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Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

A CBT-Based Guide to Getting over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts

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About this listen

You are not your thoughts! In this powerful book, two anxiety experts offer proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help you get unstuck from disturbing thoughts, overcome the shame these thoughts can bring, and reduce your anxiety.

If you suffer from unwanted, intrusive, frightening, or even disturbing thoughts, you might worry about what these thoughts mean about you. Thoughts can seem like messages - are they trying to tell you something? But the truth is that they are just thoughts, and don’t necessarily mean anything. Sane and good people have them. If you are someone who is plagued by thoughts you don’t want - thoughts that scare you, or thoughts you can’t tell anyone about - this book may change your life.

In this compassionate guide, you’ll discover the different kinds of disturbing thoughts, myths that surround your thoughts, and how your brain has a tendency to get “stuck” in a cycle of unwanted rumination. You’ll also learn why common techniques to get rid of these thoughts can backfire. And finally, you’ll learn powerful cognitive behavioral skills to help you cope with and move beyond your thoughts, so you can focus on living the life you want. Your thoughts will still occur, but you will be better able to cope with them - without dread, guilt, or shame.

If you have unwanted thoughts, you should remember that you aren’t alone. In fact, there are millions of people just like you -good people who have awful thoughts, gentle people with violent thoughts, and sane people with “crazy” thoughts. This book will show you how to move past your thoughts so you can reclaim your life!

This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation - an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools listeners can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

©2017 Sally M. Winston, PsyD and Martin N. Seif, PhD (P)2020 New Harbinger Publications
Anxiety Disorders Compulsive Disorders Mental Health Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Health Obsessive Thoughts

Critic reviews

“This important book is essential and mandatory reading for anyone affected by unwanted and intrusive thoughts, and their health providers. The authors crystallize decades of experience into a perfectly clear and readable guide. The solution to this misunderstood problem is in this book.” (Joseph A. Adams, MD, medical director at Baltimore Health Systems and Step By Step of Maryland, LLC, and past president at Smoke Free Maryland)

“I wish I would have had access to this book twenty years ago! Sally Winston and Martin Seif have put all the pieces of the puzzle together to help people understand and overcome unwanted intrusive thoughts. This is a must-read book, packed with information to help people suffering with anxiety-provoking intrusive thoughts, as well as clinicians who are trying to help them.” (Kimberly J. Morrow, LCSW, maintains a private practice in Erie, PA; specializes in the treatment of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); provides training and case consultation for clinicians through www.anxietytraining.com; and is author of Face It and Feel It)

“It turns out that commonsense approaches to stopping our worries, such as pushing thoughts away, arguing with them, or seeking reassurance, actually feed these worries and help them grow. Sally Winston and Martin Seif—two of the brightest minds in our field - deliver a simple yet powerful two-step process for change.” (Reid Wilson, PhD, author of Stopping the Noise in Your Head)

All stars
Most relevant
Great at dispelling myths. Things you think would help, only seem to make intrusive thoughts worse. Narration not bad.

Good to understand Intrusive thoughts

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I highly recommend this book, even if you have ready many other self help books on topics such as anxiety and CBT. Helpful explanations and practical advice.

The most helpful book I have read on the subject

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very useful to understand intrusive thoughts. worked very well reading this and having therapy

very useful

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I was diagnosed with OCD at 14, during a hard time in my (and my family’s) life, causing my OCD to explode and blossom. I'm been struggling with it since (I'm now 30), some years easier than others. I found it peaking fearful heights again and my mum found this book to help, its been an eye opening experience and has taken away a lot of guilt and SH thoughts, leading me to see a future where intrusive thoughts, simply as a background noise, not in the front of my brain and leading to painful experiences. If you are struggling with OCD or intrusive thoughts, I recommend listening to it. Every time those thoughts and feelings begin again, listen again. Try and hear it, even if it becomes repetitive, it will help. It felt slow, but progress was progress, and anything made me feel capable of staying and living a life with freedom and less fear, knowing it will get better. I promise ❤️

OCD sufferer

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a good listen & really helpful. helps to understand about anxiety & unwanted thoughts & gives good advice on how to deal with them

really helpful

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