When anxiety takes over, it can feel like your thoughts are running the show. Learn how to quiet intrusive thoughts, calm your mind, and find peace again, one step at a time.

Intrusive thoughts are a common form of anxiety—unwanted, distressing ideas or images that pop into your mind without invitation. They can feel confusing and even scary, but they don’t define who you are. As Jon Hershfield explains, intrusive thoughts are “mental events, not moral failures.” Through therapy, including CBT and mindfulness, you can learn to reduce fear, break the cycle, and find more peace.