unwanted thoughts

We all get jealous occasionally—but retroactive jealousy can make someone start obsessing over their partner’s romantic past. Retroactive jealousy, also known as Rebecca syndrome, can be so intense that it can derail a person’s relationship, mental health, and ability to trust others.  Although this type of relationship anxiety can warp…

Humans subscribe to patterns of behavior that are influenced by their thoughts, and their thoughts are influenced by their patterns of behavior. For instance, we might wash our hands (an action) because we want to cleanse them of germs (a desire). Or we might start thinking of ourselves negatively (a…

Every fall, Black Friday and Cyber Monday loom as the notorious twins of November, luring shoppers out in droves amid fierce competition. But beyond the viral videos of people fighting over TVs, these two consumer holidays are a big win for companies, with Americans spending nearly $20 billion on both…

If you or someone you know struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you’re probably aware of intrusive thoughts. These are those unwanted, stress-provoking thoughts and urges that seem to come out of nowhere and prohibit you from thinking straight or performing certain tasks. For example, you might be running late for…

For years, I experienced unwanted thoughts. I’ll spare you the gruesome details, but chances are, you or someone you love knows just how bad the mind can get. In fact, we know a lot more than ever before the kinds of pain people are going through. To take some examples: The online…