Greetings all, I'm new to this forum. I just finished the program 4 months ago. My main problem was obsessive scary thoughts. I was in college back in September of '98; it was my 1st time away from home. One Saturday night some neighbours were making noise and I thought "what if I go to their room and harm them?". I couldn't believe my mind could come up with such a thought and it frightened me (I'm harmless as a kitten!). I thought I was loosing my mind! From that point on, I could not look at someone without obsessing about doing some harm. I have since recovered and no longer obsess about doing harm to others. I am curious to hear from others about these obsessive thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by atc:
Greetings all, I'm new to this forum. I just finished the program 4 months ago. My main problem was obsessive scary thoughts. I was in college back in September of '98; it was my 1st time away from home. One Saturday night some neighbours were making noise and I thought "what if I go to their room and harm them?". I couldn't believe my mind could come up with such a thought and it frightened me (I'm harmless as a kitten!). I thought I was loosing my mind! From that point on, I could not look at someone without obsessing about doing some harm. I have since recovered and no longer obsess about doing harm to others. I am curious to hear from others about these obsessive thoughts.

I'm curious to know your secret on how exactly you are totally free from your obsessive scary thought. I'm close to it but it seems every time something stressful happens hello there it is again. I want to get to the point where I don't even think about it for peat sake, I look at other people and think do you think of this too, its silly certainly but its nice to know you have also done the same. Please give me your tips on this. Thanx.

Hi atc and butterflymom and everyone else!

I too have the same "joy" of obsessive scary thoughts. For me, it was of getting into a wreck. I won't tell the details of it because it sometimes got pretty bad... anyway, I wouldn't hardly drive at all! Now, I am driving a lot more... I still start to think about having an accident either someone hitting me, or me hitting them but I just tell myself that they are thoughts only thoughts. "It's not what is happening presently, I'm ok. The cars on the road are not coming towards me. I am calm and capable of driving...etc." Stuff like that comes through my head when I start thinking bad things. I think the car wreck one was one of my "bad" ones. I did the exercise a lot when Lucinda has you write down the thought in a funny way. Mine was that I was in a rubber car and my dog and I were driving down the road w/ our tongues hanging (yes, mine too! ) out. A car went across the midline and just bounced right off...it worked! Using humor and telling myself that all they were, really helps for me. I am currently on week 12 now and doing so much better! I still have the hypochondria stuff where I think I am going to have a heart attack or stroke, but I just tell myself that I am fine, I went to the doctor a few mos ago, etc, etc. Isn't it crazy how we get ourselves all worked up over nothing more than THOUGHTS! Also remember thoughts are NOT actions! You know you won't act upon these thoughts! Anyway, I won't write a book here...and I hope that helps!
Take care,
Cindy

Hey Butterfly Mom, I guess I kind of led you on. I still have some occasional thoughts, however, I don't obsess about them. I assure myself that I am a good person that would never harm, and that they are just thoughts. I don't dwell anymore. Its compassionate self-talk. Never give up!

I too only have the occasional time. But this has to be the worst thought ever. It was like I heard it and there it was hasn't left since. Oh man I can't stand it. Anyways I also just remind myself its just a thought nothing else.

Its interesting though I have the same thought about getting into accidents not detailed or anything but I think that runs through everyones mind ya know but for me its not a scary thought. It amazes me what upsets one person and not another ya know.

I too have been having trouble with scary, obsessive thoughts. I have been to 4 different doctors in the past month and 2 of them believe that I have a sinus infection. I have been trying to take medication to make it go away. I did a full course of antibiotics and the symptoms improved a little but then came back. I started a 2nd course and wasn't able to finish partly because .... the truth is I psyched myself out and became so anxious at the thought of taking the medicine I gave up. Now I have to try again and the thought of it brings me to tears. I am petrified to try it again. I have myself convinced that I will have an allergic reaction and die.
Almost everyday I watch lesson 10 hoping that things will just sink in and that I will be rational enough to start taking the meds. I am also very tired of not feeling well. I'm like a little hamster on the treadmill and I having trouble jumping off. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Ok let me get this straight your doctor thinks you have a sinus infection and thats whats causing your scary thoughts, Geez now thats interesting I had 2 sinus infections and did take antibiotics. They definitely helped me feel better but the scary thoughts still were there also.

Is it the antibiotics your scared to take?? If it is remember that taking them will help you to feel better physically so you can concentrate on getting rid of your scary thoughts.

As soon as I started concentrating on my scary thought and not trying to get it out of my mind and saying to myself its no big deal I'm not going to do it so I just let it into my thoughts and then let it pass through it really worked. It still passes through my thoughts when I'm stressed but I shrug it off and continue on. I hope it continues that way by the way. Ha!

Let me know about the antibiotics. I say go ahead and take them face that fear and go through the next wall your scary thought.

Of course its easy for me to say. I wish you luck I know you can do it.

quote:

Originally posted by atc:
Greetings all, I'm new to this forum. I just finished the program 4 months ago. My main problem was obsessive scary thoughts. I was in college back in September of '98; it was my 1st time away from home. One Saturday night some neighbours were making noise and I thought "what if I go to their room and harm them?". I couldn't believe my mind could come up with such a thought and it frightened me (I'm harmless as a kitten!). I thought I was loosing my mind! From that point on, I could not look at someone without obsessing about doing some harm. I have since recovered and no longer obsess about doing harm to others. I am curious to hear from others about these obsessive thoughts.

ATC are you from England because I noticed the way you spelled neighbours. I think that's a cool accent hehe. I too have had many obsessive thoughts and I am new to this forum too. Paxil combined with this program really helped me a great deal. There's this book called "Brain Lock" that I talked about in another topic. I haven't read it yet, I just heard about it. Maybe that's what I need to completely get over these thoughts. Anyone who needs a "push" should really consider Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft or a similar medication. I came off my Paxil and then I started obsessing again because I don't think I was quite ready to come off it. I just got some more today so hopefully the next time I come off it I'll be ready.

Hey Yak, I'm actually not from England! I'm from Canada and I have no idea why I spell neighbour that way! I was actually put on Zoloft for depression, and it helped a great deal. Well, I told the doc that it was depression, but it was the thoughts that were getting me. A combination of meds and the program helped me a great deal. Anyone having problems with obsessive thoughts, listen to Lesson 10 more than once. It has some wonderful ideas. Anyone with obsessive scary thoughts about hurting others, don't worry. I had silly thoughts for 2 years and didn't harm a soul! Its hard work but you will overcome them. Anyone feel free to e-mail me, because I am open to conversation on this topic!

I'm very open about this topic too. I've had just about every obsessive thought under the sun. There's this great idea I found in a tape that my former psychologist gave me. It talks about accepting the thoughts and then postponing your thoughts just like it does in Lesson 10 of this program. But it also says to picture yourself putting these thoughts on a cloud then blowing the cloud away and looking at it until it got smaller and smaller to the point where it was gone. That technique has helped me. Also before you go to bed at night or when you get free time, just let yourself obsess for about 15 minutes. Try to get the thoughts as scary as you can make them and don't use any comforting thoughts for those 15 minutes. Then after that time is up, then start using your soothing, calm thoughts. I know it sounds hard but give it a try. The reason for this is because eventually those thoughts won't scare you as much because you are facing them head on and they will begin to deplete.

[This message has been edited by Yak (edited 06-27-2001).]