Stress Center Peer Support

I have been trying really hard to work on letting the "scary thoughts" come in and not obsessing on them. However, lately my body has not been reacting as it had been in the pass. Before I would have a thought about hurting myself or someone close to me and I would PANIC and dwell on it for days. I would be very scared and unsure of myself and obsess about it constantly, causing marjor anxiety. Well i have been having those same thoughts and I am not panicking. My thoughts are telling me that since i am not reacting physically to these thoughts anymore that I may act on them. My husband just says that I am getting better,


my question is......has anyone ever felt this way before? Were you afraid that since you were not feeled with anxeity at the thought of something scary that you may actually act on it?

Thank you in advance for your responses. it helps a lot to know that I am not the only one who feels this way.

Hi Gottagetbetter (like your name!),

I also have scary thoughts, and realize that when I was around 11 years old I had thoughts of hurting family members and felt terrible about it. At that time, I had no idea this was considered a symptom of anxiety, and didn't realize it even after many years of knowing I had anxiety as an adult!

Now my scary thoughts involve social situations, and my current obsession is fearing that I won't have good references to get a job, because I fear people will not want to help me out, even though I did a good job and got along well with them when I did work with them. My avoidance of people causes long stretches of time to go by without being in touch with them so it's harder to network with references.

Anyway, I'm sorry I'm not answering your question at all, I just related to your symptom of having scary thoughts.

I think it's a sign you are getting better. It takes time, it's a process like they say, so the fact that the symptoms are going away is good. If the thoughts are still there, remember it's just habit. Your body is reacting first to your new habit by dropping the physical reactions. If the thoughts are still there - and your worrying about it - remember, the worrying about the thoughts is part of the anxiety.

Thinking that you'll act on it is just another anxious thought - a habit that is not real or rational. So don't worry about it Just keep going with the program, I think not having the physical panic reaction is a good sign you're headed in the right direction!

Let me assure you that you will not act on these thoughts, and your scare voice is having a good time at your expense. "It" will say anything to keep you in a state of anxiousness because that state keeps it alive. Your way of thinking is a bad habit and this can be changed!

Take this bull by the horns. Tell it to "knock it off" and then return to the present moment. Keep your attention on what you are doing presently. Do this no matter how long it takes. Over and over and over again. There are other ways to deal with this type of obsession and you will get to those techniques in time, but for now, stop and turn around and face the fear. It's not real and you need to turn around and dispute this. Also, check out www.ocdonline.com

Freedom from Fear by Dr. Howard Liebgold is great for OCD.

Thank you both very much. You all have been so helpful to me.

I know deep down I will not act on them, but OCD is a doubting disease and it makes you doubt who you are and what you will do. I HATE IT!