Too often, people say they “let their intrusive thoughts win” after spontaneously dyeing their hair or making a late-night purchase. There’s a difference between impulsive vs. intrusive thoughts, however—and mixing the two up is a common slip-up worth clearing up for a few reasons.
At first glance, it might seem like a matter of semantics. “But misusing [these terms] can be extremely invalidating to people who actually suffer from intrusive thoughts,” which she says can be “overwhelming and anxiety-inducing.” Kaylee Bullen, LCSW, a therapist who treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) based in Encinatas, California, tells SELF. Beyond simply getting your language right, understanding the nuances between the two experiences can also help you manage these unexpected intrusions and impulses more effectively.
So, what exactly are intrusive thoughts? And how do they differ from impulsive ones? Below, we asked experts to break down the biggest distinctions.
1. Intrusive thoughts are a clinical symptom of conditions like OCD.
According to Jon Abramowitz, PhD, a psychologist specializing in OCD treatment and professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, intrusive thoughts are more than just in-the-moment, random ideas—they’re a legit clinical term used to describe unwelcome repetitive thoughts. Technically, anyone can experience them, but Dr. Abramowitz tells SELF that they’re much more persistent, recurring, and difficult to dismiss for folks with mental health conditions like OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and generalized anxiety disorder.
Impulsive thoughts, on the other hand, aren’t actually a recognized psychological term. Instead, people throw it around casually to describe spontaneous, slightly chaotic ideas or actions—like cutting bangs in your bathroom at 1 a.m., say, or licking your delicious, cookie butter-scented body lotion just because.
2. Simply having an intrusive thought can be distressing and anxiety-inducing.
Intrusive and impulsive thoughts are both involuntary and unexpected. But the way they affect someone can be very different, Alyssa Faro, PhD, Director of Clinical Services at the Child and Adolescent OCD Institute at McLean Hospital, tells SELF.
Usually, intrusive thoughts are ego-dystonic, Bullen says, meaning they conflict with your true values and identity. For example, What if I drop this baby I’m holding? What if I just cut my finger off with this kitchen knife? What if I jump in front of this moving car? Because they’re so at odds with who you are (and what you want), “people can feel tormented by the presence of these ideas,” Dr. Faro explains, leading to strong reactions like fear, disgust, guilt, and shame. (For the record, though, having intrusive thoughts does not mean you want to act on them. More on that later.)
Impulsive thoughts, on the other hand, resemble sudden urges. While they can also be random, disruptive, and “intrude” on your mental space, they don’t carry the same emotional weight, Dr. Faro points out. In fact, these thoughts (which sound more like, Blow out that person’s birthday cake before they do! Quit your job on the spot! Sure, make that questionably inappropriate joke!) can even be tempting or momentarily appealing.
3. People will rarely act on intrusive thoughts.
All three experts agree that following through on intrusive thoughts is pretty unlikely. “I would never want to say never just because it’s a really strong word,” Dr. Abramowitz says. But because they’re unwanted by definition, most people won’t end up pushing someone in front of a train, say, or sticking their hand in a pot of boiling water.
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