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Understanding and Treating of Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

  • Journal of Counseling and Gospel
  • Abbr : Jocag
  • 2007, 9(), pp.99-122
  • DOI : 10.17841/jocag.2007.9..99
  • Publisher : Korean Evangelical Counseling Society
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology > Pastoral Counseling
  • Received : September 30, 2007
  • Accepted : November 10, 2007

Kim, Jun Soo 1

1아세아연합신학대학교

ABSTRACT

The flow of human thought does not always follow a purposeful and task oriented. The human mind is a rich tapestry of constantly shifting thoughts, images, feelings, sensations, and impulses. The human thought is frequently interrupted by unwanted cognitive activity. Worry, distractions, attentional biases, memory lapses, mindwandering, daydreaming, ruminations, and obsessive thought are examples of mental processes that create cognitive interference and they play a significant role in a number of psychopathological conditions. There is increasing evidence that effective treatment of anxiety, depression, OCD, insomnia, and other conditions will require clinicians to target relevant distressing intrusive cognitions and the patient’s reaction to these thoughts. It is also clear that the primary difference between the unwanted intrusive thoughts in clinical and nonclinical individuals is on of degree rather than kind. The characteristics, responses, and appraisals of unwanted intrusive thoughts in clinical and nonclinical individuals find quantitative rather than qualitative between-group differences. Obsessional thoughts among OCD patients are experienced as ego-dystonic being inconsistent with perceptions of the self and important personal value systems. One of the most important features of thoughts associated with depressive thought intrusions is self-critical, ego-syntonic involving themes of personal loss and failure. Worry is a predominant feature of generalized disorder. It is a cognitive phenomenon, it is concerned with future events where there is uncertainty about the outcome, the future being thought about is a negative one, and this is accompanied by feelings of anxiety. Trauma related intrusions refer seeing the trauma reoccur , or visualizing what occurred immediately before or after the traumatic event in the form of broad range of cognitive phenomena that includes images, memories, and impulses. There are various theories concerning the origins of unwanted intrusive thoughts. Salkovskis suggests that they are a product of problem-solving capacity. Rackman commented that external cues are important in the provocation of unwanted intrusive impulses. Klinger suggests that the concept of current concern plays a central role in understanding the frequent, rapid shifts in thought content. The importance of right thinking is emphasized throughout the Scripture. In the book of Philippians, it reads, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praseworthy-think about such things.”The Bible teaches that man’s feelings, passions and behaviors are subject to and conditioned by the way he thinks. However, the Bible uses the word heart to describe who we are at our core and as the source of what we think. Therefore, from the biblical counseling point of view, managing unwanted intrusive thoughts is possible by finding what cravings and beliefs ruling one’s heart and renewing it through Spirit-directed repentance and faith.

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