How to Manage Intrusive Thoughts and Anxiety

Thank you everyone for your input!! 💕

Remind myself that not to believe everything I think. Even when my thoughts feel undoubtedly real and a true reflection of reality, a lot of the time my thoughts are not true. And you just have to keep fighting back against those thoughts over and over again to train your mind to shut the hell up. It takes patience and it’s hard as hell and I still have a long way to go but it’s the only option for me

Also! This doesn’t always help, but mock them in your head, resay them in a silly voice, give yourself over dramatic compliments like if you mess up try saying stuff like “I am the absolute best at this, nasa should hire me” or other stuff. This can be hard to do but I sometimes take nice baths, use a sent you enjoy, some nice warm water, just be comfy in the bath it can be simple or you can be extra with candles (we all deserve a nice candle bath) and while your in the bath repeat to yourself out loud or in your head stuff like -I deserve to smell nice for myself -I deserve comfort -I am worth the effort -I deserve being clean -I am worthy Self affirmations are hard as because you gotta rewrite how your brain already talks to you but doing so can be great and help improve your mood. I also recommend prepping, if you know you’re gonna be anxious about something, do some self care and coping while you’re still in an okay state so when your anxious you’ll be kinda trained on how to help yourself later.

If you can, ask who ever prescribes your medications about adhd medications. I don’t have adhd (as far as I know and think) but I was put on a pill meant for kids with adhd and it minimized and nearly got rid of my intrusive thoughts, I could finally just have my own thoughts. I will say however that after a few months you may need a higher dosage because you’ll build tolerance. Also music! Music is a big help for me. If I need to focus on something and need intrusive thoughts out of the way the extra noise keeps my mind busy enough that I don’t have as many.

what I do is I try to address the thought instead of trying to block it out which only makes it worse. I will say things like, "thank you for your input, but that isnt helpful right now" this way I can process the thought without actually welcoming it or obsessing over it more.

I second the yoga and meditating. Its helped a ton

I started yoga + meditation recently and it helps me alot.

Let the thoughts enter your mind and don’t worry that they’re there. They will pass. Try redirecting your attention without worrying about the thoughts having entered your mind

Personally I do a lot of journaling to assess my own thoughts