Everyone experiences intrusive thoughts, and most people can brush them off without a worry. But what happens when those intrusive thoughts become inescapable?

Intrusive thoughts are a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental health condition in which a person experiences involuntary obsessions and compulsions that may cause distress.

Separating from negative thoughts is a major mental health challenge. When we feel sad or anxious, thoughts like “I am worthless” or “I can’t survive this" can seem very real. The kicker is that the ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about relationships, personality, and everyday psychology. Overthinking is the habit of excessively analyzing, dwelling on ...

I know I have little control over many things in my life, but I would like to control the contents of my mind. My thoughts seem to have their own ideas about who is in charge. My mind runs in ...

OCD can sometimes involve distressing, intrusive thoughts about suicide, typically distinct from genuine suicidal ideation. Treatment like exposure therapy can help individuals heal from harmful ...

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

Weight-loss drugs not only alter appetite, but can also stop intrusive and obsessive thoughts about food, a new survey suggests. Intrusive thoughts about food, known as ‘food noise’ affect about 57 ...