Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, involuntary thoughts, images, or unpleasant ideas that may become an obsession, are upsetting or distressing, and can feel difficult to manage or eliminate. They are ideas and images that come to mind uninvited and typically unwanted, ranging from a thought that makes you feel a little bit uneasy to being wholly disturbing. Intrusive thoughts may be violent or sexual in nature, frightening, related to a phobia or deep-seated fear, disgusting, embarrassing, or shameful. They can be associated with mental health conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, postpartum depression or anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression. However, many people who experience these thoughts don’t have a mental health disorder, and intrusive thoughts are often triggered by stress or anxiety. Lack of sleep, stress, and anxiety can increase the frequency of intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts can be managed by addressing the underlying problem, such as stress or anxiety, and by recognizing and labeling them for what they are -- intrusive thoughts that you can’t control. It is important to note that while intrusive thoughts may be disturbing, they aren’t harmful or a sign that you have a secret desire to do the things that popped into your mind.