Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts

If you suffer from frightening, obsessive, or disturbing thoughts, you know all too well how they can intrude on your life. You may even worry what these thoughts mean about you. Do they make you a bad person? No! You aren’t bad—or crazy. These upsetting thoughts that enter your mind unbidden are called unwanted intrusive thoughts, and many rational and good people have them. Fortunately, there are proven-effective techniques you can use now to move past these thoughts and reclaim your life.
This powerful guide offers an evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach to help you get unstuck from distressing thoughts; overcome feelings of guilt, shame, and loneliness that can accompany these thoughts; and reduce your overall anxiety. You’ll learn about the different types of unwanted thoughts, why these thoughts keep getting stuck, and ways to break out of this vicious cycle. Finally, you’ll discover how changes in attitude and beliefs can help you move beyond your thoughts so you can focus on the things that really matter.