How to deal with intrusive thoughts and anxiety
Vložit
- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
- Zach calls in to discuss intrusive thoughts and anxiety.
#ThePsychShowOfficeHours
Join Dr. Ali's Office Hours LIVE on Discord Thursdays at 11am eastern and 2pm pacific: / discord .
Thank you to my Patrons:
Tyler DeWitt
Arnt Richard Johansen
Imran Maskatia
Elizabeth smith
Sam Duritza
Anna Hindley
Collin Pavelchik
Eric Earley
Evan Alvarez
Ryan Landoll
Neuro Transmissions
BrainCraft
Aaron Freedman
Marisa Hilliard
Steve Mazza
Bryan Thien
Samuel Anderson
Jennifer Case
Shanda Wells
Saleem Hue Penny
Sri Santhanam
Denise Johnson
Emily Walter
Samar
Lars Bußmann
Julie Herrick
Rebecca Erde
Mariana de Morais
Karl Schwirz
Cesalie Stepney
Christy
BobC
Sam J
Sya Remiel
Meka Huggins
12tone
Boone Greenly
XP
Farid Chakhssi
Heidi Højgaard
Jinaveve Kruger
Max Byck
Jenn
大輔 中浦
Bratati Basu
Nick Bulman
Emily Alice
George Hadley
Susan R. Roggendorf
曦文 张
Eliza Lindus
Brittney Okorocha
Cindy Koenig
Sheina Godovich
Catherine Griffin
Learn how you can help me make The Psych Show and get exclusive behind the scenes access in return at / thepsychshow .
Topics discussed:
0:00 - Introduction
0:55 - What are intrusive thoughts?
4:00 - Why do we have intrusive thoughts?
7:00 - What are intrusive thoughts like?
10:20 - Cognitive distortions
11:00 - How to deal with intrusive thoughts
16:40 - Passengers on the bus analogy [video link]
18:45 - Why do some struggle with this while others don’t?
22:30 - Tips to de-stress
33:10 - Coping versus safety behaviors
Connect with Ali:
Discord ► / discord
Twitter ► / alimattu
Facebook ► / thepsychshow
Instagram ► / alimattu
TikTok ► / alimattuphd
Patreon ► / thepsychshow
Email ► ali@thepsychshow.com
Website ► alimattu.com/
THE PSYCH SHOW! Creating mental health videos that educate, entertain, and empower! Produced and written by clinical psychologist Ali Mattu, Ph.D. Edited by Diana Chang (www.changdiana.com). All videos are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute clinical advice.
If you or someone you know needs help immediately, you should take one of the following actions:
- call 9-1-1 in the United States or your country's emergency number: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
- call the Lifeline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255) in the United States or a global crisis hotlines: www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis...
- text START to 741-741 in the United States or visit chat.suicidepreventionlifeline...
- go to your nearest hospital emergency room
Intrusive thoughts are not You. They are the manifestation of your Anxiety. Anxiety latches on to your deepest fears. But here is some instant relief for you, EVERYONE has intrusive thoughts. People without an anxiety disorder are able to quickly dismiss them. But someone with an anxiety disorder (you) it's hard to because your anxiety feeds off of it and will always look for it (OCD). So how do you change that? By thinking rationally and not just reacting with Fear. Look into CBT and DBT (rational mind vs emotional mind). YOU are in charge of your mind. Take control back 💪🏽 Sending healing peaceful vibes to you.
That comment helped me, thank u
Thanks you very much for this comment I was in a loop of intrusive thoughts, but by reading this comment I was able to break the loop , much love .
I need help with instrusive thought
Thank you, I really needed that
This helped a lot thanks.
I once read "if you forget about your anxiety your anxiety will forget about you" ive learnt a lot from this and its an amazing coping strategy remember people anxiety is normal you are not ill its your body saying im in overload you can get over it and accept it when you do this life will be fantastic 😉
I like to remind myself that anxiety is natural. Sounds simple but sometimes it calms me down.
I do something similar. I tell myself, "You are built to experience anxiety."
This is so true. People who say: "don't be anxious, it doesn't serve any purpose" only manage to make me feel also ashamed. When you accept anxiety as a thing that makes sense it is easier to keep it at bay.
@@idonotknow8503 Only if it affects health then visit a physician. Reduce negative thoughts with a simple practice. Your breath and mind [brain] are closely related causing stress-anxiety. For a better life sit on a chair, back straight, eyes closed and observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for around 5-10-15 minutes or more. Don’t fight your thoughts. Slowly the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Do the practice without any expectations. Change happens from within if done regularly. Day or night, when taking a walk, sitting in a park, when reading, before sleep etc sit or lie down and observe your breath. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a good life. Avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Best wishes Shyaaam Sir. -Counsellor.
Kappayte, Only if health is affected visit a physician. Reduce negative thoughts with a simple practice. Your breath and mind [brain] are closely related causing stress-anxiety. For a better life sit on a chair, back straight, eyes closed and observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for around 5-10-15 minutes or more. Don’t fight your thoughts. Slowly the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Do the practice without any expectations. Change happens from within if done regularly. Day or night, when taking a walk, sitting in a park, when reading, before sleep etc sit or lie down and observe your breath. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a good life. Avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Best wishes Shyaaam Sir. -Counsellor.
Cancer is natural. That doesn't mean it's no big deal
I want to say that this video helped me understand what I’m going through. I have had some of the worst intrusive thoughts lately and instead of brushing them off, i will overthink them for days to weeks on end. Its been going on for about 3 or 4 weeks now and the explanation within the video actually helped me figure out that I’m not in danger, these thoughts aren’t factual and that I’m not alone. Thank you so much.
I find the tip on speaking to yourself as a friend would very helpful. It also tremendously helps to take a walk & talk to someone else.
I've dealt with intrusive thoughts for a long time, and one thing I've always found helpful is interrogating them. For me, one of the biggest differences between intrusive thoughts and actual desires is that desires tend to be well-supported, so if I take a step back from the "Oh no, I'm thinking this!" reaction and ask "Why am I thinking this?" it becomes a lot easier to tell the difference. If it's something I actually want, I can usually justify it pretty easily, but if it's intrusive, one of two things happens instead: Either I trace it back to a related but separate stress (For instance, over the past year I've noticed a significant increase in intrusive thoughts relating to socialization) or I trace it to some nonsensical origin. (I have one recurring self-harm thought that comes pretty directly from a thing a friend of mine said in high school, and once I can identify it as that, it's easy to recategorize it from a thing I'm afraid I want to a thing I just, like, remember.) I don't always have the time to do this, but when I do I've found it's pretty effective.
Thanks for sharing your experience 12tone!!!
I’m surprised how often Psychologists neglect to mention how these intrusive thoughts are linked to an OCD mind. Zach keeps mentioning that he has GAD, but his main problem revolves around sticky thoughts that he ruminates and analyzes.
It’s unfortunate that therapists rarely diagnose people with OCD, because ERP and CBT modified for OCD, can really help people’s lives.
The reason it’s so important for people to realize that they have OCD, is because they can look at specific solutions of letting go of intrusive thinking, instead of trying to solve it the same way a non ocd sufferer can solve it when they are anxious. And if they try to solve it in a way that doesn’t approach OCD, they end up getting treatment that can make it worse for them.
I've dealt with intrusive thoughts since I was a little kid. I always struggled with my mental health as a child even as young as 7 or 8 and I wish someone had the knowledge and skills to get me support. Channels like this give me hope that mental health education will become more accessible and more widely known.
I have GAD as well and this is 100% relatable. My intrusive thoughts are definitely the kind that are filled with guilt and shame, they have to do with randomly remembering horrible past memories that are just generally embarrassing or uncomfortable. Medication DOES help and I highly encourage anyone else who suffers from this condition to get help if they can.
My GAD has gotten so bad at times recently that I was actually having really bad issues with my short-term memory, like not being able to remember anything I had to do and having to make reminders from myself for every single little thing throughout the day. Not only was it frustrating but it was really depressing to have that happen.
I'm so glad I found you, I was struggling with an anxiety attack and you helped me understand what was happening, i thought i was going crazy. THANK YOU!! I feel so much better omg
dude this is so helpful, thank u so much for making these videos 🙏
Thank God for the internet.... In my times of high anxiety, these videos and reading other's comments, that they are experiencing what I am. So relieving. Thank you all!!! ❤️
This video was so helpful! I’ve been dealing with ODC since as long I can remember and the understandings of controlling my own actions is really calming, despite my brains relentlessly working against me😅 thanks for sharing!
great vid, i did one on intrusive thoughts too, and i like how you put things. extremely important and not-well understood topic. i think we have a lot of baggage from historical ways of viewing the self and the mind, and we end up taking responsibility for every flickering thought that passes through...not a recipe for mental health. gotta accept the inherent chaos of the mind
Thanks Doctor, Love it! I really connect with this guy on the other line, Safe journey forward brotha!
I love this video, so many people think they are crazy because of bad thoughts, everyone should have to watch this in High school in my opinion
Dr. Ali you literally are my FAVORITE! when I’m worried I go to your channel and listen to your videos to help calm me down. Your better than ANY therapist that I’ve seen. I truly adore you and everything you do to try to help us people with issues! Can you do a video on how to deal/cope with PTSD, I feel like that’s another thing that’s really important for some of us who suffer from it.
Goodness I absolutely needed this thank you
Love this! Thank you!
That subway example is so spot on! For me, my intrusive thoughts are typically a morbid curiosity of what extreme physical trauma like that would feel like, exactly. Like, I've been hit by blunt force before, but obviously never like that!
I manage by reminding myself that, while it might be intellectually interesting to know how that feels, I really don't want to go through the process of finding out for myself, thank you very much.
You make Psychology more understandable to people . Great Work .
Thanks for your sharing Dr Ali!
Great interaction with the caller. Good questions, too, from your guest. Very comprehensive, too. Unfortunately, I’m very well acquainted with anxiety.
Zach was amazing! Really appreciated his honesty with sharing his experience.
Wonderful video on intrusive thoughts!! This is what my channel is all about. 🔥
Thank you so much for making a video on it. 🎉 This video is really helpful for me. I have been experiencing these intrusive thoughts for quite a while now. Now that I know why these thoughts pop up in my head. Today, I have learned how to deal with them. I can't thank you enough. This video is really really helpful for me.
Thoughts are random but thinking on them is a choice. Just make the choice in your best interest and let the hard one's pass.
Just this realisation, Helps!
We can't control our thoughts but we have some control over our attention. Thanks for the comment!
But Ali,
You didn't talk about sexual intrusive thoughts (like in pure OCD) which are the most disgusting, annoying and shameful and people who are experiencing these sometimes even commit suicide, That's horrible!
I request you to make a video on this topic as well
Btw great video, thanks🙏
That’s what I’m going through now.
Pray a lot. Go to church and ask them to pray for you. Things will get better. Sending you lots of 💕
@@nadiaaguirre9466 not very helpful not everyone is religious
One thing that helped me was imagining the thought on a piece of paper, balling it up, and throwing it in the trash
I understand but the logic is the same no matter what type of intrusive thought it is. I hope this helps.
You are valued, you are loved and you are meant to be here ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
The CLEAR EXAMPLES you cite in this video are incredibly powerful!! You are also a really good listener. I need to get much better at this. Thanks for setting the example 💪😁
I've been studying both the language and culture of Japan for awhile now, I also check out another channel which helps display the good, bad and neutral aspects of Japan due to their patriotic views. Shogun loves Japan so much that he's willing to point out the flaws as well the great aspects, bringing a more realistic view.
With that being said I'm utterly thankful to see someone working in the medical field within this country, seeing the high self evaporation rate for a lack of a better term. My US state needs more mental health availability as well, I'm gaining a better view about my own culture just by studying another.
I want us to reach a point where there practically is no separation of human beings, instead we all just be one nation.
Hello sir
your videos helps me a lot and I am a person like who suffers from anxiety most of the time in a day and also I am not able to express myself infront of the people as I want. So your videos are really really really helpful .Thank you so much🙏
11:03 I had to learn this, what I feel was the hard way and I agree. For me I had to first identify the situations that would would trigger my anxiety.
Hi Thanks for another interesting video. Many people battle with intrusive thoughts and anxiety. Thanks!
Hi sir, my name is Hanan. I'm from Brooklyn. I am inspired by your videos. My dad is close friends with your dad. I've met you before with my family in Manhattan, you might remember. I am looking forward to see more of your of your inspiring, amazing, and educational videos.
This was amazing 👏
This video was very helpful! I needed it right now too. I have BPD, CPTSD, ADD, like 3 anxiety disorders and the intrusive thoughts are awful! My mind is always racing and I only sleep every 2-3 days and then my body finally crashes and I sleep for 7-11 hours. I have been struggling since I was 12/13 and it has gotten worse since I lost my mom in January 2020. This video helped me understand my intrusive thoughts a bit better 🙂
I hope it provided you with *some* relief. Thank you for your comment!
@@drali it was very helpful. I am glad I came across your channel ☺️
@@Nik-Nak2007 In life there are only 2 problems. Mind and the body. Reduce negative thoughts with a simple practice. Your breath and mind [brain] are closely related causing stress-anxiety. For a better life sit on a chair, back straight, eyes closed and observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for around 5-10-15 minutes or more. Don’t fight your thoughts. Slowly the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Do the practice without any expectations. Change happens from within if done regularly. Day or night, when taking a walk, sitting in a park, when reading, before sleep etc sit or lie down and observe your breath. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a good life. Avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Best wishes Shyaaam Sir. -Counsellor.
Just what I needed to hear.....thank you....cuz I was having the same thought
You are so welcome!
Thanks so much for all the videos you make and share with us! Question: if someone is trying to decide whether to study psychology in college or not, which books do you recommend they read to learn enough about the field in order to make that decision?
Same! I would and still do sometimes place my hand on a wall and watch my surroundings just in case someone pushes me in ? Everytime.. oh my
Hi! Just started watching your vids and I think that it's very helpful, I'm one of your subscribers now.. i just got diagnose 2 months ago, of panic disorder with panic attacks.. this really put me on a dark place, I didn't know that i'll be experiencing this. Before I was just watching videos about this.. covid triggers my anxiety cause here in our country,i'm from the Philippines by the way. We still have a lot of cases of covid. A lot of the people i know died because of this,family friends and all.. and i'm the one who's taking care of my senior parents, an Im very scared to be infected by this virus, to the point that i don't go out anymore. I don't want to be sick with this virus and same thing with my parents i don't want them to be infected. Little things that's happening to my body that I always think is a symptom of covid, puts me in paranoia..until it's gone..esp. because a lot of anxiety symptoms are same with covid symptoms..that's why its freaking me out.🤦
anxiety and intrusive thoughts go hand in hand for me. It is a daily struggle and its not fun at all. it something that is hard to overcome....among other stuff....(I have BPD and PTSD as well). I go to therapy every week. Its very helpful....however we are having frustration, helplessness, and the lack of progress....and this cause my anxiety about her going to "abandon" me...sigh. I do enjopy your channel and it just help to clear my head and some great tips....Just I am doing this all alone since I lost my brother and mother within these past two years and it just hard to get better without the family support. No parents or siblings...
I’m so sorry Mimi-you are not alone with this! Please don’t ever give up-you’re worthy of being well❣️🙏🏼
Hi Dr Ali, i am a budding psychologist pursuing my masters in counselling psychology now. I really enjoy your videos, and I too, struggle with anxiety. Thank u so much for your helpful tips. Would you consider making a video on how u manage fatigue as a therapist? I have this physiological reflex of yawning excessively throughout the day (i oso have chronic fatigue) and i was wondering how therapists actually cope with that in their day to day lives so they dont seem bored during sessions. Thank you! 😃
I have lived with this for 22 years and I go through periods of intrusive thinking.
It is generally triggered with stress or if I am going through a difficult time of high anxiety..its like a domino effect. I find it really distressing sometimes. Before I knew about what this was all about, I spent years in mental torture thinking I was going crazy and I was too scared to know about it until I had courage one day to research it. But still, I don't have it under control and it is just awful! The thoughts just escalate and get worse and more absurd and ridiculous. I feel for anyone else who lives with this. 😩😫
I get ya I'm going through a similar experience too but we're getting through this like you've taken steps to improve and that's honestly a really big achievement! I'm currently dealing with those thoughts too and I'm just writing stuff down in journal Google doc to get the stuff into something physical so I can go over it with my therapist so I can take further steps in managing them
Just know you're not alone and that we're get through this!
One small change at a time
@@cookiepotatohybrid1940 Journaling is a great way.. ! I hope you find your way through it and thank you for your kind reply. ☺
This topic takes me forever to understand. I have skin picking disorder and intrusive thoughts.
It feels like the emotional brain is just another level of awareness that others experience subconsciously
my intrusive thoughts are always the same. an inner voice reminding me that i now have anxiety issues and should start panicking over it. i cannot avoid the triggering situations because my first panic attack came in the middle of the night while i was asleep and safe in my home. I feel like an outlier that cannot be helped :(
Very useful video. Just offering a method to relax, Reduce negative thoughts with a simple practice. Your breath and mind [brain] are closely related causing stress-anxiety. For a better life sit on a chair, back straight, eyes closed and observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for around 5-10-15 minutes or more. Don’t fight your thoughts. Slowly the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Day or night, when taking a walk, sitting in a park, when reading, before sleep etc sit or lie down and observe your breath. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a good life. Avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Best wishes Shyaaam Sir. -Counsellor.
Thank you for your great videos. Can you make one for people, who have pain (low back pain for years) becaus of theire emotions or anxiety. For example: there is a person who gehts instead stomach pain when she thinks she makes somesthing wrong or she forgot something. THank you :)
I’ve recently been dealing with anxiety and have become a little too self aware such as not letting my body breath on its own or change of heart beat and trying to control it myself. Could you give advice on how to deal with those thoughts ? I would also love to learn from you on how to deal with de realization. I’ve recently stopped smoking cannabis and notice this has been a problem for me. I loved your grounding techniques in you’re previous video but would like to learn more techniques. Big thank you , you have helped me in my hardest times
Hi can you do a video on how to deal with claustrophobia? (I don’t like crowds.)
5:51 this!
I lik this
Can you do a video on practicing internationally? I am currently in a MS in clinical mental health counseling program and am debating on pursuing a doctoral program to practice as a psychologist. Counseling has less established universal liscensure requirements compared to psychologists which I think works against me in my goal of becoming an international practitioner.
Thank you for this information. I used to suffer from panic attacks and positive tinged thought obsessions. Lately I have no panic attacks but my thought obsessions are painful. I think it's a natural part in healing from years of poor health and the effects it had on my physiology's sense of safety. And my mind takes on the burden of a lot of my body's sense of not being secure and safe. I will remember that these worrying thoughts are symptoms of poor health, and keep working towards being healthier, and find positive safe thought obsessions. Learning about ocd is a great place to start. I think the positive flip side of worry is curiosity
Liked n subbed
I have worries even if everything is safe.
Hello sir ...can u advice me how to study psychology without a degre . I mean I'm an Engineering student . But want to learn psychology as a hobby ....not to be a professional psychologist...but for my good..but how can I learn
What is your opinion on the theory of amygdala hijacking?
is it okay to refer to a patient's feelings as "weird"? Like, even if they do (and even if they are in fact weird), is that okay? I'm genuinely curious and have an immense amount of respect for you, love your technique and insight...just curious...
Can someone please help me with this question it might not even make any sense. These past couple of months I keep having a repetitive thought or image in my head about a feeling in my body but I don't know if I'm imaging the feeling or not. It's kind of like a black shape in my stomach. I don't know why but it comes into my mind all day every day and I know it sounds stupid but it's true. It's kind of like an image where I'm looking at my stomach and it is a black round shape of anxiety. It's making me feel dissociated from my body. It's making me want to escape in my mind. Can someone explain if this sounds like ocd or not? Has anyone had any similar experiences?
Anxiety still scary
Is rocking helpful if so why
I'm sorry if silly question 😔
I ask if the thought is helping me? Is it useful? If not I acknowledge it, then push it away....well I try. It takes a lot of practice and doesn't always work. 🙇💜
Thanks.
Same kami ni kuya
Iwas diagnose with GAD / panick Disorder
My problem is I’m obses on my intrusive thoughts
I have health/death anxiety for the last 3/6 months and my intrusive thoughts are horrible it’s always about my death it’s terrifying and then my body starts going into fight or flight mode and it’s always the intense fear that I’m going to die soon or suddenly
Same.
Yes after COVID is when it started for me. Try natural remedies to relax you. Passionflower tea is good and helps you sleep. Pray. Everything will be ok. Sending you 💕. Hope your feeling better
I would love to see you, a psychologist react to “ the potato war” a CZcams video by a CZcams named “technoblade” I feel like you would have some interesting things to say about the mental aspect!
I want to be a marriage counselor to help people not be like my parents arguing and messing up their kids minds.
That’s what happens to me!! I won’t drive because I think I’m going to crash or drive off the bridge on purpose. Omg they are terrifying
Same here 😭
Where do I start looking for help? Any websites? Or sources that I can look in too. My intrusive thoughts come and go, just half an hour ago I was compl fine then the next an intrusive thought jumped into my head and is causing a great amount of anxiety. My family doesn't have any history with ocd/intrusive thoughts, it's more like an environmental factor that triggers it.
➕18188511842⏯️⏯️
Massage him now via Whatzapp 🖌️
He also help you do reading on future reference and about your relationship, marriage etc I was like this be'fore but he helped me recover My broken 💔 relationship contact him for help 🆘
Contact him for all kinds of help 🆘
Tony, If physical health is affected visit a physician. Reduce negative thoughts with a simple practice. Your breath and mind [brain] are closely related causing stress-anxiety. For a better life sit on a chair, back straight, eyes closed and observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for around 5-10-15 minutes or more. Don’t fight your thoughts. Slowly the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Do the practice without any expectations. Change happens from within if done regularly. Day or night, when taking a walk, sitting in a park, when reading, before sleep etc sit or lie down and observe your breath. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a good life. Avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Best wishes Shyaaam Sir. -Counsellor.
Does the brain have the capability to heal itself? Or wanting to heal itself?
How to overcome agoraphobia? Is it curable plz reply
I have the exact same problems as Zach..
Excellent podcast.
Thank you..
After i took lexapro it almost missing..it is weird thinking and it torture me..my intrusive is like a sharp knife stuck in my throat..just imagine it..almost 5 years i had this until i took medicine
Did medicine help u?
@@mohamedelfoly6867 yes
@@fenady79kindayam74 are u from the US tho?
My sister struggles with paranoia but she’s not schizophrenic. But she has a lot of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and ptsd. A therapist cost money that we don’t have atm. How can she manage paranoid thoughts related to ptsd, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety?
guys like or comment here so this person will be helped
None of this works for me 😢
Is this a real call? Or is it staged for a video? Does it matter? It's reasonable to think it is a real call at 160k Subs and 6220 views. Well my anxiety is mediocre.
Intrusive comment