Cognitive Behavior Therapy is the best way to deal with this. Just let the thoughts roll off of your back, so they say. Easier said than done.

make a gratitude list, and instead of dwelling on the `wrong', learn to celebrate your strengths.

also easier said than done. sorry you're having these thoughts. i understand.

i take them on headon... try this...sit back on the couch or your chair or even lay down too... close your eyes... and relax and watch (actually look at the space in your head with your eyes closed) your mind and your thoughts ... to try to calm your mind... with your eyes closed breathe in and out slowly at a count of 7 in ....hold it ...and then out evenly at a count of 7 also... keeping quiet and relaxing more with each exhale...
doing all this at first.... may seem to be very uncomfortable... but with practice you can learn to calm your mind and your thoughts effectively...

Ok, I did this once and it sort of worked. I wrote down the thought and I put it in a box and put the box in the garage. When the box got about half way full, I burned it. Got rid of the thoughts at least for a while.

Ok, I did this once and it sort of worked. I wrote down the thought and I put it in a box and put the box in the garage. When the box got about half way full, I burned it. Got rid of the thoughts at least for a while.

I do meditation, yoga & karate, which all help my mind cool off.

allowing them, just allow them.

when i would resist they seemed more persistent. i know what it's like, i've had them before kinda bad. they will ease with sitting and meditation and just allowing them to pass through.

try to remain objective, and don't think that because you have a thought it is you. they are temporary and transient.
like pain, if you sit with physical pain, it always moves.

easier said, just like simon said. but still . . . if you can be gentle with yourself, they should evaporate. visualize them leaving.
you can also sit there and picture yourself by a stream and imagine them just floating past you off and away, never to be seen again.

http://www.meditationiseasy.com/mCorner/techniques/zen_meditation.htm

thank you all for your help, I will try these suggestions, and should get some relief I hope.

Don't believe you can truly control a certain sort of intrusive thought(like in a mixed state or psychotic depression)..that's antipsychotic territory

otherwise, yes..just observing w/out reacting..being x

When I have these thoughts I immediately stop by voicing that I will not think this...and immediately begin thinking of happy things, over and over...I even keep a list so I can just read them off over and over and I can stop the other thoughts.

I have a real problem with intrusive thoughts, especially when I lay down to nap or sleep.

WHAM..the thoughts intrude like an avalanche ...

I use a meditation type of approach.

I use "Mindfulness"...I focus on being Mindful of my surroundings.

The sound of the over head fan, the feel of the fan on my skin how nice and soft my pillow is .

Oh , for sure the thoughts will try to sneak back in, but if I focus well and long enough, they do eventually stop.

But like whizz says , sometimes if the thoughts are too bad...time for some meds

i struggle with this constantly, everyday. Sometimes i think i will just go crazy. My pdoc says to say the words " not helpful ". Sometimes i feel like I have to scream those words and I can't because I'm at work. I wish there was a cure for this.

I talk over them.. mantra. Life is good. Life is great. I am OK.. or whatever suits.. then I laugh at them. I visualize some gory shit. No need from horror movies. I think its all disturbing,but TS not going away for now.. breathe and laugh at the way the brain works..