Intrusive thoughts *could be triggering or sensitive*

[Angel2fire]

I'm really not sure how to describe this, or what's happening.

The only thing I can think to compare it to is when you are a smoker and dont have a cigarette for a while and every fibre of your being is screaming at you that you need a cigarette. Well I'm getting this kind of feeling, but I'm being told to go and jump off a bridge. The thing is, I know its an intrusive thought and I don't want to do it. But I dont know how to stop the thoughts.

When they come, they kind of come on like a panic attack and I cry and shake. I have no idea whats happening to me, I think its because I'm under so much stress at the moment. Its too late to see a doctor and i dont think they could do anything anyway.

I've told my husband how I'm feeling and I'm just trying to keep myself safe, but the thoughts are really horrible and scary. Theyre telling me exactly which bridge and whereabouts on it. I've never had thoughts this strong before. I dont know what to do

[riotgrrrlcori]

I understand. I have very similar thoughts telling me to hurt myself. My plan has been to tell my boyfriend when I'm having them, and try not to be alone or in a position where I can act on them. Mine are also very self-loathing. I've found that if I can keep the rest of me from believing them, and gently tell them that they're wrong and I'm not bad and don't need to do that, that they start to ease a little bit. I'm also planning on talking to my T about them tomorrow. I hope that gives you some idea of what might work.

[whirlpools]

Is there anything you would fear happening if you didn't follow through with the thoughts?

[xlaurenx]

Am not sure how helpful this could be . But my CPN has always told me ' you can't stop the thoughts coming in but you can say your not going to listen to the thoughts, tell them to f off and go and do something you enjoy'

[PinQ]

I have had similar thoughts and at points they have become separate voices. They give me the strong urge to kill myself in an array of different ways. I too tell my boyf when I feel them and often we end up in A&E, which I hate as it often leads to being put on an acute ward for ages. However, if you try and tell someone and do something therapeutic or distracting until it passes it may help.

[getting_by]

I too have had intrusive thoughts for quite a while now. Mine were often stress and anxiety induced. I am really trying hard to think of strategies and ideas to help... but they are failing me.

Fight them, fight them harder than you ever thought possible- because they will progressively get worse if you act on even the tiniest detail of your thoughts (from my experience). They will get less strong, try to work on reducing your anxiety if you can- it worked for me (with meds and doing things I find relaxing etc). It got to the point where even if the thoughts came- I would settle down, make myself comfortable and ride them out- because I knew that nothing was making me do the actions other than myself- but this isn't easy and it took a lot of time and mistakes (serious mistakes) before I came to this realisation.

Don't be afraid to talk to someone if you need to in order to keep you safe- thats the most important thing. Please don't hold back because you think that they will put you in a psych ward- they haven't for me yet- even though I told them when I was in hospital (medical hosp) that I could see a man (in a female only ward) hanging some of the patients on the other side of the ward or that the canular in my hand was controling my brain.

Sorry- ramble over.
Take care, Stay safe xRolix

[roiben]

You are already doing the right thing in letting someone know, and staying with someone.

Can you try distractions or maybe even something slightly shocking like snapping an elastic band against your wrist to distract so that you can regain controll of your thoughts?

Roiben x