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Urge to destroy expensive technology

I consider intrusive thoughts to be pretty normal, personally. I've found that the more I accept them, the less they really bother me, but I see them as a natural part of life.

Obviously professionals can help with this if they bother you or you're acting them out, but I've had a lot of professionals casually talk about them like they're a normal part of human psychology, so they've never really scared me all that much ever since. You can't really control every thought that pops into your head, can you?
 
I like my computer for managing my household finances. (It helps me to be more efficient.)

Everything else is gravy.
 
I have intrusive thoughts often. Usually about destroying items, sometimes destroying myself. But it helps to just recognize those thoughts for what they are, and realize you’re not going to act on them. In my case, that is.

Have you considered that maybe there might be a root cause for these thoughts? For me it’s usually pent up frustration (mostly when I’m feeling powerless in a situation) that causes a spike in intrusive thoughts. Dealing with that decreases the frequency of these thoughts too.
 
I definitely understand what you described @mysterionz.

From what I’ve learned about my own intrusive thoughts, it is common for us to imagine the worst case scenarios. Because intrusive thoughts are a remnant of our old brain which is geared toward survival, our brain wants to warn us to keep us safe. Because of this, it conjures up the worst thoughts that we can imagine to shock our system into remembering to survive.

Of course, that doesn’t apply as much in our current world, but the pathways of the brain are still intact. So sometimes the people and the things that we care the most about are the ones that our brain will attack with intrusive thoughts.

So, for example, your new computer and your brand new pencil are precious to you. They are new, they cost a lot of money, and they are your avenue to art and communication and other things. So, in a way your imagination of destruction is your brain’s way to protect these things that you care about.

It’s frustrating and a maladaptive way of thinking in our current society, but always remember that these thoughts do not require action. Having these thoughts does not indicate that you will do anything. Remind yourself that you are in control of your body even if you are not always in control of your thoughts. When I have thoughts like that, I say to my brain “thank you brain for telling me that this is important. I got it. Don’t worry, I can protect the pencil from destruction.”
 
I get this urge when I’m approaching meltdowns…thankfully I can fight that urge, but I tend to do some other destructive thing instead.

I have chucked my phone a couple times. Thankfully I have a somewhat sturdy one.
 
Hmmm. The only device I recall wanting to throw out of a large plate glass window was my typewriter. Every time I made a typo for a college term paper. :eek:

I still recall when I handed in my paper another kid tried to hand the professor his hand-written paper. Which seemed to fall through her hands each time the kid tried to give it to her. By the third attempt he figured out what was happening.
 
I have kind of bizarre and disturbing intrusive thoughts sometimes too. It used to really scare me. But now I recognize that they’re intrusive and I move on from them pretty quickly.

Intrusive thoughts are really common with anxiety disorders, especially OCD. It’s definitely worth mentioning to a professional imo.
 
Luca said:
It’s definitely worth mentioning to a professional imo.
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I tried to last year and all I got put on was Fluoxetine by my doctor. Is it worth it to pursue an OCD diagnosis at this point? Only a professional would know for sure.
 
mysterionz said:
I tried to last year and all I got put on was Fluoxetine by my doctor. Is it worth it to pursue an OCD diagnosis at this point? Only a professional would know for sure.
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It’s definitely worth reconnecting with your doctor. Giving them an update on the type of thoughts you are having and the effectiveness of the fluoxetine.

Lexapro is also an antidepressant and has the ability, in some people, to help with intrusive thoughts. There will always be work that we need to do in letting the thoughts go and not giving them power and control, but certain medications can help. It’s just difficult to find the exact right medicine and dosage for each unique person unfortunately.
 
mysterionz said:
I tried to last year and all I got put on was Fluoxetine by my doctor. Is it worth it to pursue an OCD diagnosis at this point? Only a professional would know for sure.
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I agree with what Rodafina says about this. A professional would be able to help you figure out what the right medication and dosage are.
 
I feel like throwing a boot into the machinery of the sheet metal factory I used to work at two decades ago - mainly because my boss there was a jerk. That is an impulse to destroy expensive technology.
 
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