Intrusive Thoughts

If you are suffering from anxiety ( and make no mistake, it can be suffering),  a new season can amplify things that were already there. Thoughts like I should be better than this, I need to sort myself out, or not another summer feeling like this can become louder.

If you experience intrusive thoughts, you might notice them more when the seasons change.  The dark days of winter start to fade, and suddenly your mind notices that the world has become brighter and everyone seems to have a spring in their step. That can feel unsettling, even frightening, especially if you were hoping for the feeling of relief with the start of a new season.

If you’ve spent months or years pushing through stress, holding things together, your body and mind may feel fatigued.  You might have low motivation, irritability, or a sense of emotional emptiness.  

This isn’t laziness or lack of appreciation for nature in all its glory. It’s not a lack of resilience. It’s a sign of a mind and body that's been holding things together for a long time.

The Pressure to Improve Can Make Anxiety Worse

There’s a lot of messaging at this time of year about changing yourself.  Summer is coming. Go to the gym, lose weight, be your best self.  This all sounds great, but it can add pressure and a feeling that you are weak and not trying hard enough. I’m not suggesting that making plans for change is not a good thing, but for someone already dealing with anxiety or burnout, that pressure can quietly turn into self criticism. Things can start to feel urgent. Like something you have to get right quickly, or you’ve failed.

If everything feels heavy, tense, or overwhelming right now, your mind and body may be sending you a message that it's time to slow down.

To be clear. When I talk about slowing down, I don’t mean giving up or doing nothing forever.

I mean, telling yourself there is no need to make big decisions right now. 
Not pushing yourself into action when your mind and body are asking for rest.

Try not to compare your life with others who appear to be doing well. You don’t know what is really going on in their lives.

Pausing and slowing down ways of creating safety. It gives your nervous system a chance to settle before working on changing things. There is no rush, no race to the finish line. 

About Intrusive Thoughts

If intrusive thoughts are part of daily life, you might notice they become louder when you slow down. They can be extremely frightening; they tend to attack everything you hold dear.

It’s important to know that intrusive thoughts are not messages you need to solve. They’re mental noise, often a result of anxiety, stress, or fatigue. Trying to analyse them, reassure yourself about them, or push them away can keep them stuck.  I don't underestimate how frightening these thoughts are; they can make you question who you are. They can make you doubt everything about yourself and your world.

Taking a break means you don’t have to fight with your thoughts. It means letting them be present without responding to them.

It sounds simple, but it is not easy, and it’s not something you have to do alone.  Some may tell you to keep thinking positive thoughts. which isn't a bad thing, but does not work with intrusive thoughts. A counsellor who has a good understanding of intrusive thoughts can help with this. 

You might gently ask yourself:

• What am I feeling right now?
• If you are feeling overwhelmed, support matters. Counselling can be a place where you can offload these thoughts without any judgement from me.
• They are just thoughts, not an indication of your character.

A Different Way to Think 

 Nothing needs to be fixed; Feeling rushed puts your nervous system on high alert and creates more anxiety.  

You don’t need a plan yet.
You don’t need a better mindset.

Life doesn't magically change overnight.  It's a work in progress.

If anything in this blog resonates with you. Please feel free to contact me to make an appointment or for more information.

I'm happy to answer any questions you would like to ask.

You might like to have a read of Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts (Paperback) by Prof. Sally Winston

This book gives examples of many of the distressing thoughts people have and how to overcome them.