ADHD
17 min read
Written by Klarity Editorial Team
Published: Jul 22, 2024
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Zoe Russell
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are complex mental health conditions with a wide range of symptoms, including intrusive thoughts. These intrusive thoughts can make it difficult to maintain stable relationships, perform well at work or school, and lead to other issues.
In this post, we explore ADHD intrusive thoughts and how they differ from OCD intrusive thoughts.
If you struggle with intrusive thoughts due to ADHD, OCD, or an anxiety or depressive disorder, providers on Klarity Health can help. Find a provider now and have an appointment in as little as 24 hours.*
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, involuntary thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress or anxiety. They can happen with both ADHD and OCD, although the nature and response to these thoughts may differ between the 2 conditions.
Individuals with ADHD can have trouble focusing on a single task or thought due to their minds constantly jumping from one idea to another. And ADHD intrusive thoughts manifest as racing thoughts or difficulty filtering out irrelevant information.
Intrusive thoughts can also happen with OCD, but are more persistent and distressing than with aDHD. They’re often accompanied by rituals or compulsions to neutralize the anxiety caused by these obsessions. For example, someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder might have an intrusive thought about germs and then engage in excessive hand washing to mitigate their fear of contamination.
While ADHD intrusive thoughts can be distressing, people with ADHD usually don’t engage in compulsive behaviors to alleviate their anxiety.
There are some key differences between intrusive thoughts in ADHD and OCD.
OCD intrusive thoughts | ADHD intrusive thoughts | |
Nature | Typically obsessive, repetitive, and distressing; often irrational, cause anxiety or discomfort, and may be related to fears, inappropriate images, or taboo subjects | Characterized by daydreaming, forgetfulness, and a general inability to sustain attention; may not necessarily be distressing or cause anxiety |
Response | Sufferers may try to suppress or neutralize their intrusive thoughts by engaging in compulsions or rituals to reduce their anxiety or distress | Sufferers are more likely to act impulsively on their intrusive thoughts without thinking about the consequences |
Context | Often revolve around specific themes, such as contamination OCD, harm to oneself or others, religious or sexual themes, or the need for symmetry or order | More likely to arise due to difficulties with focus and attention, leading to a broad range of thoughts that may not be related to any specific theme or pattern |
Mental health disorders can present differently in each individual, and sometimes, ADHD and OCD can co-occur.
Intrusive thoughts are unpredictable both in what they’re about and when they’re triggered. While intrusive thoughts can be about anything, there are a few key subjects they tend to center around. Identifying these subjects is central to understanding why these thoughts occur, and it’s the first step toward finding relief from harmful lines of thought.
Individuals with ADHD often struggle with having a sex drive that’s higher or lower than others. This makes maintaining a healthy sexual relationship with a partner difficult and can contribute to intrusive sexual thoughts.
These thoughts can be distracting, especially if they occur at an inappropriate time or place, making it difficult to complete work or feel comfortable in social situations.
ADHD intrusive thoughts can also be violent in nature and are often spurred by negative feelings of anger. Just as ADHD makes it difficult to control sexual desires and compulsions, it also makes it challenging to regulate your anger and other related emotions.
These intrusive thoughts can be particularly harmful, because acting on them can have serious consequences. It’s essential to not let violent intrusive thoughts go unchecked, so they don’t continue or get worse.
With ADHD comes heightened feelings of anxiety, and this anxiety often manifests as catastrophizing intrusive thoughts.
For example, you may have catastrophic thoughts before a large public event that shifts from one unlikely situation to another. You may think you’re going to embarrass yourself in some way, then you may think someone is going to physically harm you, and then your thoughts could continue to snowball from there.
For many people with mental health disorders or other mental health conditions, intrusive thoughts about the worst-case scenario are commonplace. And getting ahead of these catastrophizing thoughts is often easier said than done.
Intrusive thoughts are common in people with mental health disorders because these thoughts often stem from or are exacerbated by underlying cognitive, emotional, or neurobiological factors associated with various mental health conditions.
Here are a few reasons why intrusive thoughts are more prevalent in people with mental health disorders:
Experiencing intrusive thoughts isn’t exclusive to people with mental health disorders. But frequency, intensity, and impact of intrusive thoughts are typically more pronounced in individuals with mental health conditions.
The root cause of intrusive thoughts can be challenging to identify. They typically connect to how someone feels, so if you’re particularly sad or angry, you’re more likely to have intrusive thoughts in line with those emotions. Some of the most common causes of intrusive thoughts are listed below.
Periods of high pressure can lead to intrusive thoughts that can worsen your stress. If you’re working on an important project at your job, for example, you may have intrusive thoughts about what would happen if the project isn’t well received. And those thoughts can lead you to imagine this project determines the fate of your career when, in reality, the stakes are much lower.
Intrusive thoughts can also occur in situations where you feel vulnerable. Returning to the previous example from work, if you’re receiving constructive criticism, you may feel vulnerable and take the critique personally. You may overthink it to the point where you apply the criticism to your own self-worth and discourage yourself from pursuing similar projects in the future.
When intrusive thoughts are an issue in your daily life, periods of isolation can cause you to hyper-fixate on those thoughts. Without anything to distract you or someone to tell you that your thoughts are irrational, it can be challenging to get yourself away from cyclical ideas and false perceptions.
Even if you aren’t in an actively stressful situation, you may still experience intrusive thoughts due to past stressful events. This is where many catastrophizing intrusive thoughts come into play, as ruminating on a traumatic or stressful event may lead you to believe you’ll relive it for the rest of your life.
There is a tendency for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to experience intrusive thoughts regarding a past traumatic incident. Therefore intrusive thoughts can be a symptom of PTSD.
While it may seem impossible to prevent ADHD intrusive thoughts with how sudden and unexpected they are, there are ways to regain control of your mind. Like anything, it takes practice and dedication to find relief from this symptom of ADHD. Some ways to prevent intrusive thoughts are listed below.
Although some intrusive thoughts may feel random, they are often triggered by some kind of stimulus. Identifying your triggers can play a significant role in overcoming intrusive thoughts, as you’ll learn how to avoid them and prevent them from happening in the first place.
Whenever you do have intrusive thoughts, it’s essential to remain calm. These thoughts are just information about how you’re doing at that moment. If you allow yourself to panic, your thoughts will likely become more severe to the point where they spiral out of control. The more you can remain calm, the more likely your intrusive thoughts will pass without disrupting your day.
An effective way to avoid intrusive thoughts is by redirecting your attention elsewhere. If you find that you’re focusing too much on 1 negative thought, try doing something like playing a game or writing in a journal. By switching to an activity that requires focus, you’ll have fewer opportunities to focus on your intrusive thoughts.
If you have an intrusive thought that is violent or sexual, one way to prevent them from taking hold of your mind is by simply letting them pass. For many people, so long as they don’t act on their thoughts, they’ll fade away with time as other distractions arise.
It may take longer for some than others, and letting an intrusive thought pass can eventually show that it’s not worth thinking about.
A provider on Klarity Health can help you get to the root cause of your intrusive thoughts, whether it’s from ADHD, OCD, an anxiety disorder, or another related mental health issue.
Find a provider and start putting intrusive thoughts behind you with an appointment in as little as 24 hours.*
*Appointments are generally available within 24 hours. Free initial consultations are available only with select providers. Prescriptions, particularly for controlled substances, may require an in-person evaluation depending on the state of residence and current federal regulations.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Controlled substances may not be appropriate for all patients and any mention of these medications is for educational purposes only, not for marketing or encouraging self-diagnosis. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy. Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage. Not all providers on Klarity Health prescribe all medications, particularly medications that are controlled substances.
If you’re having a mental health crisis or experiencing a psychiatric emergency, it’s crucial to seek immediate help from a mental healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. You can also call your local emergency services, visit your nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, by calling or texting 988 or dialing the Lifeline’s previous phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) in the U.S.
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