Well, first and foremost, please know that you're not alone. I have experienced this numerous times throughout my life. And you're right- they're awful. The best piece of advice I can give you is distraction. Pick up the phone, call a friend to chat. Draw a picture. Go for a walk. Watch a TV show or a movie. Journal. Read a book. Listen to music. Deep breathing will also help take your mind off of them. Concentrate on your breaths, inhale deeply through your nose, and slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat the process. While you're doing this, close your eyes and picture shades of your favorite colors. Another thing that helps is to name objects, out loud, all around you. Sounds silly, I know. But it can help. Chair, picture, tree, grass, etc. Anything to distract your mind is going to be your best bet to avoid these intrusive images. And if certain things are found to increase your intrusive thoughts (a particular show, book, etc.) try your best to stay away from those things. Best of luck tomorrow, I hope that your Doctor is able to get you some relief. But I promise, this will pass!

I agree with erica - I've had these same thoughts and worries. It is terrible, gut wrenching. The best thing is distractions. I call the people I'm worried about to talk. Play with my dogs. Watch tv. Anything to distract your mind. Also tell yourself that you are fine and these thoughts aren't real, they are just worries and they won't control you. You aren't alone.

Iv had this same issue for years and the best way to get rid of it, for me at least, is to focus on things i can actually feel, smell, taste ect.. i think its called grounding or somthing. Id suggest talking to your therapist, whats the worst that could happen?

I have very real like dreams to

Mostly they involve murder of lil old me, or that i just walk into the forest never to be seen again

But my question would be ' Are there any stimulus that you unconditionally do daily that could cause these images or video clips?

Video games, or movies/tv that you come in contact with?

Medication can also do this, because it happened to me 3 months ago

But I'm sending huggs. Hoping you feel better soon

I have been watching shows, doing my nails, cuddling my dog, and organizing my room to distract myself, as well as grounding. They did help a lot as in the midst, I forget I even had those thoughts/images. Also, Billybob, thank you, but I know only some stimulus that may cause it. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I was watching a show that featured a woman with stage 4 (but it was a small scene, so thank god). I had to mute that scene, but then I had a film-like imagery in my mind of my mom coming home with a diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer then it fast forwarded to her going through chemo, radiation, and suffering. I nearly went crazy. Same with when I'm in a car with my mom. She got into a car accident and it was a bad one. I get images of her getting into a car accident, worse than the 1st one. As to what happens to me, mine are violent images towards myself. Other thoughts/images though, I have no clue.

I think one can manage these feelings, or one can confront them. I learned in my 20s to confront them because I discovered something very strange.

I discovered you can use your mind like a sandpit in an online game. Where you try out scenarios till you come up with the answer. It can take all night.

I think it's a natural function. I think it's normal, and how humans 'win' at this game of life. We have an imaginary scenario we can't escape because our mind has thrown it up, and now we have to crack it. We have to play that level till we come up with an answer.

I remember one for me was driving off the road with the kids in the car. I was pregnant for the scenario but it involved my second child being born. The car goes into the river. Who do I save?

It went round and round. I imagined me saving one, then the other, then trying to save both and us all dying. There was no solution.

I never came up with an answer, and every summer when swimming time came along I would have sleepless nights over this thing. I was terrified of the kids near water, and would watch like a hawk.

Then one day it happened. My daughter nearly drowned in the river.

I have never moved so fast. I got in, I got her out, and I never had that dream again.