Posted by Noa on February 12, 2002, at 18:29:49
In reply to Difference between intrusive thoughts,worries and , posted by bonnie_ann on February 9, 2002, at 18:47:13
I would guess that there is some overlap for many of us in how we define these.
But...to me, intrusive thoughts means unwanted thoughts that feel like they intrude into my mind out of my control. I think for some people this can be fearful thoughts or images, taboo thoughts or images or unexpected thoughts or images that intrude at the most inopportune times. I think sometimes they can feel like the thoughts just won't leave the person alone.
I think worries can occur as intrusive thoughts or not--ie the worried thoughts or ideas intrude unwanted or maybe to some people feel like "normal" even if unpleasant--normal in the sense that they don't feel like they are intruding into their minds.
I think that some people might feel a sense of intrusion by unwanted thoughts to the point of having the feeling or sense that the control of the thought is coming from outside themselves, while others know that the thoughts are thier own thoughts, but just don't know how to have more control over them.
"Bad" thoughts is defined by what you think of as "bad", I think. But I think there are people for whom stuff that is "bad" or taboo becomes what they think about a lot and then they feel awful about it, but don't feel control over thinking about these things. Sometimes, this is what people with OCD experience.
If you participate in a religion that holds the belief that just to think something forbidden is as bad as doing it, well, I would guess that having forbidden thoughts would be very distressing. But even without such "rules", we all have taboo areas that we try to avoid thinking about--even superstitions that if we think something it might come true, etc. This can be distressing, too.
Can you say more about why you are asking this?
poster:Noa
thread:18016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020202/msgs/18148.html