Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts _ a CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts. ( PDFDrive )

32 Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts
calling her back. But then when I see her, I am always upset
with myself for having been angry at her because she really is a
wonderful person. Maybe I am really jealous of her— or maybe
I really am threatened by her because I am not as nice as she
is— because I keep having these thoughts when I am not actually
with her. Do you think I am deceiving myself? Maybe I should
not spend as much time with her? Or should I tell her when she
annoys me? But that would upset her…
Nonsensical Thoughts
The third type of intrusive thoughts are ones that seem nonsensical,
require rigorous mental checks when there doesn’t seem to any
reason to do so, or involve incessant doubting.
Losing-Your-Mind Thoughts
Some intrusive thoughts just seem utterly ridiculous as they
whoosh into the mind for no apparent reason. They often feel like
products of a mind on the edge of sanity. They are not.
Some thoughts are so bizarre, and I’m not even sure where they
come from. For instance, I will be on a train, and I will have a
thought that I will start licking the dirty passenger window. Or
when I clean my pet’s drinking water I have a thought that I will
drink the soiled water. These thoughts really bother me because
I feel an impulse or strong feeling like I am going to do them. It’s
like I am pushing myself not to react.
I broke a glass in the kitchen and cleaned it up. But now I am
having thoughts that shards of glass are everywhere. I know it is
ridiculous, but yesterday I threw out an unopened container of
pudding that has been in my fridge because I had the thought
there could be glass in it. I am losing it, aren’t I?
Sometimes for no reason while I am driving, I get the thought
that I might have hit someone and that person is lying dying in