Dr Nina Higson-Sweeney, who was diagnosed with OCD when she was 10, explains when you should seek help.

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

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 ...

In 2026, Amber Pilkington was recognized by the Evergreen Awards as Best Anxiety & OCD Therapist – Scrupulosity Specialist (U ...

Too often, people say they “let their intrusive thoughts win” after spontaneously dyeing their hair or making a late-night purchase. There’s a difference between impulsive and intrusive thoughts, ...

Everyone has passing intrusive thoughts that seem to come from outside their control: The content may feel alien, absurd, or threatening, and may pass after a few weird moments. Intrusive thoughts can ...

People often want to know why unwanted intrusive thoughts have such terrible content. Common ones include: harming a loved one, impulsively killing oneself, a sudden weird doubt about sexual ...

The mind can wander to strange places. Sometimes those places and the images that come with them are unwanted, dangerous and negative. We all have intrusive thoughts, but some of us deal with them ...

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