The Imp of the Mind: Exploring the Silent Epidemic of Obsessive Bad Thoughts

Product Information

Of course, Lee also refers to the work of Elaine Aron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person. Lee argues that many people who struggle with intrusive thoughts may also be ‘highly sensitive.’ The argument is not supported empirically and could potentially further pathologize those that identify as highly sensitive. One of the most creative and lucid thinkers in the area of OCD… A marvelous book for the millions who suffer from painful thoughts.”— Michael A. Jenike, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School My own first experience of OCD involved near-constant intrusive images of hanging and shooting myself, and it was extremely confusing both to myself and everyone around me why I was experiencing this while 1) unequivocally not wanting to die and 2) being constantly terrified of myself as if I really, really did and would do it if ever left alone with a weapon. Hearing that these thoughts were diagnostic of anxiety and not suicidality (and in fact, that these thoughts meant I was /unlikely/ to kill myself) could have saved me three years of tremendous emotional pain, and many more of profound self-distrust and self-contempt. It honestly strikes me as tragic that intrusive thoughts about harm inevitably target either ourselves or the people closest to us; those we love and most fear harming: Parents, siblings, romantic partners, spouses, children and grandchildren (especially in the case of the many mothers [41% of those with postpartum depression] who experience these thoughts for the first time about their child).

The Imp of the Mind: Exploring the Silent [PDF] [EPUB] The Imp of the Mind: Exploring the Silent

The key words "are from". This means you feel that the thoughts you are having are from another source other than your conscious involvement in them. Just about two years ago I began conducting a group at McLean Hospital for men and women who suffer from clinical bad thoughts. Since that time I have spoken to dozens of patients suffering from these thoughts who've never before admitted them to anyone, but were relieved to find that many other individuals suffer from similar thoughts. The degree to which these bad thoughts have devastated the quality of life of these people has amazed me. Virtually all the people who've come to my group for severe violent or sexual obsessions have thought about suicide, some have even tried suicide, and all have had their social lives disrupted. Some cannot date because of these thoughts; others have been divorced because of the thoughts. Many avoid being around children; most will turn away from television shows, movies, books, magazines, and newspaper accounts of violent or sexual activities, lest they find their own bad thoughts triggered. Similarly, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the biblical story of Eve in the Garden of Eden casts the serpent—here an agent of Satan—in the role of the imp. As soon as God specifically tells Adam and Eve that there is only one tree in the Garden that they may not even think about eating from, the release of humanity's troubles (as in the Pandora myth) seems inescapable.An innate and primitive principle of human action, a paradoxical something, which we may call Perverseness, for want of a more characteristic term.... Through its promptings we act, for the reason that we should not. In theory, no reason can be unreasonable: But, in fact, there is none more strong. With certain minds, under certain conditions, it becomes absolutely irresistible. I am not more certain that I breathe, than that the assurance of the wrong word or error of any action is often the one unconquerable force which impels us, and alone impels us to its prosecution. Nor will this overwhelming tendency to do wrong for the wrong's sake, admit of analysis, or resolution into ulterior elements. It is a radical, a primitive impulse-- elementary.... A Review of Lee Baer’s text, Imp of The Mind – for Clinicians and Overachieving Clients — OCD and Anxiety Clinic of Ontario OCD and Anxiety Clinic of Ontario While it was often difficult to read, I'm glad that Baer places special emphasis on intrusive thoughts of harm/violence, especially considering the tremendous fear and stigma accompanying these themes as well as the huge gulf between the violence of these thoughts and the dispositions of those suffering.

The Imp of the Mind by Lee Baer | Goodreads

In the second season of Sex Education, Otis gets teased for obsessively asking for consent every 10 seconds while losing his virginity; in I May Destroy You, a sexual assault victim has an intrusive thought of his own rape while having sex, but imagining himself as the perpetrator; in this year’s It’s A Sin, a character goes to obsessive lengths to protect herself after learning a friend has Aids.The behavioral compulsions associated with purely-obsessional intrusive thoughts OCD are not apparent; they are all in the mind. This journey is very common. Statistics indicate it can take a person with OCD up to 17 years to get appropriate treatment. It’s thought 1 in 50 people has it. In his book about obsessive negative thoughts, The Imp of the Mind, Lee Baer calls it “the silent epidemic”. Dr. Lee Baer combines the latest research with his own extensive experience in treating this widespread syndrome. Drawing on information ranging from new advances in brain technology to pervasive social taboos, Dr. Baer explores the root causes of bad thoughts, why they can spiral out of control, and how to recognise the crucial difference between harmless and dangerous bad thoughts.