Have you ever had an unpleasant thought or image that seems to pop into your head out of nowhere? These unwanted mental visitors, also known as intrusive thoughts, can be disturbing, distressing and ...

Everyone has passing intrusive thoughts that seem to come from outside their control: The content may feel alien, absurd, or threatening, and may pass after a few weird moments. Intrusive thoughts can ...

The mind can wander to strange places. Sometimes those places and the images that come with them are unwanted, dangerous and negative. We all have intrusive thoughts, but some of us deal with them ...

Have you ever had a disturbing thought pop up into your head? Thoughts that are distressing, repetitive and unwanted are called intrusive thoughts. NPR's senior Visuals producer LA Johnson talks with ...

Have you ever had scary thoughts pop into your head that you just couldn't stop thinking about? They're called intrusive thoughts, and they are distressing, repetitive and unwanted. They can be ...

Intrusive thoughts can feel frightening and convincing, especially when linked to paranoia, ulterior motives, and ...

Too often, people say they “let their intrusive thoughts win” after spontaneously dyeing their hair or making a late-night purchase. There’s a difference between impulsive and intrusive thoughts, ...

When trying to avoid an unwanted thought, people often reactively reject and replace the thought after it occurs. But proactively avoiding an association in the first place can be much more efficient, ...

Rohan’s nighttime fears of being robbed and abducted began at five years old. At nine, Rohan was still sleeping in his mother’s room plagued by nighttime obsessions. “I feel like we’re going to get ...