Intrusive thoughts are a reality for many people, especially those with anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Unfortunately, many people still think these thoughts are just quirky, funny impulses, but in fact, they can be extremely upsetting and debilitating. A trend on TikTok is concerned about causing fear in people who may have intrusive thoughts.
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See why this trend is extremely dangerous for people:
TikTok trends like the #intrusivethoughts hashtag can make people with OCD even more fearful that they are actually acting on their intrusive thoughts and/or that they are a person dangerous.
The idea of the trend is that when you have a random intrusive thought out of nowhere you go there and do it, for example, activating the alarm in an elevator for no reason or covering your face with chocolate syrup.
A therapist's opinion
Haley Ostrow, LCSW, a therapist specializing in anxiety therapy for adults, defines intrusive thoughts as unwanted repetitive thoughts, images, or impulses that may occur and are very distressing to the individual experiencing them. try it.
It is important to note that these thoughts are not exclusive to people with mental disorders. They are extremely common, and certain types of intrusive thoughts are more common than others.
1993 study
A 1993 study by NHS Oxford Health of 293 adults without a diagnosed mental disorder found that many people experienced different types of intrusive thoughts, ranging from “driving the car off the road” to “stabbing a family member family".
The difference between an occasional intrusive thought and the experience of someone with OCD struggling with intrusive thoughts is that, for someone with OCD, the intrusive thoughts can become repetitive and harrowing.
Many individuals who suffer from OCD feel shame and guilt over the content of their thoughts. intrusive and worried that their thoughts are negative about who they are and what their character. They fear that they will act on their thoughts or that their thoughts will come true.