Now I'm having more intrusive thoughts - Page 2

[LegalScrapper]

Originally Posted by Quaniliaz

I appreciate this discussion - I also have intrusive thoughts - especially postpartum, but even outside of that period. What has worked for me is immediately recognizing that it is intrusive - not real. But that is easier some days than others....

It is interesting and helpful to think about them as primal fears.

I've suffered with depression and anxiety for several years. The anxiety was always worse and I've gotten that mostly under control. So I just glossed over the depression. I didn't realize the intrusive thoughts were a symptom of PPD. I just got used to having them. They are worse lately - I have a 2 1/2 week old that has some medical issues and am dealing with some work stressors too. So the person that said stress can make it worse is right.

Glad I stumbled across this forum.

[luvbugs]

Wow, i too thought that was normal part of life 'intrusive thoughts' always had them since i can remember. but much worse after dd in 2005. now after ds (17 mos) i can hardly go into an underground garage for fear of earthquake (live in so cal) or a busy starbucks without fearing someone is going to open fire or suicide bomb the place. everything is much worse now with kids because i have to do my all to protect them.

not on meds or therapy - but i did just read The Shack which i think is helping a lot. Trusting in God. Whatever happens is supposed to happen. Not wasting time worrying about something i cant control. i feel better now - but wow - never new this was not normal..

[goodygumdrops]

I just talked to my psychiatrist about this on Tuesday because I too have felt somewhat affected by intrusive thoughts at different times of my life.

Basically, she explained that OCD is part of the spectrum of Generalized anxiety disorder. Intrusive thoughts are a component of OCD. However, having intrusive thoughts does not mean you have OCD. A full OCD diagnoses includes intrusive/obsessive thoughts AND compulsions. My psychiatrist explained to me that I am suffering my ppd and anxiety with ocd tendencies.

I probably was affected by this before I had my son but not nearly as severe. After I had my son, my intrusive/obsessive thoughts were so bad but I didn't realize that it wasn't normal to have them. I thought it was just new mother worries.

Also, I think often adults that were raised in neglectful childhoods tend to grow up and become anxious adults because we had to develop defense mechanisms to cope with our parents neglect, and being constantly vigilant. However, once we become adults, we don't need to carry that defense mechanism so we end up realizing that we are suffering from depression and anxiety.

[luvbugs]

great info - thanks - and makes a lot of sense!

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by Gavin'smom

Basically, she explained that OCD is part of the spectrum of Generalized anxiety disorder. Intrusive thoughts are a component of OCD. However, having intrusive thoughts does not mean you have OCD. A full OCD diagnoses includes intrusive/obsessive thoughts AND compulsions. My psychiatrist explained to me that I am suffering my ppd and anxiety with ocd tendencies.

Thank you for posting this. I have had a resurgence of intrusive thoughts, depression and anxiety, also and have been diagnosed with GAD. Interesting stuff!

Yeah, I always thought that the intrusive thoughts were just because I was weird, something was wrong with me, I was worrying about these weird/bad/vivid things because I was somehow not good enough as a person or something. Weird eh? But it's good to know that it's part of the disorder.