13 Comments
May 8, 2023Liked by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD

I truly thought I was the only one! This is so helpful, thank you.

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Thank you for sharing that fact that intrusive thoughts are also need in the general population. I think when we have them, we think something is “wrong” with us!

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Jun 14, 2023Liked by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD

Hilarious coincidence having nothing to do with the topic (which I do need to read about and will shortly); I was raised in a St. Paul (USA-MN) suburb named...

White Bear Lake

... and for extra eyebrow height, the name was of course often shortened to "White Bear."

Okay, going back to read the content naow...

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I just want to say I really enjoy your style of writing. You successfully make me laugh while also delivering such helpful content 💙💙 it's easy to believe your thoughts are facts and with awareness, you can definitely step back and see them for what they are- blurbs on a page without power until we give them power.

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author

Thanks so much Victoria! Yes - absolutely!

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May 16, 2023Liked by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD

Immensely helpful! I have a name for it now and perhaps a way out of it. So comforting to know I am not the only one. Thank you!

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author

So glad to hear!

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May 12, 2023Liked by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD

WOW. In one fell swoop I feel like a normal mom.

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May 11, 2023Liked by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD

Loved the topic and the writing!

It helped me a lot, as a person with so much intrusive thoughts.

Thanks!!!

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author

I'm so glad to hear!

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May 9, 2023Liked by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD

Nothing real to add back, but thank you for the consistent, comprehensive and wonderful writing.

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May 8, 2023·edited May 8, 2023Liked by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD

Regular meditation helps with intrusive thoughts. You're training yourself to have no thoughts. Since our minds are typically incredibly busy, training yourself to do this is usually incredibly helpful. Eventually you can just stop intrusive thoughts in their tracks.

Over and above that, intentional, repetitive counter-thoughts or unrelated thoughts work. If you are thinking about teaching your baby after it grows up, or making a better home for your baby, or ways to create a better life for yourself, or enjoying a particular activity, the unwanted thoughts about causing harm have no space to take up residence in your mind. Positive, happy daydreaming about a joyful future is the opposite of unpleasant, "intrusive" thoughts.

Unless you realize you are the originator of your thoughts, and consciously and deliberately create them, your mind will run on other people's thoughts (delivered to you via spoken word/media), as there's no end to control freaks wanting to influence you to think and act in ways that benefit them (usually to your detriment).

You can habituate yourself to just about any behavior, good or bad. I recommend habituating yourself to good behaviors.

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Adolescence is a time of rapid hormonal change. Maybe the urge to change their sex is just the result of intrusive thoughts ?am I a boy/girl) that they didn't know they should ignore?

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