Intrusive thoughts paranoia

[Paul7]

really hope somebody can give me some help on what really defines intrusive thoughts....After suffering with OCD and diagnosed by a leading doctor and specialist in OCD 3 years ago I still don't grasp what is a intrusive thought I have had the common themes seen on forums and in books and is well documented on websites for symptom of OCD particular harm OCD but nothing ever seems listed on paranoid thoughts which my old CBT therepist explained that can happen with intrusive thoughts ??? ie not just harming others but others harming me ?? Has anybody experienced this like walking down the street and fearing somebody is behind you etc ?? Or is this just high state of anxiety I have had many of these types of thoughts or concerns and always leads me to am losing my mind more as paranoia seems worse than anything

[uru]

Throughout my who life I've had intrusive thoughts while walking down the street. I've constantly imagine someone would just lurch out and punch me in the face for no reason.

[TomT]

Hi paul! Yup this type of paranoia fueled by your intrusive thoughts, its totally harmless and its caused by your anxiety, are you going through a stressful time? What have you been trying to calm down or to ignore this thoughts?

[Paul7]

Hi TomT yes been really stressed in work and had quite a bit of confrontation as everyone in my team have been stressed so maybe took having a effect. Probably not telling full story but suffered lots of paranoid thoughts over the years but all seemTo revolve around my fear of losing control or going mad it and always around time of being over anxious and stressed. I try and mediate and calm myself but never works. Still don't understand though if this is OCD or anxiety ?? I always thinks it's a more serious mental illness. But when come through it can see it passes.. So frustrated now with it and fed up

[TomT]

People that go mad, do not fear it or even realize they are insane, so I would stop worrying about that. Paranoid thoughts with us Pure-O users its pretty common, I remember I got paranoid some months ago. This is a mix between OCD and anxiety, anxiety because its caused due to the stress generated probably at your work and its being canalized in your OCD as it doesn't represent a true harm to you. The thoughts follow the OCD pattern so I would tackled them as any intrusive thought.

[strongerthananxiety]

We have many thoughts in a day, the only thoughts that matter are the ones we put meaning to. It is best to not over analyze them.

[MyNameIsTerry]

We have many thoughts in a day, the only thoughts that matter are the ones we put meaning to. It is best to not over analyze them.

It's best not react to them or do more than acknowledge & accept them as thoughts. "Over analysing" is still interaction and interaction means reinforcement. Don't analyse them at all unless you do it in a positive/neutral way as in the challenging taught in CBT.