None of us can escape intrusive thoughts, the random and usually off-putting musings that include visions of shoving your hand through the center of a beautifully decorated cake or a bridge collapsing ...

One's mind is a powerful and complex thing. So powerful, in fact, that despite being the organ of the body most studied, neuroscientists are still making new discoveries about brain function, learning ...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repetitive, unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and irrational, excessive urges to do certain actions (compulsions).

Despite what's shown on TV and in movies, OCD is rarely about hand sanitizer or tidy kitchen pantries. Instead, OCD often ...

Everyone has passing intrusive thoughts that seem to come from outside their control: The content may feel alien, absurd, or threatening, and may pass after a few weird moments. Intrusive thoughts can ...

You may have noticed a lot more chatter on TikTok these days about intrusive thoughts. While some people use the term to describe their random impulses to, say, open and close their fridge door ...

Katie has a PhD in maths, specializing in the intersection of dynamical systems and number theory. She reports on topics from maths and history to society and animals. Katie has a PhD in maths, ...

Sign up for CNN’s Stress, But Less newsletter. Our six-part mindfulness guide will inform and inspire you to reduce stress while learning how to harness it. Have ...

Mental health professionals say obsessive-compulsive disorder affects millions and can involve intrusive thoughts, anxiety, ...

If donor profiles have stirred thoughts about sex you don’t recognize, you’re not alone. These reactions are common, human, ...