Intrusive Thoughts

Hi everyone,

I post from time to time in the 'OCD' section but unsure where to post this one. Had an awful time with my medication over Christmas period. Went on Mirtazapine few months ago and was doing OK till mid December when it started to keep me awake all night, I literally couldn't sleep. Came off it for a few days and struggled so went back on it, couldn't sleep for anything so have been off it since Christmas Day. I have an appt with the Community Mental Health doctor on Tues so struggling through till then.

However, since coming off the medication (first time medication free in 9yrs) I have had trouble with really bad intrusive thoughts. These can be really perverted, distressing and really graphic. I feel utterly disgusted that these are coming into my head and I can't stop them. At the moment its relentless from moment I get up to time I go to bed. I'm stopping myself doing things I enjoy as I feel I need to be punished for having these thoughts and that something awful will happen if I go through with actions. I've tried calming my mind and using distraction techniques but the thoughts are really strong. I wanted to come off the meds as was sick of being on them but think I may have to try something different. Any suggestions as to what might help me?

yea I had that problem too with a few of my meds. the way it was explained to me is some psychotropic meds (meds for mental issues) sometimes also inhibits the sexual side of things. with out the meds decreasing the sexual side of things like going off the meds can seem like one is being bombarded with strange thoughts and urges. in time when a persons body gets used to having the sexual thoughts and urges again it's like normal people again. like how if you play a graphic video game over and over again you get desensitized from it.

I am glad you have an appointment with your treatment providers. maybe they can find a way to do some medication adjustments that will help decrease these thoughts and urges again.

Yeah that's very true. With me the Mirtazapine increased my sexual urges. I think being off meds has made me more open to extreme thoughts and less able to cope with them.

I was on Mirtazipine for years--just so you know. Sorry about your sleep issues. Hopefully, you will get it sorted soon.

I have had big-time intrusive thoughts difficulty over the years. The nature and content of the thoughts has varied widely, but being honest, some of them at times were potentially dangerous and frightened me. I always immediately told my pdoc everything about them. The most helpful treatments for me have been atypical antipsychotics, especially Abilify. For me, it seems to work.

So, just talk it out. Tell him/her everything, including content--if you can possibly pull yourself to do that. Your doc will be better informed and better able to help you that way.

Sending you comfort and a quiet mind and prayers.

Thanks, I've got my 3 month medication review with the Doctor on Tuesday so hopefully he can prescribe me some medication that would suit me better. It's weird but I feel almost 'naked' without any medication. I wanted to be completely free of meds in 2020 but I don't think this is realistic as coming off them has made me realise I do actually need something to control my OCD thoughts. I have written down some medication I want to try based on other peoples experiences on here. One is Lovox and the other is Inotisol.

hey, I am also interested in learning what medications might help with that sort of thinking. As my mind wonders, and as I grow older, it has occurred to me to stay away from instances, memories, people and places that harbor these sort of thoughts. When I am able to, like when I am alone or have found a way to isolate an intrusive thought, I agree, desensitizing is a useful tool to use. What I am working on for myself is learning how to avoid these situations and knowing what to do when I am faced with something that triggers these thoughts.

I get intrusive thoughts all day, tried every drug there ever was meaning meds and nothing ever worked. i became a lifer on these meds so i dont even fight it anymore