118 Affirmations for Preventing Intrusive Thoughts

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Almost everyone has fleeting thoughts that are uncomfortable and unwelcome. However, these thoughts are prominent, prolonged, and upsetting in some people. When these uncharacteristic thoughts last for a long time and are a cause of distress, they are called “intrusive thoughts.”

As many as 6 million people in the US suffer from intrusive thoughts, and affirmations for intrusive thoughts can help manage these uncomfortable moments.

Why Affirmations for Preventing Intrusive Thoughts are Important

Intrusive thoughts are strongly associated with other mental health challenges, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, body dysmorphism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sometimes attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

They are also sometimes associated with other anxiety disorders and mental conditions. However, in many cases, people may not have other, more obvious symptoms of these disorders and may not realize that their intrusive thoughts are caused by an underlying condition.

Because intrusive thoughts are associated with violence, sexual misconduct, blasphemy, and other unwanted behaviors, they can cause a great deal of shame and anxiety. It is essential to know that having these thoughts does not mean that a person wants to do these things.

In fact, they often occur because a person finds them shocking, horrifying, or disgusting, and such people are less likely to engage in unwanted behaviors.

However, a person may believe that the presence of these thoughts indicates that they secretly want to engage in these activities or be reluctant to seek help due to the nature and content of these thoughts. The more prone someone is to OCD or anxiety, the more troubling and persistent these thoughts can be.

While intrusive thoughts are more common in adults between 40-60, they are usually more distressing for younger people with less experience managing them. Positive affirmations for intrusive thoughts are a great way to calm an anxious mind and break negative mental habits.

118 Affirmations for Preventing Intrusive Thoughts

  1. This thought will pass away
  2. This is just a thought
  3. This idea has no power over me
  4. I am stronger than this thought
  5. My life is bigger than this idea
  1. I am not afraid of this thought
  2. I breathe in calmness; I breathe out stress
  3. I am a good person
  4. I do good things
  5. I give no energy to this
  6. I deserve to be happy
  7. This is a small problem; I can handle it
  8. I will seek help if I need it
  9. I am not alone
  10. This is a common problem; other people manage it, so I can too
  11. This idea floats away as I breathe
  12. I love my mind
  13. I observe this thought and watch it pass away
  14. These ideas pass away; I remain
  15. I am calm
  16. This thought has no power over me
  17. I will leave this thought alone; it will die away
  18. I give no energy to this idea
  19. These ideas come and go; they will pass away on their own
Affirmations for Intrusive Thoughts - These ideas come and go; they will pass away on their own | affirmations for feeling like a burden | affirmations for rumination | morning affirmations for ocd
  1. I do not choose this thought
  2. I choose to think about joy
  3. I am separate from these thoughts
  4. These thoughts are not me
  5. These thoughts are meaningless
  6. These ideas have nothing to do with me
  7. I am more than these thoughts
  8. These thoughts are not me
  9. I patiently allow this thought to fade
  10. I watch calmly, and this thought withers away
  11. I think many good thoughts
  12. I am thankful for many things
  13. I am grateful for good things in my life
  14. These thoughts cannot hurt anyone
  15. These thoughts can’t hurt me
  16. I notice this thought and move on
  17. I remain calm and peaceful
  18. I breathe slowly and calmly
  19. I am just fine
  20. I don’t need to worry about this
  21. I am a positive person
  22. I breathe deeply and move on
  23. This is just a silly idea
  24. I am more than my thoughts
Affirmations for Intrusive Thoughts - I am more than my thoughts | affirmations for health anxiety | separation anxiety affirmations | positive affirmations for anxiety and depression
  1. I choose patience
  2. I choose tranquility
  3. I am whole and healthy
  4. This, too, shall pass
  5. I choose happiness
  6. I choose love
  7. I am a loving person
  8. I am a peaceable person
  9. I do no harm
  10. I do good in the world
  11. These random thoughts have no power
  12. Thoughts pop into my mind, then pop out again: they don’t matter

Thoughts pop into my mind, then pop out again: they don’t matter”

  1. I don’t pay any attention to those ideas
  2. I am too smart to be fooled by these thoughts
  3. I face my fears, and they fade away
  4. I am stronger than I know
  5. I am glad to be in the world
  6. I make the world a better place
  7. I am worthy
  8. I am valuable
  9. I matter
  10. I cherish myself
  11. My friends and family are there for me
  12. I can ask for help
  13. I can handle this challenge
  14. I persist and prevail
  15. I choose goodness
  16. I can do hard things
  17. These ideas will not always bother me
  18. This problem is temporary
  19. I am making progress
  20. I am proud of myself
  21. I’m pretty smart about this
  22. I don’t get sucked into unwanted thoughts
Affirmations for Intrusive Thoughts - I don’t get sucked into unwanted thoughts | positive affirmations for ocd | affirmations for feeling like a burden | mantras for obsessive thoughts
  1. I am not overwhelmed
  2. I am full of energy and hope
  3. I know things will work out well for me
  4. I’m doing great
  5. Calmness is a skill I can master
  6. I see myself succeed
  7. These thoughts are not my thoughts
  8. I have succeeded, and I will succeed
  9. I am at peace with myself
  10. I am in control of my actions
  11. I have learned how to deal with this problem
  12. These thoughts don’t bother me
  13. I know who I am
  14. I am more peaceful every day
  15. I’m creative enough to solve any problem
  16. I get help when I don’t know what to do
  17. I trust myself to deal with this
  18. I’ve handled worse problems before
  19. I focus on this moment in time
  20. My life gets better and better
  21. I have a bright future
  22. I am surprisingly strong
  23. I see myself at peace
  24. I aim for progress, not perfection
  25. My life is rich in goodness
  26. I am glad to be alive
  27. I have more important things to do than worry about this
Affirmations for Intrusive Thoughts - I have more important things to do than worry about this | affirmations for rumination | morning affirmations for ocd | affirmations for health anxiety
  1. I am wise, and I count my blessings
  2. I am a survivor
  3. I never give up
  4. I believe in my own courage
  5. I keep trying, so I keep getting better
  6. Some thoughts are too silly to pay attention to
  7. I relax and take a deep breath
  8. These thoughts are certainly not mine
  9. Everyone has obsessive thoughts sometimes; it’s not important

How to Use Affirmations to Prevent Intrusive Thoughts

If you are struggling with intrusive thoughts, here are the most effective strategies to help overcome them:

Ground Yourself

Turn your attention to the state of your body and surroundings in the present moment. If possible, seek a pleasant, relaxing space. Use the 3-3-3 rule to pay attention to your breath, the sensation of wind or warmth on your skin, the sounds you hear, and the smells in the air … focus on everything happening to you in real life in the present moment. If possible, engage in a sensory activity that re-focuses the body and mind.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindful living and mindfulness meditation helps you not just overcome intrusive thoughts but can also help manage a wide range of anxiety disorders as well. Mindfulness teaches you to observe your thoughts from a distance, understanding that your thoughts are not your being.

Daily practice of detaching from your thoughts and observing them without judgment is a great way to take the pain, distress, and anxiety out of intrusive thoughts.

Use Affirmations and Visualization

In moments of distress, use affirmations for intrusive thoughts and visualization techniques to calm and re-balance yourself. Remind yourself that these thoughts don’t control your behavior and have no power to undermine your goals and positive actions in life

Externalize the Thought

Many people find it helpful to schedule time for their intrusive thoughts and explore them to prevent them from intruding at unwanted times. Instead of suppressing the thought, get curious about it and explore it further.

This may mean setting aside 10 minutes a day to experience the thought, say it out loud, write it down, and engage with thoughts that are unwanted and intrusive. After the 10 minutes are up, dismiss the thoughts and move on.

Despite the Disturbing Nature of Intrusive Thoughts, Do Not Be Afraid to Seek Therapy

Remember that these thoughts are more common than you think and that sharing them with a qualified therapist will help you overcome your thoughts and manage any underlying trauma or disorder that causes them.

Final Thoughts on Affirmations for Preventing Intrusive Thoughts

Intrusive thoughts can be deeply troubling, but they do not mean that someone is a bad person who wants to act on them. In fact, the reason they are so distressing is that the person does not wish to engage in those behaviors and will not.

Positive affirmations, mindfulness techniques, and therapy to help manage underlying OCD and anxiety is the best way to manage and prevent intrusive thoughts.

And if you want more encouraging affirmations, be sure to check out these blog posts:

Finally, if you want a simple tool to record and recite these affirmations, then check out these 13 affirmations apps that help you create a positive mindset.

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