Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

A CBT-Based Guide to Getting over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts

You are not your thoughts! In this powerful book, two anxiety experts offer proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help you get unstuck from disturbing thoughts, overcome the shame these thoughts can bring, and reduce your anxiety.

If you suffer from unwanted, intrusive, frightening, or even disturbing thoughts, you might worry about what these thoughts mean about you. Thoughts can seem like messages - are they trying to tell you something? But the truth is that they are just thoughts, and don’t necessarily mean anything. Sane and good people have them. If you are someone who is plagued by thoughts you don’t want - thoughts that scare you, or thoughts you can’t tell anyone about - this book may change your life.

In this compassionate guide, you’ll discover the different kinds of disturbing thoughts, myths that surround your thoughts, and how your brain has a tendency to get “stuck” in a cycle of unwanted rumination. You’ll also learn why common techniques to get rid of these thoughts can backfire. And finally, you’ll learn powerful cognitive behavioral skills to help you cope with and move beyond your thoughts, so you can focus on living the life you want. Your thoughts will still occur, but you will be better able to cope with them - without dread, guilt, or shame.

If you have unwanted thoughts, you should remember that you aren’t alone. In fact, there are millions of people just like you -good people who have awful thoughts, gentle people with violent thoughts, and sane people with “crazy” thoughts. This book will show you how to move past your thoughts so you can reclaim your life!

This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation - an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools listeners can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

©2017 Sally M. Winston, PsyD and Martin N. Seif, PhD (P)2020 New Harbinger Publications

Reseñas de la Crítica

“This important book is essential and mandatory reading for anyone affected by unwanted and intrusive thoughts, and their health providers. The authors crystallize decades of experience into a perfectly clear and readable guide. The solution to this misunderstood problem is in this book.” (Joseph A. Adams, MD, medical director at Baltimore Health Systems and Step By Step of Maryland, LLC, and past president at Smoke Free Maryland)

“I wish I would have had access to this book twenty years ago! Sally Winston and Martin Seif have put all the pieces of the puzzle together to help people understand and overcome unwanted intrusive thoughts. This is a must-read book, packed with information to help people suffering with anxiety-provoking intrusive thoughts, as well as clinicians who are trying to help them.” (Kimberly J. Morrow, LCSW, maintains a private practice in Erie, PA; specializes in the treatment of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); provides training and case consultation for clinicians through www.anxietytraining.com; and is author of Face It and Feel It)

“It turns out that commonsense approaches to stopping our worries, such as pushing thoughts away, arguing with them, or seeking reassurance, actually feed these worries and help them grow. Sally Winston and Martin Seif—two of the brightest minds in our field - deliver a simple yet powerful two-step process for change.” (Reid Wilson, PhD, author of Stopping the Noise in Your Head)

Amazing!

I absolutely loved this book. The narrator is soothing and empathetic, and makes things very relatable. I start ERP with an OCD specialist next month but this was amazing to read to begin to understand why things happen and to have practical steps to help keep me on track in every day use, even when I don’t have therapy that day. To anyone struggling, I highly suggest listening to this book. You are never ever alone!

Practical, thorough & helpful

When i bought this book I was in an endless loop of intrusive thoughts. Every week felt like i had a new worry. E.g. “I feel kinda spaced out today, am i losing my mind? Is this the beginning stages of some horrible neurologic disease? Am I losing my memory? Why can’t I focus? What if reality isn’t as it seems? What if…what if…” The thoughts were endless and so was the discomfort, sometimes terror that came with. No answer I have come up with has ever completely removed an intrusive thought. Eventually it would always creep back into my mind.

Intuitively, I knew they were all ridiculous, I’ve been dealing with them for years and I’m still here, still healthy. Just anxious. However, simply telling myself “these thoughts are ridiculous” didn’t quell my fear.

This book recognizes and validates everything I’ve said above. No matter how disturbing the thought is. The author explains what thoughts are, whats happening in your brain when you have an intrusive thought, and how fighting, pleading, resisting and suppressing the thoughts never works. And finally, what to do about intrusive thoughts.

I give this book 5 stars for:
1. Very thorough and understandable explanations. The words are ordered and organized very intentionally.

2. Many examples. It’s very validating to hear them actually say the very ridiculous even silly, but terrifying thought you were having that you were too afraid or embarrassed to bring up to tell anyone about...

3. (Most importantly) Practical information on how to do exposures to rid yourself of the terror and distress intrusive thoughts cause. Nothing in the book is vague. Nothing is ideological or theoretical.

What I needed to hear

This is exactly what I needed. My mind over powers my body a lot. This explained it well and allowed me to understand my thoughts will not become reality. They are just thoughts.

Excellent!

Excellent book! Now I understand more about my scary, intrusive thoughts. Now I know I'm not the only person who has them.

it is a must read/listen. However...

if you have intrusive thoughts this is definitely worth the listen. It took me quite a few days to get through it as I was experiencing anxiety, panic and intrusive thoughts when I started it. It really does give a detailed explanation of what is happening and steps and practices to over come it. narration was a little dreary, could have been better