Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

A CBT-Based Guide to Getting over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts

By: Sally M. Winston PsyD, Martin N. Seif PhD

Narrated by: Senn Annis

Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

You are not your thoughts! In this powerful book, two anxiety experts offer proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help you get unstuck from disturbing thoughts, overcome the shame these thoughts can bring, and reduce your anxiety.

If you suffer from unwanted, intrusive, frightening, or even disturbing thoughts, you might worry about what these thoughts mean about you. Thoughts can seem like messages - are they trying to tell you something? But the truth is that they are just thoughts, and don’t necessarily mean anything. Sane and good people have them. If you are someone who is plagued by thoughts you don’t want - thoughts that scare you, or thoughts you can’t tell anyone about - this book may change your life.

In this compassionate guide, you’ll discover the different kinds of disturbing thoughts, myths that surround your thoughts, and how your brain has a tendency to get “stuck” in a cycle of unwanted rumination. You’ll also learn why common techniques to get rid of these thoughts can backfire. And finally, you’ll learn powerful cognitive behavioral skills to help you cope with and move beyond your thoughts, so you can focus on living the life you want. Your thoughts will still occur, but you will be better able to cope with them - without dread, guilt, or shame.

If you have unwanted thoughts, you should remember that you aren’t alone. In fact, there are millions of people just like you -good people who have awful thoughts, gentle people with violent thoughts, and sane people with “crazy” thoughts. This book will show you how to move past your thoughts so you can reclaim your life!

This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation - an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools listeners can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

©2017 Sally M. Winston, PsyD and Martin N. Seif, PhD (P)2020 New Harbinger Publications

Critic reviews

“This important book is essential and mandatory reading for anyone affected by unwanted and intrusive thoughts, and their health providers. The authors crystallize decades of experience into a perfectly clear and readable guide. The solution to this misunderstood problem is in this book.” (Joseph A. Adams, MD, medical director at Baltimore Health Systems and Step By Step of Maryland, LLC, and past president at Smoke Free Maryland)

“I wish I would have had access to this book twenty years ago! Sally Winston and Martin Seif have put all the pieces of the puzzle together to help people understand and overcome unwanted intrusive thoughts. This is a must-read book, packed with information to help people suffering with anxiety-provoking intrusive thoughts, as well as clinicians who are trying to help them.” (Kimberly J. Morrow, LCSW, maintains a private practice in Erie, PA; specializes in the treatment of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); provides training and case consultation for clinicians through www.anxietytraining.com; and is author of Face It and Feel It)

“It turns out that commonsense approaches to stopping our worries, such as pushing thoughts away, arguing with them, or seeking reassurance, actually feed these worries and help them grow. Sally Winston and Martin Seif—two of the brightest minds in our field - deliver a simple yet powerful two-step process for change.” (Reid Wilson, PhD, author of Stopping the Noise in Your Head)

A game changer

The woman’s voice is very calming and an excellent narrator.

Fantastic content.

Only complaint is the book closing on what NOT to do. It leaves you with what you’d best forget! Would prefer to leave off on the correct response to intrusive thought.

Otherwise, great book!

The Best!!!

This book is the best anxiety CBT self training book I have ever read it is amazing.

Life changing book !

Very helpful with anxiety and intrusive thoughts. This book helped me immensely. It’s a nice book to have also if you need to read back and get your mind out of the repetitive thoughts

Narration

The narration is superb!! The way she switches between the 3 voices of the mind (worried voice, false comfort and wise mind) in the highlight of this audiobook.

This is a good book to understand how intrusive work.
I cut down 1 star because there should have been an accompanying PDF attached. Atleast for the 2 chapters where they explain the right response to the intrusive thoughts and the exposure techniques. About 10 of them for each chapter are provided but I don't seem to remember most of them. I'll have to go back and listen to those chapters again.

It does help

When I first started reading this book, I have been already talking to a counselor but I wanted more. I have gone through unwanted thoughts 4 years ago but never knew what they were until now. This book has given me a different outlook that my counselor could not touch on. I recommend it to people who think they are alone with their thoughts. You are not.

This book changed my life.

I’m currently dealing with a B12 deficiency and one of the symptoms that comes with that is OCD. I’d never experienced it before, these intrusive thoughts that used to really take hold of me and send me spiraling, but this book changed all that.

I’m looking forward to getting my vitamin level up and putting all this behind me, but I don’t dread the thoughts anymore, because, they’re just that, powerless thoughts that will eventually fade away into the ether.

Well written

Interesting and helpful. will be sharing with anybody willing to read it. I think everyone should read this because it applies to everyone. we have all been there. this makes you you understand why and how to resolve it

This book changed my life

I’ve never had a book speak to me and so perfectly address exactly what I am feeling and going through. It is now my bible as I go forward dealing with my unwanted intrusive thoughts - so so happy I found it.

ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS?

I have bipolar 1 and I listened to this book and it was immensely helpful. It talks about having a wise mind, worried voice, and something else like that (it’s like your brain talking to itself) the way she wrote this book is astounding! Follow her tips and your mental health will most likely be better!
10/10
WOULD RECOMMEND

Life changing book.

This book helped me like noone else did. I am deeply greatful, that this book appeared in my life and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who suffers from intrusive thoughts and OCD.