
They can feel like your mind is constantly running in circles, and it can be challenging to focus on anything else. There are a few key things that distinguish racing thoughts from constant worry.įirst, racing thoughts tend to be more persistent and intrusive than worry. Every person experiences anxiety and worries at some point in their lives. Many people with OCD worry about things that are unlikely to happen, such as getting sick or in danger.Ĭonstant worry is a feeling of unease, nervousness, or dread about something with an uncertain outcome. They are repetitive, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety or distress. Racing thoughts are a common symptom of OCD. We might keep thinking about the same thing repeatedly, which can make it feel like it’s true. Lastly, OCD thoughts can feel natural because we often ruminate or obsess over them. This possibility makes the thought seem more real and believable. For example, if you’re worried about getting sick, there’s a chance that you could get sick at some point. When we have a thought that feels threatening, our brain will automatically focus on it and try to figure out what to do about it.Īnother reason why OCD thoughts can feel real is that they may contain some element of truth. One reason is that our brains are wired to pay attention to things that feel threatening. There are a few reasons why OCD thoughts can feel real. Therefore, If you’re stuck in this cycle, it can feel like there’s no way out. And because these thoughts are so distressing and seemingly random, they can cause a lot of anxiety, leading to even more racing thoughts in a never-ending cycle. They can be about anything from harm coming to ourselves or others, sexually inappropriate images, to worries about things that are completely irrational. One of the hallmark symptoms of OCD is what we call “intrusive thoughts.” These are unwanted, persistent, and often disturbing thoughts that seem to pop out of nowhere. People with OCD are constantly obsessing over things and trying to control their thoughts.


This blog post will discuss some strategies for dealing with racing thoughts in people with OCD. Racing thoughts are a common symptom of OCD, and they can be tough to deal with in most cases. It can be challenging to focus on anything else when constantly bombarded with them. If you have OCD, you know that the thoughts that go through your head can be incredibly intrusive and overwhelming.
