us to be careful, because it’s like we don’t actually want to do those things, but we could. It’s like affirming your urge to live. I’d be interested in seeing him do a TH-cam short clip on this phenomenon.
Thank you so much for this! I have OCD and suicidal ideation and my brain likes to rake through incredibly painful and scary intrusive thoughts, making me feel like an absolute abyss of a person. This reminder really really helps Again, just thank you for all your videos
This is amazing, I've always wondered about this. I was ashamed to admit even amongst my friends that I've had some pretty dark thoughts come up from time to time and I always wondered if I am a bad person, because said thoughts always scared me. Thank you for this, now I know they are NOT instincts, because instinctcts are good, intrusive thoughts are the disturbing ones and they are not real
My thing when I was a kid was that I was so terrified my house would catch on fire. Not sure where that came from, but every night for months I went to sleep convinced that a fire would break out during the night. It's weird to think of someone else having that same experience but kind of manifesting in a different way.
Thank you for clearing that up! Now I can correct people when they say ‘oh she/he killed their kids because of intrusive thoughts’. We probably all have intrusive thoughts but we dont impulsively act on them.
Thank you for making me feel better about this topic. I used to have that fear of someone breaking into the house too. Even now, at age 62, the thought crosses my mind as we're locking up and going to bed at night. From around ages 8-10 I also had a fear every time we left the house that we'd come home and find it burned to the ground.
Hi Dr Scott! Don’t know were to start. I’m in desperate need of help. I’ve tried everything… even trying to take my life. I just can’t take this anymore. Suffering with depression, anxiety, panic attacks mood swings you name it, I got it ! I loved the holidays however this year is so different. I’ve never really felt so different. I just look in the mirror but I don’t see myself, I’m not myself I can’t even explain it. And it’s not like I didn’t try to help myself. Nothing works no doctors no therapist no one. I don’t think I can be helped. I do listen to your videos everyday. And yes I feel some comfort because you know how I feel. All my life I’ve been suffering. Will it ever stop? Is this hell? Am I a bad person? What have I done to deserve this?
Hey you aren't alone. I can't stop mine traumatic things keep happening no medications work I can't drink smoke pot nothing. You aren't alone I'm suffering malfunctioning thought process too
Intrusive Thoughts Seem Like "Bizarre" Dreams But Without The Sleeping! You Still Can't Deal With Why You Have Them Or Where They Come From....I Think The Brain Just Never Really Forgets A Piece Of Information It Takes In & Just Keeps Trying To Make Sense Of It- To Make It Fit Like A Puzzle Piece...But It's OK If It Doesn't - Or If It's Bizarre...But I Think There Is Value In Getting To The "Bottom" Of Repetitive Fears!
Another very good “session”. I always learn from you, Dr. Scott! Leaves on a stream….I remember learning that the intrusive thoughts are a symptom of anxiety, which underlies OCD. Once I learned this it helped me understand it was just my anxiety talking, especially if disturbed by them. Everyone has bizarre thoughts but the anxious have a tendency to worry about them, which makes them stick around longer. It also helps to know that if the thoughts bother you, it’s not something you really want to happen.
Thank you. I’m so relieved my intrusive thoughts are just that. I never knew where they came from and what they meant before. I’m not a religious person but recently I’ve comforted myself in the middle of the night by repeating “god and me, me and god” when they attack. Maybe it’s like counting sheep. I just hope I remember to use my new tool 😔💐🙏🏻
Thank you sooo much for the videos you make! They are so helpful and soothing to me and help to slow my spinning thoughts and think a little more kind of myself. 💭 Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪 wish you all the best!
I hate how easy it is for intrusive thoughts to ruin my mood in just a second. Like, sometimes I feel really well and in peace but then the most disgusting thoughts come to my mind and I get so frustrated because I can't get rid of them. Sometimes thinking really hard about something else works but then I get exhausted from thinking so much. It's was a bit easier to forget when it was an image, but forgetting words or ideas is impossible. The worst is that the one that bothers me the most is something other people find funny for some reason, and they use it way too much in memes or even video thumbnails too, so it's really hard to avoid.
Dear Sir, .... Excellent. Precise and solid insight. Am believe, .... Every encounter with life challenges adds wisdom and value to our character, ... as it gradually develops. An embodied character is an outcome of a discussion between the mind, soul and 💜. As a Muslim, ... having good principles motivates a person to steer clear of anything that can paint a negative light. Integrity guards and protects a soul from evil that cause devastation. Smile! ... It's free therapy ...
Dr E., the title to this video is “what to do with disturbing thoughts”… thank you for defining and differentiating the types of thoughts but what to do with them?!
Thanks for explaining this distinction between intrusive impulses and intrusive thoughts, BUT: what do we DO with them then (to repeat the question posed in the title of this video)?
I think of them like mosquitos, so I swat them away - nope, get outta here! If its bad, I have some Bible verses and affirmations I repeat, or play favorite, cheerful songs I can sing along with. Prayer is very helpful. ❤️🙏❤️
@@judymiller5154Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
When I was a teenager I had violent intrusive thoughts about hurting myself. Its was very visual and they always scared. I can still have violent intrusive thoughts but every once in a while.
I really appreciate this detailed information now I know that I am not that kind of person 😢 I always feel disgusted, disturb and nasty about having those intrusive thoughts. I'm just being diagnosed having depression and bipolar disorder last october when I consulted by psychiatrist. She can't give me a medication for a time being because it's been long time that I have been experiencing some depression episodes.
I guess that's why it's called "impulse buying". Because I desire that thing. I want to have it and I just... bought it. If it is "intrusive buying", it's like thinking how effed up it is to just casually buy something from the dark web.
I suffer from intrusive thoughts. Mostly of horrible things happening to me, my daughter or grandkids. They can make cry they are so bad. I have horrible nightmares, haunting dreams, and have had these my whole life. I hate it! How can I at least stop the nightmares? If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear it.
Ya sometimes, i wouldn't ever had said it. But have these terrible horrific thoughts of something happening to my grandchild and my daughter ect. Glad i know im not morbid or as crazy as i thought
Over time, if you don’t engage with them they decay to some degree. When you panic about them you are inadvertently treating them as important which strengthens them
@@DrScottEilers thank you so much for your reply. My anxiety is off the charts these days---loads of intrusive thoughts. I wasn't like this when I was younger
why it's not acceptable to share our disturbing (antisocial) thoughts is society protecting it's collective self-identity by punishing noticing the truth about the effect our modern lifestyle has on the human animal.
Hey Dr. Scott, I don’t know if you can tell where your commenters live but if anybody lives in Humboldt County California near Arcata I know that a friendship would help me a whole lot and I would like to be a friend to someone as well. Maybe you could even hook enough of us up that we could have a friend network and a support group if we needed it
That was great. Thankyou. What do you recommend se do when these intrusive thoughts do occur. How do you stop thinking about them. Because, because theyre shocking they tend to stick around longer. Like, i just woke from a nightmare, should i address it or try to think about fun stuff?.
I hope u find a way to possibly do face chats or just leave a message or something like that , remotely. I would trust u with my info. And the world will beat a path to your door. Not that u need it. You're gonna be phenomenal
Not sure if this goes with this video but I have intrusive thoughts of people abusing unwanted animals. I’m becoming obsessed with the abandoned barn cats. I have my own indoor cats and a dog but I spend every penny I have on them. I lost my job and there isn’t a big demand in my area for what I do and need to relocate but won’t bc of these cats. I feel they are unwanted and thrown out like me. I took a job making $25,000 less a year bc I can’t let them starve and there’s no help from shelters. I cry over them constantly that I think I’m losing my mind. I’m crying now. I just constantly think of the horrible death waiting for them and it will be my fault if I leave but I can’t afford this much longer. There’s something wrong with me.
Well but what about the times when you are angry, and imagine some violent acts of rage and revenge? I mean they are still scary, but those ideas and thoughts certainly come from the impulse to defend yourself in a situation of helpless anger. I don’t see that beeing intrusive thoughts, as you are actively imagining acts that promise satisfaction and relief. I mean when im in rage about some dictator invading a country and killing thousands of innocents….
Thoughts be like what if i beat someone,what if i didn't control my anger,what if i screamed,what if i end my life without being aware what if i harm others ughhhh ok therapy but they still here
Intrusive thoughts seem to be part of the ego. The monkey on my back chattering about really dark cold acts towards people who truly love me and I love back. I shine a mental light on it and say to myself “that’s not the real me “ I’m not a cold hearted maniac! Intrusive thoughts have potential to spoil your day if you let them carry on too long.
I feel you... Don't know what to believe anymore but this Bible verse comes to mind Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Please help me😢 I have had intrusive thoughts for a long time. Sometimes it feels like a constant broken record in my mind and then I will have a short period of time that I get a break from them. The past couple of days have been really bad. When I try to fall asleep to meditation or stories to fall asleep to , it is not working at all. I woke up this morning, went to my phone with this on my mind and for some reason went straight to your channel and saw this topic! My thoughts started after my Son passed away and they were very mean thoughts about people that I don't even know but hurt very much to think of , but the thoughts kept popping up....now, I am having mean thoughts about my son who passed😢 I can not express how these thoughts hurt me to the core of who I am and I feel like my brain is trying to block him afraid that this will happen if I'm thinking of a happy memory😢. If anyone out there can relate or try to let me know what helps you, I would be very grateful.....Thank you so much for bringing up this topic.
I just needed to add, that intrusive thoughts have happened on and off since I was a kid, not just after my Son passed. The thoughts are just really bad now and a lot more consistent...
Hmm...I don't think it's worth drawing a distinction between impulsive and intrusive thoughts. They may come from different regions of the subconscious. But impulsive desires can be intrusive thoughts too. They don't have to represent anything you are aware of desiring. And they can cause just as much mental distress. Because you're trying to figure out why you're having them and what they mean about you. Neither impulsive nor intrusive thoughts hold innate meaning. Both have to be assigned meaning. So I have to decide this impulse was worth paying attention to. Or Was it a blip that I forget all about a couple seconds later. Or do I reject it outright because it's an old behavior that's no longer part of how I conduct myself. Just a remnant of a memory.
For me it's more about Proception and Less about Embarrassment. Let's just say I have a sudden Disturbing thought of Kicking A Dog To Death or whatever. And I've told you about it would you not only see me Deferentially but more importantly would that kind of thought land me in a Mental Institute or even Prison of some kind? As thoughts of Kicking A Dog to Death is Not a Normal Thought. But anyways I guess it's a lot easier hiding those types of thoughts and any other kinds of Subconscious as an adult if you are already use to it. Due to you being too Scared to Express both those and Regular Conscious Thoughts as a kid for one reason or another. IMO.
This guy is one in a million. He has a natural gift for conveying positivity in a way I've never known before. It's almost as if he's speaking to you alone. It's no wonder his videos are so popular.
Love from London.
Thank you so much ❤️
I've had intrusive thoughts for many years- they get worse under stress, they torment me day and night. They are one of the leading reasons for my depression. (among other reasons)
Only time they stop is if I am completely busy, work until exhaustion, or asleep.
My intrusive thoughts are *so* unbearable disturbing at times - I have to consciously push them back in my head, until they kind of becomes static or white noise.
It takes so much energy when my brain is at its worst!
I can't see how these thoughts would come from things I have seen or heard, since they can be worse than anything I ever have heard of...
Nice to know that I'm not as messed up as I sometimes feel.
Thank you!
Kalmekris (or is it Kallmekris) has a channel where she often makes videos about "If I said my intrusive thoughts out loud" and they are so relatable while also funny. You might find them helpful
I think about de@th, in general, every single day. It's not about harming anyone. I am the most morbid person I know. I think about when and how several times a day. I watch videos about it. It has consumed me for a few years. I would say that it's been one very long existential crisis. My brain is like a broken record, so it constantly skips over the worst-case scenarios. It makes me sad because I feel like a completely crazy person.
I get that.
when it happens, I ask Death "is this the way I'll meet my end" and if I don't get a chill (like someone walking over my grave as they say), i chalk my thought to paranoia.
maybe your subconscious is pushing thoughts of your mortality at you because you aren't living the way that pleases you, personally and so "the clock is ticking" is you pushing you the change things for the better for yourself?
❤️🩹
@john-ic5pz I have boatloads of medical problems that started when I was a child. I'm 49, so I've lasted about 35 years longer than what some docs thought. Both my parents abandoned me when I was a toddler. I am thankful for all I have now, but I still live this weird morbid life. I guess I feel like I managed to avoid the young death so I'm going to pay eventually. My anxiety and depression is crazy as well.
Thank you I needed this. I have thoughts of losing a loved one. When I was small I obsessed on the fear something would happen to my dad who was a fire fighter or my mom who was held up by gun point at work. Now its my husband or children and my parents of course mom has pneumonia my little guy has been sick and my mind goes straight to the worst case scenario to the point im extremely anxious and sorta depressed. I been watching your videos and trying to change my thought patterns. I would love t9 see more like this
I have su1cd1al Ideation and intrusive thoughts from OCD and think of it all the time too. It's like my brain is looking for ways to escape itself. The hardest times is when the ideas and old/bad "voices" seem to make sense.
Being on antidepressants made negative and sucidal ideation worse. When I'm doing creative projects the inner critic starts throwing random thoughts usually trauma of other people being abusive to me and I did nothing at that time. There are times I told my brain to shut up because I need peace to focus. I'm creative but also destructive I channel this through video games such as rpgs where you get destroy enemies. Negative thoughts become worse when I don't get enough sleep, I feel like dying many times over.
Wow. This is incredible. Those intrusive thoughts will make you want to jump out of your skin for sheer shock of even having that thought. Oftentimes I got freightened when a thought would pop up again on a different occasion. This is a phenomenal video and I would hope that anyone who suffers from unwanted thoughts could see this.....God bless you Dr. Scott for all your knowledge and sharing
Starting this channel has to be one of the best things you will ever do in life, Dr. Eilers. Thank you!
Wish I could give this comment a million likes! 🌟
Thank you. Been having someone target me at work and my mind has been going everywhere, even more than normal. This has grounded me.
Dr. Scott, I have been watching a lot of your videos for the past month and all of your content is amazing. I came across this one because I have been struggling with the intrusive thoughts I had two days ago at a football game. My alma mater was playing, I was surrounded by friends I hadn't seen in years, and while I had fun, I couldn't stop thinking about all of the problems in my life, all of the unrealized dreams and goals and anxiety about the future
Thank you for this topic. I can now stop beating myself up for the intrusive thoughts!!! I have had therapy too many years not to have learned this 😢❤❤❤❤
Me too!
Reassurance is always helpful. Knowing others go through the same things as we do, and that it's ok to talk about it. Not talk about ugly details, no! But that it's the the imperfect human condition we're all experiencing. Thank you
Had to re- subscribe to your channel😦
You are a true original, and talk about things that no one else can even formulate.
Please keep up your good work. Its helping everybody, either a little or a lot. Thank you.
This is definitely an important message. In the past, I thought there must be something wrong with me. I do still have intrusive thoughts based on fears that have, and they"ve interfered with certain aspects of my life, like going out anywhere alone. Thank goodness I don’t watch those other videos. Appreciate it, Dr. Scott. 😊
Scott, I’m not surprised you are plagued with intrusive thoughts when most of your days are taken up with listening to other’s. How do you switch off? Surely you must feel the need to unburden and be told that you are not to blame for what you think. I would like to feel that perhaps presenting these videos gives you some sort of comfort both to voice your feelings and remind yourself that you are not alone in your musings. For what it’s worth, from someone miles away in England and a total stranger, I would say that you are a very well adjusted man albeit still a little vulnerable. You have a special gift of communication and knowing exactly the right things to say backed up by a wealth of knowledge and personal experience of how our minds work. I am so pleased for you that you can now ‘live your dream’ in your own practice. You have secured your family’s future through personal heartache and dogged determination. I won’t wish you luck with your endeavour because you don’t need it and ‘luck’ has not been a part of your success - it all came from you never giving up - you are an inspiration to us all.
I have somewhat drifted away from your video. From about when she was 80 (she was 95 when I lost her) I had constant anxiety of what it would mean to me when she died. Was that the result of intrusive thoughts? And what is my despair now that she has gone and I can’t cope with the reality. Grief, obviously, anxiety, certainly. Will I ever get over it - I’m 72 with health issues so I probably won’t live long enough (hopefully). Suicidal ideation, strongly. The final straw was losing my 19 year old hugely loved and needed cat 6 weeks ago. I now live alone and no one needs me anymore. My thoughts now are focussed on MY death and they are not random nor will they go away. Probably my psychiatrist was right - I AM beyond help. I’m not just saying this but quite sincerely having you to watch every night is my only solace right now. Somehow you make me feel loved and enveloped in a big hug. Of course it’s all in my imagination but if I can focus on you perhaps my wayward thoughts and fears might give me some measure of peace. I’m not crying for the moon, I just want to feel I still belong to this world since it is all there is - good and bad.
Thank you to anyone who got this far I guess I need a safe outlet so write too much. Especially you, Scott, for taking the time to make this channel what it is❤
Hi Julie, your psychiatrist is Wrong! How dare he, or she.
I lost my beloved 24 year old cat and was so devastated that I was sober and went out and drank. I am sober again, thank God.
Listen Julie, there is a lost cat at a shelter who needs you and is waiting for you.
Please go and let me know.
I love you.
Thank you so much for this video. For years since I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I always thought that I was a monster for having the thoughts I did. The thoughts I’ve had in the past scared me sh*tless.
Love what you said at the end: “your intrusive thoughts do not say anything about who you are as a person, other than what freaks you out.”
That really hit home for me and I can try and not beat myself up for having these thoughts when they do happen. ❤
Seriously, you are changing lives, especially mine. Thank you!
Great video! Dr. Scott had to be brave to do it, cause not everybody talks about these things. I'd say there is probably a 3rd or more types of subconscious thoughts: there are ones that are not impulsive, neither intrusive, but straight up stupid (silly, don't make any sense, or sometimes even funny), and not neccesarily point out to something criminal, or a deep desire of any sort, but just "clowning" thoughts. You ever have those?
It’s so nice to feel like someone understands me. Thank you for your videos 😊
This is really comforting. I thankfully don't have a ton of intrusive thoughts, but the days in which I do experience them really do "leave a bad taste in my brain". Love that way to describe it by the way lol. I remember the first time I had a truly terrible, disturbing intrusive thought, I wasn't even 10. It was insanely violent, and it involved someone I love very much. It really took me by surprise and I felt like a monster. I was horrified that I would ever even think of such a thing, and the more I tried to shove that thought away and back to whatever hell it came from, the louder it was. I cried pretty hard and my family never knew the real reason why.
It never helps that I have ADHD (and the depression and anxiety are pretty much a given on this channel), because my brain is wired to take whatever train of thought I have and branch off into several directions based off of it, whether I like it or not. So I can't NOT run with an idea if that's what my brain is focused on. Therefore, it's way too easy for me to spiral very quickly on disturbing thought processes.
This is why I love psychology. It is an immense relief to know why I think, feel, and act the way I do. And when I know that, I can be much more effective and intentional about what I want myself and my life to look like. I'm happy to know that my intrusive thoughts don't make me a bad person, and I wish I could tell the scared child in my past what I know right now.
(And I'm also one of those people in the comments going off on others about mental health terminology. It just bothers me so much! And much of the time I'm just dismissed, saying I'm too sensitive, I care too much, it's just a joke, I don't know what I'm talking about and no one cares, etc. People on the internet are mean 😅 I recognize the fact that I'm a highly sensitive person and I care too much. My perspective is limited just like everyone else, and some offhand comment from a troll isn't worth my attention. But dang it, misinformation about mental health is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Thanks for reading my TH-cam comment novel haha)
One thing I wish you had addressed is intrusive thoughts that are the result of trauma, because they aren't things that necessarily freak us out, they're just really inappropriate thoughts, often violent, that come out of nowhere.
We're not fixated on the topic or ruminating on it. We're just blindsided by something like "I wonder what would happen if I jammed this pencil in my eye?" You dont have a fear of people jabbing pencils in your eye. Your brain just took a bland experience (getting a pencil) and turned it into something self-harming. I've also known people with ADHD or OCD who have this type of intrusive thoughts as well. So it suggests one or both of those conditions make a person far more likely to have intrusive thoughts.
Edit:missing word
I absolutely love your channel! You explain things so succinctly and I wish I had somebody like you as a child growing up. My life would have turned out so much better. I am going to send these videos to my 36 year old son and his wife, they have two little girls, and I want them to understand life better than I did growing up. Thank you for all these videos!
Thank you for being here for us Dr. Scott. The world feels less alone with you here with me 🖤
Great job Dr E! I’ve been pulling up your channel whenever I need a little boost of help - Ty for what you do
I have OCD. I get well.. difficult intrusive thoughts and images. But its just not the thought thats the problem.. its that they are charged with some kind of emotion be it anxiety, fear, anger etc. I might have unresolved powerful negative emotions due to early trauma. But i dont know whaf to do about it as my therapists have never wanted to go there i think they dont see it as a problem! :(
Hi Dr. Scott! Enriching as always! So I’m wondering which category one of my thoughts is in then. When driving I sometimes think and picture going off a cliff or such. Or when walking, stepping off the curb in front of a fast moving bus or heavy traffic. Yeah I am one of those people who knows it doesn’t matter if I wake up or not, and sometimes cry that I woke up. I’m 66 and been like this forever. But I don’t ‘think’ I really want to drive off a cliff or into a mountain or in front of a moving train (mainly because I’m afraid of MORE pain or even worse, SURVIVING and having an even worse existence). I’ve been told they’re Intrusive thoughts but I never knew about the different types. So where would these types of thoughts fall? Thank you Scott for everything you do. I’m so glad you’ll be doing YOUR own therapy full time now. You help people way more than the average therapist ❤
I used to have the same thoughts when driving. I would think, what if I just kept going straight at high speeds on the freeway instead of turning with the curve...from how I understand it, our thoughts like this would fall under intrusive thoughts.
Not Dr Scott, but I believe that’s what is called “l’appel du vide” which translates to call of the void. I think it’s our brain/instinct telling us to be careful, because it’s like we don’t actually want to do those things, but we could. It’s like affirming your urge to live.
I’d be interested in seeing him do a TH-cam short clip on this phenomenon.
Thank you so much for this! I have OCD and suicidal ideation and my brain likes to rake through incredibly painful and scary intrusive thoughts, making me feel like an absolute abyss of a person. This reminder really really helps
Again, just thank you for all your videos
Yes sir! That’s me too. Thanks for helping me know I’m not the “only one”!
This is amazing, I've always wondered about this. I was ashamed to admit even amongst my friends that I've had some pretty dark thoughts come up from time to time and I always wondered if I am a bad person, because said thoughts always scared me. Thank you for this, now I know they are NOT instincts, because instinctcts are good, intrusive thoughts are the disturbing ones and they are not real
This content is an awesome example of why you will eventually get 1M subscribers.
Thank you for the clarification! I always thought they were just different words for the same thing. It’s a significant distinction. Thank you!
My thing when I was a kid was that I was so terrified my house would catch on fire. Not sure where that came from, but every night for months I went to sleep convinced that a fire would break out during the night. It's weird to think of someone else having that same experience but kind of manifesting in a different way.
Thank you for clearing that up! Now I can correct people when they say ‘oh she/he killed their kids because of intrusive thoughts’. We probably all have intrusive thoughts but we dont impulsively act on them.
Thank you for making me feel better about this topic. I used to have that fear of someone breaking into the house too. Even now, at age 62, the thought crosses my mind as we're locking up and going to bed at night. From around ages 8-10 I also had a fear every time we left the house that we'd come home and find it burned to the ground.
Hi Dr Scott! Don’t know were to start. I’m in desperate need of help.
I’ve tried everything… even trying to take my life. I just can’t take this anymore. Suffering with depression, anxiety, panic attacks mood swings you name it, I got it !
I loved the holidays however this year is so different. I’ve never really felt so different. I just look in the mirror but I don’t see myself, I’m not myself I can’t even explain it. And it’s not like I didn’t try to help myself. Nothing works no doctors no therapist no one. I don’t think I can be helped. I do listen to your videos everyday. And yes I feel some comfort because you know how I feel. All my life I’ve been suffering.
Will it ever stop? Is this hell? Am I a bad person? What have I done to deserve this?
Hey you aren't alone. I can't stop mine traumatic things keep happening no medications work I can't drink smoke pot nothing. You aren't alone I'm suffering malfunctioning thought process too
Thank you for the clarification. I was thinking sometime about myself, that I was at least weird ( if not a monster).
Intrusive Thoughts Seem Like "Bizarre" Dreams But Without The Sleeping! You Still Can't Deal With Why You Have Them Or Where They Come From....I Think The Brain Just Never Really Forgets A Piece Of Information It Takes In & Just Keeps Trying To Make Sense Of It- To Make It Fit Like A Puzzle Piece...But It's OK If It Doesn't - Or If It's Bizarre...But I Think There Is Value In Getting To The "Bottom" Of Repetitive Fears!
Another very good “session”. I always learn from you, Dr. Scott! Leaves on a stream….I remember learning that the intrusive thoughts are a symptom of anxiety, which underlies OCD. Once I learned this it helped me understand it was just my anxiety talking, especially if disturbed by them. Everyone has bizarre thoughts but the anxious have a tendency to worry about them, which makes them stick around longer.
It also helps to know that if the thoughts bother you, it’s not something you really want to happen.
Thank you so much. Needed this badly today.
Thank you. I’m so relieved my intrusive thoughts are just that. I never knew where they came from and what they meant before. I’m not a religious person but recently I’ve comforted myself in the middle of the night by repeating “god and me, me and god” when they attack. Maybe it’s like counting sheep. I just hope I remember to use my new tool 😔💐🙏🏻
Thank you sooo much for the videos you make! They are so helpful and soothing to me and help to slow my spinning thoughts and think a little more kind of myself. 💭 Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪 wish you all the best!
I hate how easy it is for intrusive thoughts to ruin my mood in just a second. Like, sometimes I feel really well and in peace but then the most disgusting thoughts come to my mind and I get so frustrated because I can't get rid of them. Sometimes thinking really hard about something else works but then I get exhausted from thinking so much.
It's was a bit easier to forget when it was an image, but forgetting words or ideas is impossible. The worst is that the one that bothers me the most is something other people find funny for some reason, and they use it way too much in memes or even video thumbnails too, so it's really hard to avoid.
This was an extremely helpful video with perfect timing. Thank you so much :)
Dear Sir, .... Excellent. Precise and solid insight. Am believe, .... Every encounter with life challenges adds wisdom and value to our character, ... as it gradually develops. An embodied character is an outcome of a discussion between the mind, soul and 💜. As a Muslim, ... having good principles motivates a person to steer clear of anything that can paint a negative light. Integrity guards and protects a soul from evil that cause devastation. Smile! ... It's free therapy ...
Dr E., the title to this video is “what to do with disturbing thoughts”… thank you for defining and differentiating the types of thoughts but what to do with them?!
I aso can’t stop thinking about weather I said something to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m always trying to forget mine !!❤
Your thoughts may not define you, but one’s actions sure do…
Wow, this was so helpful and explained a lot about my experience. It all makes sense now. Thank you!
Thank you thank you, Scott. This hit the spot for me today, big time!!
Thank you Dr. Very helpful video. I watch your videos like everyday now. ❤
Thanks for explaining this distinction between intrusive impulses and intrusive thoughts, BUT: what do we DO with them then (to repeat the question posed in the title of this video)?
I think of them like mosquitos, so I swat them away - nope, get outta here! If its bad, I have some Bible verses and affirmations I repeat, or play favorite, cheerful songs I can sing along with. Prayer is very helpful. ❤️🙏❤️
@@judymiller5154Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Thank you for all your videos. They're so informative and helpful
This video was truly refreshing to my brain .. thank you 🙂
When I was a teenager I had violent intrusive thoughts about hurting myself. Its was very visual and they always scared. I can still have violent intrusive thoughts but every once in a while.
I really appreciate this detailed information now I know that I am not that kind of person 😢 I always feel disgusted, disturb and nasty about having those intrusive thoughts. I'm just being diagnosed having depression and bipolar disorder last october when I consulted by psychiatrist. She can't give me a medication for a time being because it's been long time that I have been experiencing some depression episodes.
I found that meditation is very helpful ... thoughts are not who you are ...
I guess that's why it's called "impulse buying". Because I desire that thing. I want to have it and I just... bought it. If it is "intrusive buying", it's like thinking how effed up it is to just casually buy something from the dark web.
Thanks for clarifying. My self-worth isn't as far in the negatives now. 😆😅 You could've been a Psych teacher.
I suffer from intrusive thoughts. Mostly of horrible things happening to me, my daughter or grandkids. They can make cry they are so bad. I have horrible nightmares, haunting dreams, and have had these my whole life. I hate it! How can I at least stop the nightmares? If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear it.
Any chance you have PTSD? I do, and you just described me 🙏
Ya sometimes, i wouldn't ever had said it. But have these terrible horrific thoughts of something happening to my grandchild and my daughter ect. Glad i know im not morbid or as crazy as i thought
Thank you! I really needed to hear this video, however I didn't hear what to do with them. How do we overcome those thoughts?
The popularisation of a lot of analyst crap is responsible for so many people worrying about 'what this thought means about me'
Hi ! Make a video about how to get rid of intrusive thoughts and triggers. Please!
🌟Great Examples! Great tying the information together! You have Great skill in helping us understand our own Brains! 🌟 Thank You! 🌟
I beat myself up because I can't save all the children and animals in the world. It really hurts me that I am not able to stop their pain.
Wish I could implant all your knowledge in my brain! I’ll settle for one video at a time and try to remember your lessons.
But how do we get the thoughts out of our heads?? How do we stop thinking about them?
Over time, if you don’t engage with them they decay to some degree. When you panic about them you are inadvertently treating them as important which strengthens them
@@DrScottEilers thank you so much for your reply. My anxiety is off the charts these days---loads of intrusive thoughts. I wasn't like this when I was younger
Wish I could go back to innocence where I wasn't so self aware and self conscious thinking about everything and not really knowing anything.
Now I'm starting to wonder if all the people that has offended me have intrusive thoughts in their head that makes them offended
why it's not acceptable to share our disturbing (antisocial) thoughts is society protecting it's collective self-identity by punishing noticing the truth about the effect our modern lifestyle has on the human animal.
Hey Dr. Scott, I don’t know if you can tell where your commenters live but if anybody lives in Humboldt County California near Arcata I know that a friendship would help me a whole lot and I would like to be a friend to someone as well. Maybe you could even hook enough of us up that we could have a friend network and a support group if we needed it
That was great. Thankyou. What do you recommend se do when these intrusive thoughts do occur. How do you stop thinking about them. Because, because theyre shocking they tend to stick around longer. Like, i just woke from a nightmare, should i address it or try to think about fun stuff?.
i thought i was alone till i watched this video
I hope u find a way to possibly do face chats or just leave a message or something like that , remotely. I would trust u with my info. And the world will beat a path to your door. Not that u need it. You're gonna be phenomenal
Is there a name for a type of intrusive thought that is repetitive? Like it's a phrase that pops up over and over again?
Thank You! Already subbed :)
Hi @Dr Scott,I was wondering if you can see international clients via zoom?
Not sure if this goes with this video but I have intrusive thoughts of people abusing unwanted animals. I’m becoming obsessed with the abandoned barn cats. I have my own indoor cats and a dog but I spend every penny I have on them. I lost my job and there isn’t a big demand in my area for what I do and need to relocate but won’t bc of these cats. I feel they are unwanted and thrown out like me. I took a job making $25,000 less a year bc I can’t let them starve and there’s no help from shelters. I cry over them constantly that I think I’m losing my mind. I’m crying now. I just constantly think of the horrible death waiting for them and it will be my fault if I leave but I can’t afford this much longer. There’s something wrong with me.
I have more of impulsive thoughts and i really want to know more about it❤
Things that make ya go Hmmm❤
No I am just picking up the energy of others ! I don’t think ABOUTH suicidé , I almost always of dreaming of a job ! 😊❤💙💙‼️ 5:43
has anyone done a video on the hatred based psychology?
Well but what about the times when you are angry, and imagine some violent acts of rage and revenge? I mean they are still scary, but those ideas and thoughts certainly come from the impulse to defend yourself in a situation of helpless anger. I don’t see that beeing intrusive thoughts, as you are actively imagining acts that promise satisfaction and relief. I mean when im in rage about some dictator invading a country and killing thousands of innocents….
Thoughts be like what if i beat someone,what if i didn't control my anger,what if i screamed,what if i end my life without being aware what if i harm others ughhhh ok therapy but they still here
Intrusive thoughts seem to be part of the ego. The monkey on my back chattering about really dark cold acts towards people who truly love me and I love back. I shine a mental light on it and say to myself “that’s not the real me “ I’m not a cold hearted maniac!
Intrusive thoughts have potential to spoil your day if you let them carry on too long.
What about thoughts of cheating/other women? I (my soul) absolutely do not want to do those things or think about them, but my body does.
I feel you... Don't know what to believe anymore but this Bible verse comes to mind Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Please help me😢 I have had intrusive thoughts for a long time. Sometimes it feels like a constant broken record in my mind and then I will have a short period of time that I get a break from them. The past couple of days have been really bad. When I try to fall asleep to meditation or stories to fall asleep to , it is not working at all. I woke up this morning, went to my phone with this on my mind and for some reason went straight to your channel and saw this topic! My thoughts started after my Son passed away and they were very mean thoughts about people that I don't even know but hurt very much to think of , but the thoughts kept popping up....now, I am having mean thoughts about my son who passed😢 I can not express how these thoughts hurt me to the core of who I am and I feel like my brain is trying to block him afraid that this will happen if I'm thinking of a happy memory😢. If anyone out there can relate or try to let me know what helps you, I would be very grateful.....Thank you so much for bringing up this topic.
I just needed to add, that intrusive thoughts have happened on and off since I was a kid, not just after my Son passed. The thoughts are just really bad now and a lot more consistent...
Hmm...I don't think it's worth drawing a distinction between impulsive and intrusive thoughts.
They may come from different regions of the subconscious.
But impulsive desires can be intrusive thoughts too.
They don't have to represent anything you are aware of desiring. And they can cause just as much mental distress.
Because you're trying to figure out why you're having them and what they mean about you.
Neither impulsive nor intrusive thoughts hold innate meaning.
Both have to be assigned meaning.
So I have to decide this impulse was worth paying attention to.
Or
Was it a blip that I forget all about a couple seconds later.
Or do I reject it outright because it's an old behavior that's no longer part of how I conduct myself. Just a remnant of a memory.
Is there any way I can ask you a question regarding this plz :)
When I was a kid I worried about home invasion all the time, at least now I know I'm not alone 😂
Hello, I can identify so much with you. Can you make a video on the topic of Limerence? Thanks I’m advance
For me it's more about Proception and Less about Embarrassment. Let's just say I have a sudden Disturbing thought of Kicking A Dog To Death or whatever. And I've told you about it would you not only see me Deferentially but more importantly would that kind of thought land me in a Mental Institute or even Prison of some kind? As thoughts of Kicking A Dog to Death is Not a Normal Thought. But anyways I guess it's a lot easier hiding those types of thoughts and any other kinds of Subconscious as an adult if you are already use to it. Due to you being too Scared to Express both those and Regular Conscious Thoughts as a kid for one reason or another. IMO.
Sorry, I was talking about my mum but kept using ‘she’. I never get anything right however hard I try.
If your intrusive thoughts become implusive thoughts...you better get scared!!
Well, thanks for the definitions, but you never actually said what to do with the disturbing thoughts.
Youve done alot more than make a dent in it. You're to modest.
Also, mind control is real - ask the WEF/Yuval Harari.
What's that?
The Italians already know the porn industry and "enhancement" surgeons are watching carefully.
What?
As an Italian, I have no clue what are you talking about!
I've just liked this and l am the number 666...now l can't stop thinking of Satan.
So, how do we redirect when we have intrusive thoughts?