What it's like to live with intrusive thoughts⚡

Plus: 7 signs it's time to call it quits

View this email online Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Life Kit producer Clare Marie Schneider Have you had recurring, disturbing, unwanted thoughts before? Maybe about a scary “what-if” scenario or about harm to yourself or your loved ones?  These distressing images or ideas are called “intrusive thoughts” and they can happen anytime, anywhere, says clinical psychologist Brooke Smith. They are common among postpartum parents, and they can also affect people with underlying health conditions like depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder.  NPR producer and artist LA Johnson reported an episode and created a comic based on her own experience with intrusive thoughts after giving birth to her second child.  She talks to Smith and clinical social worker U'nek Clarke, who facilitates a therapy group for postpartum moms, about how to recognize these thoughts when they pop up and what you can do to minimize them. Editor's note: This comic discusses mental health topics and suicidal ideation. If you are in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to connect with a counselor. Read the comic here LA Johnson/NPR 🎭 Regulate your emotions. If these thoughts come up, ground yourself in reality by taking a few deep breaths and getting in touch with your senses, says Clarke. That might mean smelling your perfume, putting a cold compress on your forehead, feeling something soft, listening to the birds chirp or tasting a hot drink. 🤝 Accept your intrusive thoughts to move through them, says Smith. And don’t conflate your thoughts with facts. “Our thoughts can enter our mind and we can observe the thoughts coming, staying for a while, and then passing.”  💬 Talk about your intrusive thoughts with your loved ones or a therapist. They can help you fact-check the thoughts, lessening their power. You might be worried that saying your thoughts out loud might bring them to life, but that’s not how intrusive thoughts work. “Talking about it doesn't increase the risk that this is going to happen,” says Smith.  An illustrated guide to managing intrusive thoughts Newsletter continues after sponsor message More on mental health from Life Kit Photo Illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR How to prevent stress from escalating into distress. If you’ve been experiencing negative feelings like panic or anxiety for more than a few days, you might be in distress, says psychiatrist Dr. Kali Cyrus. Here’s how to keep those emotions in check. Read the story.  Feeling anxious? Try smiling or doing a good deed to snap out of it. Feeling overwhelmed, panicked or anxious? Clinical psychologist Jenny Taitz offers simple techniques to improve your mood and calm your body and mind in minutes. Read the story here. What to do if you're struggling with your mental health at work. Whether it’s depression, anxiety, burnout or something else, if you’re struggling with your mental health at work, it can be hard to know what your options are and how to seek help. Here’s a look at the stigma around mental health at work, how to spot an issue and what to do about it. Read the story.  How to start therapy. If the mere thought of going to therapy seems overwhelming, you're not alone. Plenty of people put off seeking therapy because of the stigma, cost and inconvenience. We've got four tips to help you make your first appointment. Read the story. Support our work & listen sponsor-free Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening and even some specially curated playlists of episodes by theme (Master your budget, Organize your life, Move your body, and more).   Check out all the NPR+ benefits available at plus.npr.org. Explore Life Kit+ Quote of the week: Talking to your teens about AI  Regardless of how you feel about artificial intelligence, many teens are using it for schoolwork and emotional support. In a recent episode, experts share tips on how parents can talk to teens about AI. Avoid judgment and instead, create a curious, open line of communication.  Listen to the episode here Get bite-size versions Life Kit on Instagram Follow us for mini versions of our episodes on money, health, relationships and more. Recent posts include a reel on things no one taught you about using the bathroom, expert advice on gift-giving for (18!) nieces and nephews, and common mistakes when it comes to slathering on sunscreen. Look out for opportunities to share your own advice too.   I want more Life Kit! In case you missed it  Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR COMIC: 7 signs it's time to call it quits. It's hard to know when to give up on a goal, especially when you've invested so much time, effort and resources into it. Here are 7 signals you might be ready to move on. Read the comic here.  Budgeting for college students. A new semester has begun, which means college students across the country are taking on debt, opening credit cards and navigating meal plans and housing on their own. Budgeting and managing money, especially as a first-year college student, can be daunting. In this episode, we cover how to plan for student loans, look for scholarships, get part time work and more. Read the story. Give your body a fall reset with these head-to-toe health tips. It’s not just school kids who could use a back-to-school reset. Your body could use one too. This episode of Life Kit, medical professionals share advice to help you care for your ears, eyes, teeth, feet and skin. We hope these tips leave you feeling healthy and strong as the fall season begins. Listen to the episode.  Lost your keys? A better way to find them. Searching for an item you've misplaced, like a passport, wedding ring or keys, can get frustrating quickly. Luckily, there are tips to help make your search process faster, smoother and calmer. Read the story.   Look out 👀 for these upcoming topics We love sharing exclusive content with you, dear newsletter subscriber. Here is a list of topics you can expect to learn about in upcoming episodes.  💔 Limerence  💤 Sleep myths 👦 Magical parenting phrases  Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. 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