Tw/ this post contains serious material about impulsive and intrusive thoughts, including examples. Some examples include mentions of: abuse (including animals and children), stabbing, domestic violence.
If I’m missing any warnings then let me know. That also goes for any false information I have missed or been misinformed on.
Can we like, talk about ACTUAL intrusive thoughts? It is so scary, and all I see is “Omg I dyed my hair last night randomly.. intrusive thoughts won!”. Like no, thats an IMPULSIVE thought and action.
Impulsive Thoughts: “Impulsive thoughts are sudden, involuntary ideas or urges that can lead to immediate actions without considering the consequences. They can be spontaneous, unplanned, and often accompanied by a strong sense of urgency. Impulsive thoughts can be triggered by stress, anxiety, or things around us, and can be more aligned with our desires.” - Googles AI review thing.
“Impulsive thoughts are sudden, intense urges or desires to act on a whim, often without considering the potential consequences. These thoughts arise spontaneously and can be powerful and compelling, prompting people to make decisions in the heat of the moment without adequate planning or reflection.” - treatmyocd.com
Intrusive Thoughts: “Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, involuntary thoughts that can be unpleasant, disturbing, or upsetting. They can appear in the form of memories, sensations, urges, or mental pictures, and can be violent, sexual, or related to fears of embarrassment or doing something inappropriate. Intrusive thoughts can make it difficult to think about other things, sleep, or carry out daily activities. They can also cause feelings of worry or shame, and the more someone tries to push them away, the more they persist” -Googles AI overview.
Impulsive Thoughts Examples:
“I should quit my job today” / Leaving or changing jobs without much planning
Buying something you don’t need
“Knock that cup off the counter”
“Cut all your hair off” / “Change your hair color/style”
Intrusive Thoughts Examples:
“What if I stabbed my wife/husband?”
“What if I turned into oncoming traffic?”
Fear of / thoughts of hurting a child/animal
Sexual thoughts, typically about taboo subjects
“I have a serious disease/illness”
Please please learn the difference :(