As someone with mental health issues including intrusive thoughts: Nope, you probably haven’t experienced one if you truly think that. Normal thoughts come and go, and, sure, they may interrupt each other, but an intrusive thought comes into your brain like a fucking tank, crushing and maiming everything in its path, not even considering to leave, and shooting down every attempt to get rid of it violently. You absolutely know it is one…
Sure, clinically speaking. But generally speaking, every thought came unbidden.
To me “unbidden” ≠ “intrusive”; in a venn diagram “intrusive” would be a small circle fully contained within a much larger “unbidden” one. Though we go deeply into the question of free will when considering every thought “unbidden”, so I really woupdn’t go that deep ;-)
Well i am kinda alluding the the free will thing in the OP actually.
Fair :-)
I have OCD. It’s legit hard to function at times.
I think it’s more about a combination of the rarity + emotional disruption of the thought.
If speaking clinically, persistence and emotional disruption. But the way most people these days use the phrase it’s basically just people noticing that we don’t actually have control over our thoughts.
True, persistent as an unwanted thought! But yeah… maybe they should be renamed as “unwanted thoughts.”
How do you know if a thought is wanted or unwanted before it happens though?
Again, it’s based on how disruptive it is. If it’s causing you emotional pain, like the recollection of a loved one in pain or something… that’s probably unwanted!
I don’t think so. That’s just a showerthought that intruded you mind
Thoughts think themselves
It’s almost like it doesn’t even matter what one posts here about, everyone seems to immediately make it their mission to start poking holes in it.
oh yeah. trying to meditate really gets you to realize how hard it is. Ok need to be in the moment and not be thinking about anything in particular. like right after this. gonna do it. 3. 2. 1. now just concentrate on breathing. in. out. in. out…
I mean if you realize how hard it is, sounds like you’re doing a pretty good job at meditating tho
far from it. When I talk with folks who try at best I can say maybe I got something a few times. Times where its like no time passed but also like it did. It might be the way I am but im not sure I can ever say I will go mediate its always im going to try and meditate. Kinda an opposite yoda thing.
OP, congrats on such a controversial shower thought!
I agree with the linguistic usage, every thought is intrusive, as without them being so there would be no active consciousness, it would all be reactionary stimuli. ^ok that’s an entire other debate…^
The way we use the term in general colloquialism implies a much much more serious level of intrusiveness.
For example, the fucker in the left lane going slower than the middle lane, the thought that… I could just cut him off at that bridge, he’d fly off, crush himself… He’s a selfish cunt, net benefit to the world would be this asshole going up inflames
That’s an intrusive thought.
naw dawg. if you haven’t had the ones that kind of hurt and that you REALLY don’t identify with, you haven’t had them.
“I should say a mean thing” or “what if I jumped” aren’t examples
“gee I want grapes” - not intrusive, even if unexpected.
“Gee I should swerve into incoming traffic” - intrusive
Wanting grapes is an intrusive thought. Your body and the gut biomes are creating that thought (with the threat of discomfort), and putting it in your brain. Your thoughts are not you. You react to them.
No, the latter is not any more or less intrusive than the first.
If you want to talk about clinically intrusive thoughts, they’re persistent, reoccurring and relentless, not just a random spooky thought that pops into your head - everyone has those, and most people move on from them.
“Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, involuntary, and often disturbing images, urges, or ideas that pop into the mind unexpectedly. They are generally unsettling, violent, sexual, or taboo, yet they do not reflect a person’s actual desires, character, or intentions. While often harmless, they can cause distress or indicate anxiety, OCD, or trauma.”
https://nesslabs.com/pink-elephant-paradox
Everyone has those. Again, clinically speaking intrusive thoughts need to be persistent.
