Intrusive thoughts are a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental health condition in which a person experiences involuntary obsessions and compulsions that may cause distress.

Have you ever had a disturbing thought pop up into your head? Thoughts that are distressing, repetitive and unwanted are called intrusive thoughts. NPR's senior Visuals producer LA Johnson talks with ...

Everyone experiences intrusive thoughts, and most people can brush them off without a worry. But what happens when those intrusive thoughts become inescapable?

None of us can escape intrusive thoughts, the random and usually off-putting musings that include visions of shoving your hand through the center of a beautifully decorated cake or a bridge collapsing ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Mark Travers writes about the world of psychology. Overthinking is the habit of excessively analyzing, dwelling on or worrying ...

Separating from negative thoughts is a major mental health challenge. When we feel sad or anxious, thoughts like “I am worthless” or “I can’t survive this" can seem very real. The kicker is that the ...

I know I have little control over many things in my life, but I would like to control the contents of my mind. My thoughts seem to have their own ideas about who is in charge. My mind runs in ...

OCD can sometimes involve distressing, intrusive thoughts about suicide, typically distinct from genuine suicidal ideation. Treatment like exposure therapy can help individuals heal from harmful ...

Intrusive thoughts can feel frightening and convincing, especially when linked to paranoia, ulterior motives, and ...