Do you get intrusive, unwanted thoughts?

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I've heard that this has something to do with OCD, but I'd like a general perspective.

For as far back as I can remember, I've had a tendency to get sudden, intrusive thoughts that can be disturbing, inappropriate, or embarrassing. They increase as my stress/anxiety level increases. Sometimes they really upset me and distract me from reality. Often, I can't seem to control or prevent them. It's like someone else has just zapped horrible thoughts into my brain.

As I've become more self aware, I have really wanted to get to the bottom of this.
Do you experience anything like this? What causes it? How do you deal with it?

Yeah, I get them, but I find them amusing. Often it's a "where the hell did that come from, and why am I thinking it" thing, but it does amuse me for some reason. I rather like them.

Same here, it's quite funny and random!

What kind of thoughts do you mean, Acacia?

As far as I'm aware we all, not just aspies, but NTs too, experience them from time to time. (creative thoughts are a type of intrusive thought). However, you are correct, all thoughs with anxiety disorders have them, but to a degree and frequency unlike the rest of us. Your post does suggest a high degree of anxiety. I'm not an expert, but I think maybe speaking to a psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist might help. One of my friends was expirencing something similar to you and she wasn't diagnosed with an anxiety disorder as therapy seemed to really work for her.

That's classic OCD stuff but I did read in some of Schwartz's papers that it is not confined to OCD specifically and is indicative of neurological electrical signal timing problems in general.

I tend to get them while trying to sleep.

yes. just supports my multiple brains theory (as distinct from MPD) for many people on the spectrum. something to do with different wiring and different brain compartments.

at least it isn"t boring upstairs, acacia. that is a good thing.

kill...kill them all, they are on to you!

Yes but only if I'm really lacking sleep or good quality sleep. I stay away from all types of caffeine because of this. Also stimulating medications like allergy meds etc...

Not so much now, but I was plagued by this in varying degrees of severity when I was younger.

I have moderate OCD and I am getting nasty thoughts right now... I'm so depressed...

Same here. It's so depressing and exhausting, that I usually prefer to get out of bed and do something just to get rid of them.

But it also happens in social situations and they are the kind of crazy, ridiculous thoughts that would make you laugh when you shouldn't

I do, often. The amusing ones are usually quite amusing, and having them so frequently does prevent me from getting bored (though it's sometimes a bit of a challenge not bursting out laughing out of nowhere in public!). The unpleasant ones are quite often flashbacks of one type or another, either sad ones regarding the loss of people and animals I was close to, or anger-inducing ones that out of nowhere re-play like a videotape. The latter type of thoughts I get very frequently these days....don't know why, but they're extremely intrusive, and in the cases of two people in particular, are making it very difficult to be around them.

If they're thoughts of saying the worst possible thing in the given scenario, yes, I've had them quite a lot.

i get those kind of thoughts. it a pain .

Yes I get them too. Sensual, horrific, sad and painful thoughts. If I go to a therapist I will just be institutionalized or fed drugs.