Part Of Ptsd?

[ChoctawWarrior]

Can OCD like intrusive thoughts (i.e.- killing someone/yourself when you don't want to, going crazy, etc.) be part of PTSD? Because I have all symptoms of PTSD (including thoughts from the trauma), and I am confused. Is that the PTSD?

 

[Pencil]

I would also like to know.

 

[Orglethorp]

Intrusive thoughts in general, as well as something called suicidal ideation, are not uncommon with PTSD, so I'd say yes that's probably just another part of PTSD. Suicidal ideation is a particular type of intrusive thoughts (or obsessive preoccupations, if you ask me!) with harming or killing yourself, but aren't necessarily linked with lasting/sincere suicidal thoughts. It's something I've been dealing with for about 14 years. I've never been suicidal in terms of actually wanting to die, or thinking that things might be better if I were gone, but I'm constantly acutely aware of exactly how everything around me could be used intentionally to cause myself serious harm. Sometimes I'll even catch myself visualizing the act.

 

[cherryblossom]

Can OCD like intrusive thoughts (i.e.- killing someone/yourself when you don't want to, going crazy, etc.) be part of PTSD?

I know a few people with OCD. They don't have thoughts to kill someone. I'm not sure those types of thoughts are part of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).

If you are having thoughts to kill someone, or yourself, you really need to seek (psychiatric) help right away.

However, as Orglethorp has said, suicidal thoughts and ideation can be part of PTSD. I would seriously recommend that you seek specialist diagnosis / treatment from a psychiatrist.

 

[ChoctawWarrior]

If you are having thoughts to kill someone, or yourself, you really need to seek (psychiatric) help right away.....I would seriously recommend that you seek specialist diagnosis / treatment from a psychiatrist.

They are JUST intrusive thoughts. I am too much of a warm hearted person to EVER act on them- it is one of my most horrible fears.....the thoughts in themselves bother me like CRAZYYY! :cry: I just hate them, and the more I try to keep them away, the more they come....I just distract myself. I hate the thought of ever hurting anyone- I have the exact opposite nature, and I'm very gentle. You could probably imagine how much those bad thoughts bug me. When I have them, I try to do something fun to distract myself. The only time I ever have them is when I'm usually upset, but they come in and upset me even more.

Hurting ANYONE is something I would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (x infinity) under ANY circumstances, EVER do...

Thanks for your input. You can probably imagine how much I despise these thoughts. :cry:

 

[Away From The Sun]

If it's one of your "most horrible fears" maybe your subconscious is feeding into your fears with the thoughts? Sometimes I wonder what I would do if I "snapped" and can fixate on those thoughts. I sometimes have fleeting thoughts of that nature but if I kept suppressing them, I would have "intrusive" thoughts.... it's just basic human psychology.

However, if you get pleasure, excitement, and/or "urges" to do something, you probably need help.

On a less serious level, I think, "man, I would love to punch that person" quite regularly. I have never punched anyone.

 

[ChoctawWarrior]

If it's one of your "most horrible fears" maybe your subconscious is feeding into your fears with the thoughts? Sometimes I wonder what I would do if I "snapped" and can fixate on those thoughts. I sometimes have fleeting thoughts of that nature but if I kept suppressing them, I would have "intrusive" thoughts....

I totally agree and relate to this. Isn't it ironic how the more I obsess over NOT having the thoughts (because of how much they disturb me), the more they come into my head? :tdown:

However, if you get pleasure, excitement, and/or "urges" to do something, you probably need help.

Lol, ALSO agreed! :laugh: I don't think I need to worry about that, as my intrusive thoughts usually disturb me and cause great anxiety... :nailbiting: :(

 

[stuckinthepast]

Hi I'm new to this forum but I have OCD and also a multiple trauma history of which I'm about to begin EMDR. I am terrified as I too have the intrusive thoughts around death.

They manifest as a) me being afraid I will die b) being afraid I will go crazy and lose the will to live c) being afraid I will not be able to stop myself.

Like you it's not a thought I want to have but my head gets stuck on a vicious loop and I cant seem to stop the thoughts. I don't have depression as far as I know, I was doing fine in addiction recovery and codependency 12 step work, but all of the trauma stuff caught up with me and since then I've felt very dissociative.

My therapist thinks it's attachment trauma. Has anyone else had EMDR?