“Why Did I Just Think That?” — Understanding Intrusive Thoughts
Have you ever had a sudden, unwanted thought pop into your head that felt completely out of character? Maybe it was violent, disturbing, or just plain bizarre. Something like, “What if I screamed right now?” during a meeting, or “What if I lost control while driving?” These kinds of thoughts can be unsettling, and they often leave people wondering, “What’s wrong with me?”
The short answer: nothing is wrong with you.
Intrusive thoughts are surprisingly common. They're those random, often distressing mental blips that show up uninvited and seem to make no sense. The truth is, most people experience them at some point. But because they’re so uncomfortable—and so at odds with how we see ourselves—we tend to keep them secret. That silence can lead to shame, fear, and confusion.
Let’s break it down a bit.
What Are Intrusive Thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that come out of nowhere. They often involve themes like:
Violence or harm
Sex or taboo topics
Morality, religion, or blasphemy
Fears of acting impulsively or losing control
Obsessive doubts or fears of contamination
These thoughts can be disturbing precisely because they feel so out of sync with your values. You might think, “If I had that thought, it must mean something about me.” But it doesn’t.
Why Do They Happen?
Intrusive thoughts are a normal part of how the brain works. Everyone has them. For most people, they’re fleeting and easy to dismiss. But for some—especially those who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, or obsessive-compulsive tendencies—the thoughts stick. They feel threatening. You might start trying to “figure them out,” avoid certain triggers, or seek reassurance to make sure you're not a bad person.
Ironically, the more we try to push these thoughts away, the more power they seem to gain.
What Do Intrusive Thoughts Not Mean?
Here’s the most important thing to remember: intrusive thoughts are not a reflection of who you are, what you believe, or what you want. Having a thought does not mean you’re going to act on it. In fact, the distress you feel is often a sign that the thought is the opposite of your values.
How Therapy Can Help
From a psychodynamic perspective, intrusive thoughts are not just random mental noise—they can be meaningful. They often reflect deeper, unconscious conflicts, anxieties, or parts of ourselves that we haven’t fully made sense of yet. These thoughts may feel foreign or frightening because they tap into aspects of our internal world that we haven’t been encouraged to explore.
In therapy, rather than pushing these thoughts away or trying to control them, we get curious. Together, we create space to wonder: Why this thought? Why now? What might it be expressing or defending against? This process can be both relieving and illuminating. Over time, we begin to see that these thoughts don’t define us—but they might be telling us something important about how we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the world.
Psychodynamic therapy offers a place to slow down, reflect, and make sense of what feels overwhelming or confusing. It’s not about fixing you—because you’re not broken. It’s about understanding you more deeply, so you can feel more grounded and whole.
If you’re feeling unsettled by thoughts you don’t understand, you don’t have to keep them hidden. Reach out to explore how therapy can help you make sense of your inner experience. There’s nothing too strange or too dark to talk about here.
