Intrusive Thoughts...ptsd Or Ocd?

[Lionheart]

Thank you for the responses everyone, it has cleared up a lot of my confusion about the difference between OCD intrusive thoughts and stress reactions/PTSD symptoms. They are a pain regardless of the cause and I wish everyone freedom from them.

 

[Abstract]

Hi Lionheart,

Although I don't experience exactly what you describe I do experience intrusive images that are not directly related. And they only started after I properly got past the dissociation and briefly "looked" at my trauma the first time. They happened within minutes after that and seem very linked and continue to be linked to the trauma.

They are mostly images of extreme self harm and are very clear and graphic. The only thing I can think of is that they represent my pain. So thanks for this thread and sharing as it gives lots of food for thought. I understand you saying that they might be signs of hypervigilence for you. It sounds awful regardless of the cause.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

I have intrusive thoughts too. I think mine are my PTSD. I say that because, my thoughts are of things that have already happened to me in one degree or another. And the "what if" I'm asking myself is "what if I'm seeing this again?". Followed by hypervigilance and "I am seeing this again. It is happening again."

Using your example of the plane I think the person with OCD is going to imagine.. instead of remember.. multiple bad things that could happen to the plane that would effect them directly. And I think the person with PTSD is flashing back to or having memories of something that already happened to them involving a plane.

I'm not a medical professional and I can only speak for myself but, I hope that helps answer your question :).

 

[AS1975]

my 'mantra' is more of a "is this how I die?"

Yeah, not if but when. All I hope for is quick and relatively painless, there is no hope of dodging the bastard when it comes, "Is this how I go out?" is mine, it actually releases me from anxiety for the most part (except in dreams or in training oddly enough), that and the old idea that today is a good day to die (well, as good as any, I'd hate to go out lying on the floor, having had a stroke and dying of exposure over several days, that really would suck).