Hello everyone. I need some advice and a bit of help if I may. I literally feel like I am turning into a pscyho. (I guess that is normal with anxiety). I have the classic obsessive thoughts of hurting others or myself. Just like Lucinda. And I can't seem to get rid of them. I see a sharp object and think what if I hurt my wife, my puppy, myself or someone else? Freaks me out. It's getting to the point that I feel like I am not really me anymore. Like I am going to lose control at any second and turn into this insane person like the ones we see on television and news and stuff. Can someone give me some advice on how to combat these thoughts? I could really use your help. Thank you.

Hi willy,

I'm sorry you are struggling right now with obsessive thoughts. I know all too well how utterly terrifying they can be and how they break you down day after day. I remember feeling the same as you. I thought for sure I needed to be put away somewhere far far away. Those obsessive thoughts are nothing willy. You are not going to do those things. You are petrified of the thought, it gives you great pain when they pop up. I've have every nasty horrific thought imaginable and none came true. It's just anxiety.

Ok with that said, what helped me was exercise. Can you incorporate 30 minutes of walking at least 4 times a week? That really got my healing rolling. I walk at a brisk pace. Next, do your relaxation tape at the very least once but more if you can. Last, when the thoughts come let it be there. Do not be afraid of it, laught at it. Say back to it "oh how ridiculous...what a silly thought" and then try and move on. Go do a cross word puzzle, fix something in the house, do the laundry..just get busy. If the thought comes back, keep underreacting "there's the silly thought again, what an imagination I have" and then move on. Everyone has scary thoughts....look at the horror shows out there..someone thought those up....it's just a thought

I hope this helps a little. You are safe and so are your loved ones.

Best wishes

hope4peace

What I always do is focus on the people I love...and I can't imagine actually hurting them, and I visualise their broken bodies for just an instant,and that image makes me repudiate the whole horrid business, and I am back to thinking normal thoughts again.

Hey there, willy - Hope 4 Peace is RIGHT!!
You should remember me, I posted some very similar words that you replied to a few months ago. I have had those thoughts before and they still creap in sometimes when Im real stressed or eat something that I feel can bring them on, (ANXIETY)But they do not haunt me all day long like they were. I am not 100% yet, but I can watch scary movies, and be around knives with out freaking out. I dont even think about it that much anymore. How I deal with it, is by surrouinding myself with the things that scare me - seems risky I know, but the more I am around my "what-ifs" and nothing happens the more I realize I am in control and they're just thoughts.

Also telling your close friends or family that you know will not be judge mental will help too. It really does release the hold the thoughts have when you get them out. And just keep repeating... THOUGHTS JUST THOUGHTS. You and I are in this one together.

If you need me, I'm here.

Have a beautiful peaceful weekend doing the things you love.

Thank you. I am glad I am not alone. It gets hard at times, but they are only thoughts. I am glad it is frightening to me (as strange as that sounds).I will get exercising more and take all of your advice. Thanks so much.

i have thoughts about harming my kids and feel like the thoughts will make me do this had these thoughts for months will this ever go away please help me will i hurt the most precious people in the world to me

Hi Diane,
You are not going to hurt your kids. The fact that these thoughts terrify you so badly makes you know that you wouldn't hurt your children.

I have scary thoughts of hurting myself, although I KNOW that I would never ever hurt myself or anyone else. There are some great books out there to explain what is going on. One is Hope and Help for your Nerves, by Dr.Claire Weekes. Also Imp of the Mind as well.

This should explain what is going on and why. I am learning to tell my thoughts when they do that - you are a nothing thought - you don't scare me anymore and I also tell them to say that in French to me. It loses it's power when they come in.

Hi Willie,
I just posted a message under "Scary Thoughts...Please Help" but I read the answers to your question and it's helped me, too. I'm dealing with the same thing. It IS getting better slowly, but I had a bad morning this morning. Like you - just thinking "am I turning into a psycho?" which then totally freaked me out. Logically, I know it's just the anxiety making us feel so out of control sometimes BUT we wont do those things. The very fact that it scares us so much is proof that we'd never do it. I totally understand how you're feeling, though. I actually went through a similiar phase in my 20s and it went away for years (I'm in my 50s now!) So, you see...nothing ever happened and I know I'll get better again (and you too!) Hang in there.
Cindy