While it’s not often discussed, a lot of people who battle anxiety experience intrusive thoughts. These aren’t the same types of worries you might have about how you’re doing in school, your finances, or your relationships (also common), but disturbing, unsettling thoughts about the possibility that you’ll lose a child or run your car off the road, for example.
If you have these thoughts occasionally or frequently, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. “Perhaps the most significant step of coping with intrusive thoughts is knowing that everyone has them, and it’s completely normal,” Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, a neuropsychologist in New York City, told POPSUGAR. “It’s how you manage and get past them that can determine your attachment to them.”
If your intrusive thoughts are a constant companion and interfere with your daily life, it’s always best to enlist the help of a therapist. For those who don’t have immediate access to professional help, we’ve rounded up some therapists’ best tips and techniques for combatting intrusive thoughts on your own.