# Non-supernatural explanation for bad thoughts

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-supernatural-explanation-for-bad-thoughts/534696>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 2, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-supernatural-explanation-for-bad-thoughts/534696 "2010-04-02T03:22:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-supernatural-explanation-for-bad-thoughts/534696/21 "2010-04-05T23:13:27Z")

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> [@olivesmarch4th](#):
>
> Well, that sounds like hell.

Word! If you read an article about, say, some hideous crime? You think about every detail over and over all day long until you want to perform a lobotomy on yourself. Even benign stuff - a funny conversation between TV characters - gets replayed in your head on an endless loop. I hate OCD and those intrusive thoughts. Maybe it IS the devil who puts 'em in my head! :dubious:

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**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-supernatural-explanation-for-bad-thoughts/534696/22 "2010-04-06T00:52:08Z")

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> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> Word! If you read an article about, say, some hideous crime? You think about every detail over and over all day long until you want to perform a lobotomy on yourself. Even benign stuff - a funny conversation between TV characters - gets replayed in your head on an endless loop. I hate OCD and those intrusive thoughts. Maybe it IS the devil who puts 'em in my head! :dubious:

I don’t know if I had OCD, at least no more so than any first-time parent, but IME having a baby so utterly dependent on you puts all sorts of horrible thoughts in your head you have to try your best to get rid of – but the harder you try, the harder your brain pushes back with “but _what if_ \_\_\_\_ happened? OK, it’s nearly impossible, _but what if it did_?” and you find yourself gasping for breath from the adrenaline rush.

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