Dealing with intrusive thoughts can be confusing and overwhelming. Feeling isolated is easy if you experience intrusive thoughts, but you’re not alone. Many people experience intrusive thoughts, but it’s not something that’s often talked about. Luckily, we’re here to shed some light on this subject and help you gain more coping tools.
Coping With Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts are ideas that seem to appear out of nowhere. They’re typically upsetting and are often thoughts that could lead an individual to harm themselves or others or damage property if acted upon. Intrusive thoughts can be about oneself or others. They can be triggered by certain things in daily life or nothing at all.
If you experience intrusive thoughts, know that there are ways to overcome them and cope. Here are some popular coping mechanisms that you can consider trying.
Prioritize Sleep
Many people find that a lack of sleep correlates with increased intrusive thoughts. Making sure that you get enough sleep at night can benefit your mental health in many ways. Make rest a priority, and you may experience fewer intrusive thoughts.
Yoga and Walking
Gentle movement can be an excellent way to quiet the mind and relax. Developing a yoga routine, you enjoy can help you overcome intrusive thoughts and give you an option for when it feels like your mind won’t stop racing.
Walking is another great way to get in some exercise and calm down your mind. Of course, getting outside when possible is always a great idea, so see if there are any trails or parks near where you live.
Additionally, yoga and walking are great for getting exercise while staying mindful. Finding ways to incorporate mindfulness into your life is an excellent option for decreasing intrusive thoughts.
Journaling
Starting a journaling practice can be an incredibly powerful way to overcome intrusive thoughts. Getting your intrusive thoughts down on paper can be a good way to get them out of your head. It also gives you a chance to reflect. For example, if you’re in therapy, consider bringing your journal to your therapy sessions and discussing the thoughts you had written down.
Identifying your thought patterns can be extremely helpful, and journaling can be an excellent way. Taking time to reflect on your thoughts can help you identify if you have any triggers and when the thoughts stopped or became less frequent.
Intrusive thoughts can be distracting, disruptive, and distressing. You don’t have to just live with them. There are ways you can cope with and decrease your intrusive thoughts. There are various therapeutic techniques you can use to overcome them. If you’re struggling with intrusive thoughts and would like to speak with a mental health professional, you can call the Avalon Malibu team at (844) 857-5992. We have various treatment options that help individuals cope with intrusive thoughts and decrease their mental health symptoms.
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