Obsessive thoughts of physical harm

[Unsustainable_High]

I'm told that its common for people with OCD to frequently have obsessive thoughts about harming others, such as the people they're closest to, which obviously terrifies them.

I don't have those but I tend to have explicit and detailed thoughts of harming myself. I don't catch them until they've progressed enough that I am seeing exactly what I'd like to do in the forefront of my mind. I see it and then sometimes am compelled to do it only because I'm curious as to whether it would actually look like what I'm seeing in my head.

I realize that this isn't normal but is it even slightly more common in OCD "patients."

 

[TOONAFISH]

I don't know if i have OCD or not, have been questioned about it a lot but never diagnosed. However have had thought of both harming myself and others close to me. I used to sit for ages and plan what I was going to do, and more and more images would flash into my head about it. It progressed to suicidal thinking. but to start it was just wondering how much pain i could take, and maybe if i deserved to feel pain. god know.

 

[gray]

Normally people with OCD wouldn't act on their violent thoughts, yet it is the fear that they might which really drives them crazy and into a state of panic.

 

[Unsustainable_High]

I suffer from more than just OCD. In fact, OCD is the least of my problems. I'm looking for some confirmation as to whether or not this is "just me."

I don't "plan" or devote any time to it, it is one moment when my mind just gets away with me and ends up in places it really shouldn't.

 

[gray]

I don't know whether or not it is OCD but it has some of its characteristics.

OCD at a basic level = thought pops into head > compulsion to act upon it / fight with ones own mind to not act upon it > win / lose

Although people with OCD act on their thoughts, like I said before it is not normal to diagnosis OCD for those who are physically violent. More likely to be a combination of OCD and something else and that the OCD side is aggravating your problem.

How often do you give in and act upon the thoughts though?
There are some shocking things people can think when they have OCD, I should know I've had the worst of them.

However I don't really like the name tags e.g. OCD etc. because it places you in box, though I admit for some it can offer an understanding why you behave like you do. Which is what I think you are trying to get from this thread.

 

[Unsustainable_High]

I never know which is which.

OCD seems to give me the longer-lasting and graphic images. Those are easier to resist unless they really spark my curiosity.

I also get the PTSD dissociation that results in a lot of self-injury that I don't intend or notice that I'm doing.

I'm hoping to blame at least part of this on OCD, because I can control that. PTSD, I cannot.

 

[trev23]

I'm told that its common for people with OCD to frequently have obsessive thoughts about harming others, such as the people they're closest to, which obviously terrifies them.

I don't have those but I tend to have explicit and detailed thoughts of harming myself. I don't catch them until they've progressed enough that I am seeing exactly what I'd like to do in the forefront of my mind. I see it and then sometimes am compelled to do it only because I'm curious as to whether it would actually look like what I'm seeing in my head.

I realize that this isn't normal but is it even slightly more common in OCD "patients."

hey it think this is due to intrusive thoughts but the ocd makes it more prevelant and the compelled to do it feeling. i have exactly the same thing and my doc rekons its ocd and intrusive thoughts working tigether in a negative way x

 

[slipstream]

Hi Unsustainable_High, i totally get what your going through, i don't know if it's my PTSD or OCD but some of my thoughts really scare me, although i have never acted on them i sometimes zone out and it's scary that i may act upon them when i'm in that state.

Although i can't offer you any advise on how to deal with it i just wanted you to know that your not alone

 

[IntrospectiveAdolescent]

I've had similar issues lately. I am an highly anxious person with a history of depression. Last week was really stressful at school, and I found myself having a repeating thought of being shot in the head, shooting myself in the head, etc. The thought was not exactly disturbing. For that matter, it didn't really have any graphic detail or emotion attached to it. It was calming for a moment, and then it was just annoying. I was really curious about this, because I've never really quiet had the same symptom before. When I was depressed, I felt a very different, seriously suicidal wish to inflict harm on myself. This to me seems like it might be more of an obsessive compuslive thing. I wanted to ask the therapist at school, but obviously telling her I was day dreaming about shooting myself in the head would get me all sorts of calls home and tickets to the hospital. So... Is this OCD or is it actually just depression?

 

[Uglulyx]

This really hits close the mark of what I've experienced with intrusive thoughts. I'm still figuring out my own so I'm afriad I can give you more than the reassurance that you are not the only one.