Is it normal to have intrusive violent thoughts when with people ?

I am a male, over 20. One reason I try avoiding interacting with people on any level are these intrusive thoughts that involuntarily come. It started since I was little, and I can't explain it without giving examples. For instance, whenever I see a knife nearby and get these anxiety like I have to stab someone. Like I feel afraid of myself that I am having these thoughts.

These intrusive and anxiety causing thoughts occur in my everyday life, and the more I am around people, even my family and friends, I get these thoughts.

When I am with strangers, I feel highly paranoid and these intrusive thoughts feel normal.

Voting Results
61% Normal
Based on 84 votes (51 yes)
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Comments ( 10 )
  • WhiteNomad

    Normal, but you might want to talk to someone to see if you have OCD. In that case it wouldn't be normal, but it would be treatable at least.

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  • playgroundhound

    yes. ive had these intrusive thoughts before. and its disturbing to me. but, i know that i'd never act on them so that fact makes me feel better about the whole thing

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  • hmm i kind of get the same even when i was in high school i would be sitting behind someone looking at their head just imagining stabbing the head and cutting their throat
    i dont get scared or frightened of it only reason why i dont carry it out is because i know if i did i wouldnt stop and i would get the lethal injection lol

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  • animaguskid

    I think those sort of things occasionally. I know that I'll never do anything but it's still disturbing to me. I think I'm just so afraid of doing something to hurt them that that causes me to think about the act of carrying it out.

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  • peaches902

    Yes I think it is normal. I think everyone has intrusive thoughts at some time, it's just that some are more severe than others. I totally get where you're coming from. I've had thoughts like that for a long time where I was afraid to be around babies because I was afraid that I would hurt them. It made me feel like crap and I hated myself for it. Until I did a google search and found out that I wasn't alone. The key to making the intrusive thoughts go away is to not get anxious about them and to realize that those thoughts are not coming from you. Try and replace them with some positive thoughts or think of spongebob just busting in the room break dancing lol (I know it sounds stupid but it actually helps) And don't beat yourself up about it, because obviously YOU don't want to think these thoughts.

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  • contradiction

    I had and have this. I thought I was the only one. But whenever there is a knife or a hammer, etc., near me or in my possession and I am near somebody else, i can just see myself harming the other person and I have to put the object down or move away because it becomes so overwhelming. However I am a really nice person, its totally insane.

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  • whodoneit

    i actually don't think this is normal. i think you should talk to someone about this. it is good that you know you shouldn't be thinking about harming people though :)

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  • monkyyy

    had the same thing when i was younger, they disappeared when i got over(most) of my depression; so i think it could just be a sign of a bigger problem and seeing as most people have issues, normal.

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  • 8Serene8

    It's normal. You just have to learn to cope with these thoughts and feelings nomatter how intrusive or how much you want to do the actions. I used to feel and think this way a lot. I eventually turned it into writing my stories to get the feelings out. Find an outlet or it will consume you.

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  • AlexJonesIsAmystery

    Those thoughts are normal (90% of people report having them, 10% is probably lying), the problem is that you're fighting them... "what you resist persists".

    If it has you avoiding situations and it gives you anxiety you probably have a bit of OCD (and high morals) and you should see a good therapist, this is a very treatable thing.

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