Summary of Sally M. Winston and Martin N. Seif 's Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

#1 Intrusive thoughts are common, but for most people they are quickly forgotten and create minimal or no discomfort. They are uninvited thoughts that jump into the mind and do not seem to be part of the ongoing flow of intentional thinking.

#2 Unwanted intrusive thoughts are when you think about something that is not welcome, and you try to push it out of your mind, but it keeps coming back. It may be aggressive, sexual, taboo, anxiety-provoking, or self-derogatory.

#3 There are three voices that are relevant to the problem of unwanted intrusive thoughts: the voice of What if. which predicts disasters and awful outcomes, the voice of False Comfort, and the voice of Wise Mind.

#4 Wise Mind is calm, unimpressed, and unaffected by the constant arguments between Worried Voice and False Comfort. It knows that False Comfort is actually spurring Worried Voice on, and it is curious and sometimes even amused by things that upset the others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Apr 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669383642

IRB Media

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Insights on Sally M. Winston & Martin N. Seif's Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

intrusive thoughts are common, but for most people they are quickly forgotten and create minimal or no discomfort. They are uninvited thoughts that jump into the mind and do not seem to be part of the ongoing flow of intentional thinking.

#2

Unwanted intrusive thoughts are when you think about something that is not welcome, and you try to push it out of your mind, but it keeps coming back. It may be aggressive, sexual, taboo, anxiety-provoking, or self-derogatory.

#3

There are three voices that are relevant to the problem of unwanted intrusive thoughts: the voice of What if. which predicts disasters and awful outcomes, the voice of False Comfort, and the voice of Wise Mind.

#4

Wise Mind is calm, unimpressed, and unaffected by the constant arguments between Worried Voice and False Comfort. It knows that False Comfort is actually spurring Worried Voice on, and it is curious and sometimes even amused by things that upset the others.

#5

Set a timer for two minutes. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and pay attention to what you think, feel, hear, and smell. You may think about anything you want except for one thing: carrots. Do not think about carrots, and you will be able to resist them.

#6

The paradox of thought is that what you resist persists. Your attempt to control your mind has backfired. The simple truth is that what you resist tends to persist. This is the basic paradox at work in