Louisey
30-12-06, 16:49
Hi everyone. I've been meaning to share this on the forum for a while. It's some research about the most common unwanted and upsetting thoughts reported in NON-CLINICAL subjects, that is, people who don't suffer from OCD.
My psychologist gave me a photocopy of this to illustrate how yukky, unwanted thoughts go through everyone's head - the difference being that OCD sufferers worry so much about why their thinking them they become fixated on them, which can trigger the whole brain lock cycle.
So if any of these thoughts make you sick with worry, remember, you're not alone and certainly not a freak for thinking of them in the first place. Happy New Year!
Louise xxx
The most common unwanted obsession-relevant intrusive thoughts, images and impulses reported by Nonclinical subjects:
1. Did I leave heat, stove or lights on that could cause a fire?
2. Left the door unlocked, and an intruder could be inside
3. While driving, an impulse to run the car off the road
4. I could get a sexually transmitted disease from touching a toilet seat or handle
5. Even though the house is tidy, an impulse to check that absolutely everything is put away
6. Feel sudden impulse to say something rude or insulting to a friend even though I'm not angry at him
7. Impulse to say something rude or insulting to a stranger
8. While driving, the impulse to swerve the car into oncoming traffic
9. The thought of having sex in a public place
10. The thought of having sex with an authority figure (eg. minister, boss, teacher)
11. While driving the thought of running over pedestrians or animals
12. When talking to people, intrusive thoughts of their being naked
13. Impulse to indecently expose myself by lifting my skirt or slipping down my pants
14. Impulse to masturbate in public
15. When I see a sharp knife, the thought of slitting my wrist or throat
16. When in a public place, the thoughts of becoming dirty or contaminated from touching doorknobs
Data from Purdon and Clark (1993) and Byers et al (1998).
Cited inL 'Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for OCD' by David A. Clark. 2004. The Guilford Press.
My psychologist gave me a photocopy of this to illustrate how yukky, unwanted thoughts go through everyone's head - the difference being that OCD sufferers worry so much about why their thinking them they become fixated on them, which can trigger the whole brain lock cycle.
So if any of these thoughts make you sick with worry, remember, you're not alone and certainly not a freak for thinking of them in the first place. Happy New Year!
Louise xxx
The most common unwanted obsession-relevant intrusive thoughts, images and impulses reported by Nonclinical subjects:
1. Did I leave heat, stove or lights on that could cause a fire?
2. Left the door unlocked, and an intruder could be inside
3. While driving, an impulse to run the car off the road
4. I could get a sexually transmitted disease from touching a toilet seat or handle
5. Even though the house is tidy, an impulse to check that absolutely everything is put away
6. Feel sudden impulse to say something rude or insulting to a friend even though I'm not angry at him
7. Impulse to say something rude or insulting to a stranger
8. While driving, the impulse to swerve the car into oncoming traffic
9. The thought of having sex in a public place
10. The thought of having sex with an authority figure (eg. minister, boss, teacher)
11. While driving the thought of running over pedestrians or animals
12. When talking to people, intrusive thoughts of their being naked
13. Impulse to indecently expose myself by lifting my skirt or slipping down my pants
14. Impulse to masturbate in public
15. When I see a sharp knife, the thought of slitting my wrist or throat
16. When in a public place, the thoughts of becoming dirty or contaminated from touching doorknobs
Data from Purdon and Clark (1993) and Byers et al (1998).
Cited inL 'Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for OCD' by David A. Clark. 2004. The Guilford Press.