Suppressing Intrusive thoughts help

Ok so my anxitey is so off and on I swear It goes good week bad week. I’m on lexapro 20/mg and I have Xanax .5 and 1mg for as needed. I rarely I mean like maybe 4x a year take It. I’ve been having terrible intrusive thoughts and it scares the crap out of me to where I just want to be home alone in my bed cuz im afraid of the thoughts and being around people. I understand this is common with anxitey but as we all know we think we are the only ones expierencing things. Will Xanax help suppress these thoughts? My gut is saying maybe my lexapro is what’s causing It and I should just get off medicine which I haven’t done in 4 years. Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Suppressing your thoughts is the worst thing you can do for intrusive thoughts. They will only come back stronger and the feelings of anxiety will increase.

My experience with Pure O had included 5 hospitalizations, tons of therapy and some meds. I will say this: Medication was the least effective form of treatment for my intrusive thoughts. It was good therapy, with a fantastic psychologist, that really helped me to accept these thoughts. I am not saying you should stop taking your medication by any means, but it won't tackle the root of the problem.

If you are able, find a therapist who has experience dealing with intrusive thoughts. My former psychologist and I used to meditate together. When a "bad" thought came into my mind, I was terrified at first. But I was taught to watch these thoughts flow by, without judgement, and recognize them for what they are: mere thoughts. Eventually they no longer caused me suffering. It took a lot of hard work but it is so worth it.

Hi. If by 'suppress these thoughts' you mean 'stop these thoughts', I really don't know the answer to that. But maybe explain your situation to the doctor who prescribed the Lexapro and see how it goes. All the best with everything.

Xanax may help with the physical reactions to those thoughts, but it won't help much with suppressing them altogether. I like what Scaredandconfused said: just let your thoughts roll by without judgment. It was what I was taught in DBT and it helps. Mindfulness (staying in the present moment) will also help.

I agree with the other posters - trying to suppress thoughts makes anxiety worse. A therapist would be a good way to go to work with you on this.

Geodon took my intrusive and racing thoughts away. What a relief.