Why do I have dark thoughts?

They're usually harmless. But if you obsess about them so much that it interrupts your day-to-day life, this can be a sign of an underlying mental health problem. Intrusive thoughts can be a symptom of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder
obsessive-compulsive disorder
OCD Types and Symptoms

Contamination, a fear of things that might be dirty or a compulsion to clean. Mental contamination involves feeling like you've been treated like dirt. Symmetry and ordering, the need to have things lined up in a certain way. Ruminations and intrusive thoughts, an obsession with a line of thought ...
https://www.webmd.com › obsessive-compulsive-disorder
(OCD)
.
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What can cause dark thoughts?

The two most common diagnoses associated with intrusive thoughts are anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can also be a symptom of depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder, or Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
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What is a dark thought?

When people discuss disturbing thoughts, they're usually talking about those that would not seem acceptable to other people - thoughts that they feel ashamed about, because they think it means something terrible about their character.
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Is having dark thoughts normal?

This is normal. In fact several well-conducted studies have discovered that close to 100% of the general population has intrusive and disturbing thoughts, images or ideas. These can range from the mild and odd, to the graphic and horrifying*.
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How do I clear my mind of dark thoughts?

10 Ways to Remove Negative Thoughts From Your Mind
  1. Read it out. ...
  2. Tell a joke or funny story. ...
  3. Speak back. ...
  4. Breathe. ...
  5. Set a time-limit. ...
  6. Work out. ...
  7. Change your environment. ...
  8. Write it down.
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Headspace | Meditation Tips | Understanding Dark Thoughts



Is overthinking a mental illness?

No, overthinking isn't a recognized mental health condition, but it can be a symptom of depression or anxiety. Overthinking is commonly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), says Duke. GAD is characterized by the tendency to worry excessively about several things.
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Is negative thinking a disease?

Negative thinking has many different causes. Intrusive negative thoughts can be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or another mental health condition. Negative thinking is also symptomatic of depression ("Negative Thinking and Depression: How One Fuels the Other").
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Can anxiety cause scary thoughts?

Scary thoughts are thoughts that are by their very nature distressing, and when they occur it can be very difficult to push the thought away. Anxiety commonly causes all types of weird and scary thoughts, because anxiety changes the way that your brain interprets and stores information.
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Are intrusive thoughts ADHD?

Results show that in comparison to the control group, participants with ADHD experienced significantly higher ratings on all intrusive thoughts scales, and three worrisome thoughts scales. Our results suggest that worrisome intrusive thoughts are an important phenotypical expression of adults with ADHD.
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What are anxiety thoughts like?

When we think that something bad will happen – such as being bitten by a dog – we feel anxious. For example, imagine that you are out for a walk and you see a dog. If you think the dog is dangerous and will bite, you will feel scared.
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Are intrusive thoughts OCD?

OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. You might try to ignore them or get rid of them by performing a compulsive behavior or ritual. These obsessions typically intrude when you're trying to think of or do other things.
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How do I stop thinking badly of myself?

This article discusses some of the steps you can take to change your negative thoughts.
  1. Practice Mindfulness and Self-Awareness.
  2. Identify Your Negative Thoughts.
  3. Replace Negative Thoughts.
  4. Avoid Thought Stopping.
  5. Practice Coping With Criticism.
  6. Use a Thought Diary.
  7. Frequently Asked Questions.
  8. A Word From Verywell.
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What does the Bible say about unclean thoughts?

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defiled a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
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What is sinful thought?

Sinful thoughts are bad because you can't do a bad thing without first thinking about it. We read in James 1:14-15, "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
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Are negative thoughts anxiety?

Anxiety can both cause and be caused by “Bad” thoughts. Worrying is perhaps the most common symptom of most forms of anxiety. Some conditions, like obsessive-compulsive disorder, are caused by unwanted thoughts.
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Does overthinking damage your brain?

That's because repeated stress can have a huge impact on our brain, putting us at risk of a number of physical and psychological problems. Repeated stress is a major trigger for persistent inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation can lead to a range of health problems, including diabetes and heart disease.
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What negative thoughts do to your brain?

The study found that a habit of prolonged negative thinking diminishes your brain's ability to think, reason, and form memories. Essentially draining your brain's resources. Another study reported in the journal American Academy of Neurology found that cynical thinking also produces a greater dementia risk.
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Are Overthinkers smart?

Constant rumination could be a sign of intelligence.

A penchant for worrying ― which is a common habit for overthinkers ― is correlated with more verbal intelligence, according to a paper published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
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How do I stop overthinking and negative thoughts?

Here are 8 steps to help you stop overthinking.
  1. Change The Story You Tell Yourself. ...
  2. Let Go of The Past. ...
  3. Stop Your Thoughts in The Moment and Practice Being Present. ...
  4. Focus on What You Can Control. ...
  5. Identify Your Fears. ...
  6. Write Down (or Openly Share) Solutions (Not Problems) ...
  7. Make The Decision to Become a Person of Action.
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Does God want us to overthink?

We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (NLT). God has given us the power to take control of our thoughts. When overthinking becomes an obstacle to our relationship with Him, it's time to capture those thoughts! “…
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Why do I see myself so negatively?

If we have an insecurity about our intelligence, for example, we may be very sensitive to any insinuation that we don't know about a certain subject. This increased sensitivity may cause us to project our own self-criticisms onto others and become defensive.
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Why do we have automatic negative thoughts?

They're often irrational and negative for our mental well-being. Each person's automatic thoughts may be different from the next person's. They're usually related to our life experiences. Plus, our fears or the messages we've internalized for years.
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Why do I feel like everything is dirty?

OCD Types and Symptoms

Contamination, a fear of things that might be dirty or a compulsion to clean. Mental contamination involves feeling like you've been treated like dirt. Symmetry and ordering, the need to have things lined up in a certain way. Ruminations and intrusive thoughts, an obsession with a line of thought ...
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What are the 7 types of OCD?

Common Types of OCD
  • Aggressive or sexual thoughts. ...
  • Harm to loved ones. ...
  • Germs and contamination. ...
  • Doubt and incompleteness. ...
  • Sin, religion, and morality. ...
  • Order and symmetry. ...
  • Self-control.
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