Anxiety and Disturbing thoughts

by Paul Dooley

The Anxiety Guru Show: Anxiety and Your Mind Ep 4

7 Comments

“Worry gives a small thing a big shadow” – Swedish Proverb

The Anxiety Guru Show: Episode 4 Show Notes

1. A common symptom of anxiety disorder and PTSD is having disturbing thoughts.

a. It includes thoughts of harming yourself or others.

b. It includes dreaming of or envisioning violent or sexual themes in thought and dream.

c. Feeling of going crazy.

d. Fear that your going to die.

e. Racing thoughts.

f. All very frightening but none of your thoughts will ever hurt you.

2. Disturbing thoughts are a result of a tired mind and body losing it’s resiliency.

a. The mind has the ability to think multiple things at the same time – it is what makes human intelligence possible, creative and dynamic.

b. Develops out of an obsession with your fear and anxiety – you search for more strange things. You explore the rabbit hole to see how strange it can get.

c. Constant introspection locks you inside your own thoughts – disconnection follows. This is the root of depersonalization but that will be covered in a later show.

i Too much introspection distracts you from the outside world and prolongs your anxiety.

3. Tired mind: Let your mind think what it wants it does not matter and it will not hurt you.

a. Given too much importance your thoughts will dominate you even as you try to do other task.

b. Do not shy away from your scary thoughts – this will only help to create a greater focus since you are trying too hard to push them out of your mind.

c. Do not make the mistake that you are defective – you are mentally fatigued and need rest.

d. Think what you like – you are a good person and will not act on these disturbing thoughts. The mind is powerful and can produce this in anyone at anytime – it’s just that you dwell on it.

c. You can’t always control your thoughts – but if you take away their potential to scare you and to create anxiety then that is the key to recovery.

d. Do not be dominated and terrified by thoughts – they are only thoughts and cannot hurt you.

e. Remember – you will not act on your thoughts – they are just thoughts.

f. Acceptance, letting go, patience, exercise and a healthy diet are all keys to recovery.

Email your questions, comments and topics you would like covered to info@anxietyguru.net

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paul

January 18th, 2009 at 11:53 am

You made so much sense about bad thoughts, you have really helped me and i thank you.

Megan

September 26th, 2009 at 8:34 am

Thank you so much. I have had problems with anxiety since I was 5 years old but I have been struggling with the most disturbing thoughts for the past month. I have thought I should die because I was going to turn into a bad person. I thought I was the only person who experienced this. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

casey

October 1st, 2009 at 4:13 pm

thank you this helps alot!!

Paul

November 1st, 2009 at 1:58 am

Paul,

9 months on and listening to this mp3 has helped me so much im well on the road to recovery, youve explained stress in a way no one else has and in a lot of detail.

You should be a councillor, and should be proud of yourself that youve helped me this much.

Respect from the UK

Paul

November 1st, 2009 at 8:41 am

Thank you. I hope you stay well. It means a great deal to me to know that you’ve been helped. Hang in there.

Cam

December 2nd, 2009 at 6:55 am

I think that this is so good.. I get really bad feelings when i think my terrible thoughts i feel alone alot of the time.. Im not sure what to do… i have bad thoughts or feelings of harming my baby idk what the heck is worng with me its like when i get in to that panic i feel almost capable.. I feel like such a piece of crap! I just dont know what to do… They have me on 20 mg of lexapro and i have been since oct… I hate this but its nice to know im not alone does anyone have any advice?

Paul

December 2nd, 2009 at 12:42 pm

Hi Cam, My advice would be to take the thoughts that disturb you the most and exam them closely. Don’t shrink from them, but instead let them come close, right in front of you. Then, ask yourself this. Do I actually want to DO what my thoughts suggest? Have I ever done what my thoughts suggest? If the answer is no then be relieved and understand that it is stress and anxiety making you vulnerable to the false belief that you would do something horrific. But of course you will not. Let those thoughts do what they will,they won’t harm you and if you remain unimpressed by those thoughts they will fade away. Hang in there.