What Do I Do About My Child Having Intrusive Thoughts?

Just like adults, children have negative or worrisome thoughts that creep into their minds. Although all children may have intrusive thoughts, it is most common in those who experience anxiety, OCD or have a history of trauma. That is why it is important to discuss this with your child to determine whether they are normal or intrusive thoughts.

Child intrusive thoughts

Intrusive thoughts are common, but it can be more difficult for some kids to differentiate the useful and useless thoughts, making it harder to brush them aside. When they focus on one thought for too long and begin to worry about it, that can lead to anxiety or stress.

What Age Do Intrusive Thoughts Start?

Unwanted thoughts that elicit anxiety can appear at any age but often begin between ages 8 to 12 and in between the late teen years and early adulthood. Some have been as early as 5-years-old when diagnosed with compulsive thinking.

These are often triggered by stress or anxiety but may also be brought up from a short-term problem instigated by biological factors, such as hormonal shifts. That is why puberty is a common stage when people begin to experience these symptoms until adulthood.

What Are the Most Common Intrusive Thoughts in Children?

Common intrusive thoughts that children experience include worst-case scenarios and worries that continue to come up, they are typically opposite of what a child would do or hope for. In other cases, they are images that are violent, sexual, or feel wrong for a child. They may imagine bad things happening to them or their loved ones, or them causing harm to someone else.

Mental Health Problems Linked to Intrusive Thoughts

When a child cannot brush off intrusive thoughts or distract themselves from this type of thinking easily, they may be at risk for a mental health conditions. Obsessing over this hypothetical thinking can disrupt a child’s day-to-day life. If this is happening, it is wise to contact medical professionals in case it is an underlying mental health problem.

Intrusive thoughts are symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two common mental health conditions that can cause this way of thinking.

OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is when children deal with repeated thoughts, worries, or mental pictures that scare or upset them. They are bothered by these negative thoughts and are persuaded to do something to make the worries go away or prevent something bad from happening. These disrupting and time-consuming thoughts are defined as obsessions and their behaviors are called compulsions.

Examples of obsessive or compulsive behaviors include when a child has unwanted thoughts or impulses causing anxiety and stress, has to think about or say something repeatedly, they have to do something over and over (wash their hands, place things in order, check something over and over), or has to do something according to certain rules.

Anxiety

Children have fears and worries that frequently appear during developmental stages. For example, when they are separated from their parents. However, when these thoughts are persistent or extreme forms of fear, it could be because of anxiety or depression. If a child does not outgrow normal fears and worries, or when it interferes with their school, home, or play activities, they may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Examples of an anxiety disorder include when a child is afraid separated from their parents, has an extreme fear of situations, is afraid of being at school and other places where there are people (social anxiety), or is worried about bad things happening in the future. These symptoms can cause panic disorders where they will shake, feel dizzy, have trouble breathing, and more.

Trauma

Children who experience PTSD may undergo flashbacks that come out of nowhere or are triggered by something that reminds the child of their trauma in some way. They can include any of the 5 senses, making them feel like the traumatic action may happen again.

Examples of flashbacks include feeling as though they are back in the place where they experienced trauma, having the image of the trauma pop up in their head, and hearing or smelling something that associates with their trauma. These flashbacks activate the fight-or-flight instinct in their system, causing them to act out.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Kids

Cognitive-behavior therapy focuses on changing the thoughts and emotions that impact a child’s behavior negatively. A therapist assists the child in becoming aware of their thoughts and feelings. They also help the child evaluate if the thoughts are distorted or illogical so that they can change their thinking as well as the emotional reactions and behaviors that come with it.

This form of therapy works well with the child individually but can also include parents. The goal is to teach children and families how to strengthen positive behaviors and eliminate unwanted problem behaviors. Contact your medical professionals to explore therapeutic options for your child’s mental health today.

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