What to Say—and Not Say—to Someone Having Intrusive Thoughts

Have you ever had a disturbing thought pop into your head out of nowhere—something you'd never consider actually doing?

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts, images or urges that can feel upsetting, confusing or wildly out of character. They're more common in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but can happen to anyone, and they can involve everything from violence and sex to religion, relationships and the fear of having done something wrong.

Many people are able to brush off the occasional intrusive thought and move on quickly. People with OCD, on the other hand, can get stuck trying to figure out what the thought means—and whether they might act on it. 

Please select this link to read the complete article from TIME.