Steps For Coping With Intrusive Thoughts

Steps for coping with Intrusive Thoughts

-Label these thoughts as "intrusive obsessive thoughts."
-Remind yourself that these thoughts are automatic and you can safely ignore them. They are misuse of your imagination
-Accept and allow the thoughts into your mind. Do not try to push them away.
-Breathe diaphragmatically until your anxiety starts to go down.
-Continue whatever you were doing prior to the intrusive thought.

Try Not To:
-Engage the thoughts in any way.
-Push the thoughts out of your mind.
-Try to figure out what your thoughts "mean."
-Convince yourself that you would never do what the thoughts are saying.
-Change your behavior so that you avoid the possibility of acting on your thoughts.

Try to:
-Label your anxiety level and watch it go up and down.
-Allow the thoughts to remain without hindrance. (They will go away on their own).
-Focus on managing your anxiety in the present. Diaphragmatic breathing is especially helpful.

This approach can be difficult to apply. But if you can keep applying it for just a few weeks, there is an excellent chance that you will begin to see a decrease in the number and intensity of your intrusive thoughts.