“gee I want grapes” - not intrusive, even if unexpected.
“Gee I should swerve into incoming traffic” - intrusive
No, the latter is not any more or less intrusive than the first.
If you want to talk about clinically intrusive thoughts, they’re persistent, reoccurring and relentless, not just a random spooky thought that pops into your head - everyone has those, and most people move on from them.
“Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, involuntary, and often disturbing images, urges, or ideas that pop into the mind unexpectedly. They are generally unsettling, violent, sexual, or taboo, yet they do not reflect a person’s actual desires, character, or intentions. While often harmless, they can cause distress or indicate anxiety, OCD, or trauma.”
https://nesslabs.com/pink-elephant-paradox
Everyone has those. Again, clinically speaking intrusive thoughts need to be persistent.
Thoughts think themselves
I think it’s more about a combination of the rarity + emotional disruption of the thought.
If speaking clinically, persistence and emotional disruption. But the way most people these days use the phrase it’s basically just people noticing that we don’t actually have control over their thoughts.
True, persistent as an unwanted thought! But yeah… maybe they should be renamed as “unwanted thoughts.”
How do you know if a thought is wanted or unwanted before it happens though?
It’s almost like it doesn’t even matter what one posts here about, everyone seems to immediately make it their mission to start poking holes in it.
I don’t think so. That’s just a showerthought that intruded you mind
I have OCD. It’s legit hard to function at times.
As someone with mental health issues including intrusive thoughts: Nope, you probably haven’t experienced one if you truly think that. Normal thoughts come and go, and, sure, they may interrupt each other, but an intrusive thought comes into your brain like a fucking tank, crushing and maiming everything in its path, not even considering to leave, and shooting down every attempt to get rid of it violently. You absolutely know it is one…
Sure, clinically speaking. But generally speaking, every thought came unbidden.
To me “unbidden” ≠ “intrusive”; in a venn diagram “intrusive” would be a small circle fully contained within a much larger “unbidden” one. Though we go deeply into the question of free will when considering every thought “unbidden”, so I really woupdn’t go that deep ;-)
Well i am kinda alluding the the free will thing in the OP actually.
Fair :-)
oh yeah. trying to meditate really gets you to realize how hard it is. Ok need to be in the moment and not be thinking about anything in particular. like right after this. gonna do it. 3. 2. 1. now just concentrate on breathing. in. out. in. out…
I mean if you realize how hard it is, sounds like you’re doing a pretty good job at meditating tho
