The best way to cope with intrusive thoughts is to shine a little bit of light into that dark side of our minds. 

Let’s start with 5 main types of intrusive thoughts we deal with. See which of the types and examples below resonates with you the most; if none of the types or examples resonate with you, that’s OK; we are all unique, and all of the solutions to cope with intrusive thoughts will work regardless of their specific type.

5 Main Types of Intrusive Thoughts

Intrusive thoughts can be categorized into several types, including:

 

• • Harm-related thoughts: Thoughts about causing harm to oneself or others.

• • Sexual thoughts: Inappropriate or taboo sexual thoughts.

• • Religious or blasphemous thoughts: Thoughts that go against one’s religious beliefs.

• • Doubt-related thoughts: Persistent doubts about actions, decisions, or moral integrity.

• • Violent Intrusive Thoughts: Unwanted, distressing thoughts about causing harm.

Trigger warning – some of the harmful thoughts examples might cause distress. 

Examples of Intrusive Thoughts

Harm-Related Intrusive Thoughts

 

• • Imagining harming a loved one.

• • Thoughts of pushing someone in front of a train.

• • Fear of accidentally poisoning someone.

• • Visualizing a car accident.

• • Thoughts of hurting oneself with a sharp object.

• • Fear of dropping a baby.

• • Imagining causing a fire.

• • Thoughts of strangling someone.

• • Fear of causing a plane crash.

• • Visualizing a violent robbery.

Sexual Intrusive Thoughts

 

• • Inappropriate sexual thoughts about a family member.

• • Imagining sexual acts with strangers.

• • Fear of being sexually attracted to children.

• • Thoughts of infidelity.

• • Visualizing sexual acts in public.

• • Fear of being sexually attracted to animals.

• • Imagining sexual acts with colleagues.

• • Thoughts of sexual violence.

• • Fear of being sexually attracted to inappropriate objects.

• • Visualizing sexual acts with authority figures.

Religious or Blasphemous Intrusive Thoughts

 

• • Thoughts of cursing in a place of worship.

• • Fear of committing blasphemy.

• • Imagining desecrating religious symbols.

• • Thoughts of doubting one’s faith.

• • Fear of being possessed by a demon.

• • Visualizing religious figures in inappropriate situations.

• • Thoughts of renouncing one’s religion.

• • Fear of being punished by a deity.

• • Imagining sacrilegious acts.

• • Thoughts of questioning religious teachings.

Doubt-Related Intrusive Thoughts

 

• • Fear of leaving the stove on.

• • Thoughts of not locking the door.

• • Doubts about one’s sexual orientation.

• • Fear of making a wrong decision.

• • Thoughts of not completing a task correctly.

• • Doubts about one’s relationship.

• • Fear of forgetting something important.

• • Thoughts of not being good enough.

• • Doubts about one’s abilities.

• • Fear of being a fraud.

Violent Intrusive Thoughts

 

• • Imagining stabbing someone.

• • Thoughts of shooting someone.

• • Visualizing a physical fight.

• • Fear of committing a violent crime.

• • Thoughts of torturing someone.

• • Imagining a mass shooting.

• • Fear of being a serial killer.

• • Visualizing a brutal attack.

• • Thoughts of causing a war.

• • Fear of being involved in a violent riot.

Intrusive thoughts thrive in shame. 

Intrusive thoughts are not easy to talk about, but they are indeed a normal part of our lives. We all have them; the key is to learn to cope with them effectively. What I often see in my sessions is that even opening up about your intrusive thoughts might reduce their intensity.