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

Recommendations

Info

CHAPTER 4Unwanted IntrusiveThoughts Q and ASo far we have talked about thoughts in general and describedthe varieties of unwanted intrusive thoughts. We have introducedyou to the way that Worried Voice and False Comfort strugglewith each other over thoughts, and how Wise Mind can offer away out of this struggle. Still, you— like most people— may havevery specific questions about issues that are particularly bothersome.And you may not be able to ask these questions of others as you areafraid of or ashamed of revealing these struggles. Here are straightforward,specific answers to the questions our patients most frequentlyask. Remember that anxiety loves ignorance, and the morefacts you know about stuck thoughts, the better equipped you willbe to deal with them. Some of these specific answers review topicswe have introduced in earlier chapters.Does thinking about hurting my children mean that “deep down” Iharbor anger and aggression?No. This idea was probably started by the old psychoanalytic beliefthat fearful thoughts are related to unconscious wishes. This notionwas quite popular in the 1950s and earlier, and there are plenty ofreferences about this in traditional psychoanalytic literature. Youmay have heard some variation of this idea, and maybe you havegrown to accept it as true. Perhaps a past therapist has implied thisto you.
64 Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive ThoughtsHowever, it is now clear that that there isn’t one iota of truth tothis. This idea is particularly disturbing because it has generated somuch misery and guilt in people who have absolutely no reason tofeel that way. Unfortunately, there are still a number of psychotherapistswho believe it to be true. There are therapists who may try tofocus on your wishes in order to uncover denied unconscious feelingsas a way to cure your intrusive thoughts. Worse still, some therapistserroneously believe that your thoughts are an indication thatyou might actually do something harmful to your children. So youare encouraged to understand and “come to terms” with yourthoughts, which actually make them even stickier!Remember that sticky thoughts are the opposite of wishes. Theybecome sticky and intrusive precisely because you reject them andfight with them. They are not pleasurable fantasies. They are notunconscious desires. They do not indicate truths about you thatneed to be explored.On the other hand, it is entirely normal to sometimes feel lovingfeelings and sometimes angry feelings toward your children, as wellas a full range of emotions that includes guilt, resentment, frustration,and pride. This is normal and part of the emotional life ofevery parent. Remember that we are talking about intrusive, bizarre,unwelcome thoughts and the horrified feelings that go with them.These are fundamentally different from actions you choose to make,the normal ebb and flow of emotions, and real- life behaviors.I have unwanted intrusive thoughts of hurting or sexually abusing children.Could I be a child molester or a secret pedophile?No. And let us be clear: we are not talking about people who are, infact, very angry and have a history of acting violently or abusivelywhen they are angry or intoxicated. We are also not talking aboutpeople who get pleasure out of imagining or having sexual contactwith children. Instead, we are talking about violent and sexualthoughts that make no sense to you, that seem alien and againstyour nature. They feel offensive and horrific, as well as frightening.They seem to come out of nowhere and redirect your attention. You
Page 2 and 3:
“This important book is essential
Page 4 and 5:
“Winston and Seif have done a won
Page 6 and 7:
OvercomingUnwantedIntrusiveThoughts
Page 8:
To Mort, Carla, Maggie, and Molly
Page 12 and 13:
IntroductionHave you ever stood on
Page 14 and 15:
Introduction 3This is typical of th
Page 16:
Introduction 5with our belief that
Page 19 and 20:
8 Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Tho
Page 21 and 22:
10 Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Th
Page 23 and 24: 12 Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Th
Page 76 and 77: Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts Q and A
Page 84: Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts Q and A
Page 111 and 112: 100 Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive T
Page 123 and 124:
112 Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive T
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 166 and 167:
CHAPTER 9What Does Recovery Mean?In
Page 168 and 169:
What Does Recovery Mean? 157We say
Page 170 and 171:
What Does Recovery Mean? 159Stickin
Page 172 and 173:
What Does Recovery Mean? 161happeni
Page 174 and 175:
CHAPTER 10When to SeekProfessional
Page 176 and 177:
When to Seek Professional Help 165A
Page 178:
When to Seek Professional Help 167T
Page 181 and 182:
Three years ago I wrote a single pa
Page 183 and 184:
Page 185 and 186:
Page 187 and 188:
Page 190 and 191:
BibliographyBaer, L. 2001. Imp of t
Page 192 and 193:
Sally M. Winston, PsyD, founded and
Page 194:
SELF-HELPIt’s not what you think!
show all

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?