Bad thoughts?

Hi @Lotusgirl

sounds very confusing and like its really worrying you. I would say a thought is just a thought until it becomes an action. If you are worried that something terrible is going to become an action then it might mean you need to share with someone in real life whats happening for you.

Thoughts dont make you bad and there might be a reason for the thought that has little to do with the thought... i'm sure if this is not at all the same but i always seeem to find myself thinking that people around me are not happy with me. they're upset with me for some reason and i worry about it too much. usually it turns out that its all ok and it was nothing. For me, i think im just so anxious all the time that i'll do soemthing wrong, that i'll stuff everything u and everyone will hate me.. sigh! insecure much?!? lol doh!

Would it be possible to phone lifeline or a friend to help you talk through these thoughts you're having and check to see what else you might do?

lj

I just feel bad that the thoughts pop in when Im handling bub or dealing with bub. Im like woah okay - there are you hello. And then I wil lsometimes forget what the thought was or pay it no mind. But still, the fcat I even had it makes me cringe.

glad that the thought sounds like it passes without being too bothersome at the time. I still wonder if it would be worth talking to someone about it, might ease your mind if nothing else,

lj

Hi @Lotusgirl

It's great that you can talk with us on the forum about these intrusive thoughts you have about handling your baby. I remember having a good discussion about it with you and others maybe two weeks ago when your were asking about the "football" hold.

As you are aware, these intrusive thoughts are part of your anxiety condition and it sounds like you are using some good tools to manage them like identifying them "strange" as soon as they pop into your mind, and ignoring them or trying to distract yourself. The fact that you have these thoughts does not make you a bad person or suggest that you would act upon them.

Try to work on lessening the power of these thoughts by ridiculing or "diffusing" them. For example, a client I worked with had health anxiety and most times she felt a strange sensation in her body, she had crazy thoughts about having cancer. She had young children at home and we devised a strategy for her to clap and sing about these thoughts: "If it's crazy and you know it, clap your hands". (I think this song - if you're happy and you know it - comes from Playskool or somewhere).

Anyway for two weeks, whenever she had these anxious thoughts, she would clap and sing, often with her children, who found it hilarious. After that she only needed to say the song in her head, and clap if the anxious thoughts were strong. Over time they decreased and weren't a problem.

Try the diffusion strategy yourself. As @Former-Member said, a thought is only a thought, and it's only true if we believe it or act upon it.

Wishing you a great week ahead,

Frog

Hi @Lotusgirl

As we discussed previously, there is no need to worry about the football hold and it does not harm a baby in any way. All good.

Did you do something nice today with your family?

Recently I found the words ... "unwelcome intrusive thoughts"

helpful for me to untangle the experience of having many bad thoughts I have not wanted for all sorts of reasons.

I might need to look at something in my life or journal about an issue ..

but also uncomfortable thoughts might just be the bad boys stirring up trouble .. and need to be told .. "bugger off"

Take care ... We are not our thoughts.