As a first time mother suffering with sleep deprivation and anxiety I would sometimes find myself having ‘intrusive thoughts’ where horrible thoughts that I would lose control of myself and be compelled to do something awful to my daughter would suddenly come into my head. It was not until my sister gave me a book by Clover Stroud’s called “My Wild and Sleepless Nights” in which she vividly describes her own struggle with anxiety and intrusive thoughts that I realised that I was not alone and. other people were having similar experiences.
One study found that 100% of mothers reported having scary thoughts of accidental harm coming to their baby and about half of the mums in the study also experienced intrusive thoughts about them causing the harm. So if you have experienced this just know that you are not alone, you are not bad and you are actually more normal than you might think.
Intrusive thoughts are basically any unwanted thought or image that come into your mind, which usually have a scary or otherwise disturbing quality to them. These automatic thoughts are called “intrusive” because they literally feel like an unwelcome guest that has barged their way in to your mind! Mums don’t want to think about these things… it just happens, and it’s usually quite upsetting.
Rescue Remedy
If you find yourself suffering in this way one simple thing you can try is Dr Bach’s Rescue Remedy which is available from many pharmacies these days. Dr Bach was a homeopath and he developed the first range of flower essences as a gentle and holistic way to treat negative mental states. The ‘Rescue Remedy’ formula includes Rock Rose (for panic), Impatiens (for impatience/speediness) Clematis (for spaciness and lack of grounding and focus), Star of Bethlehem (for shock and trauma) and Cherry Plum (for irrational thought and lack of control). It can be purchased as drops (to put under the tongue or sipped in a glass of water) or as a spray, a cream and even lozenges. It can be placed in bath water or used in a solution to bathe injuries.
The Cherry Plum Flower Essence may help to calm down “fear of the mind being over-strained, of reason giving way, of doing fearful and dreaded things, not wished and known wrong, yet there comes the thought and the impulse to do them.”
Intrusive thoughts can become a type of OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
The recurrent unwanted thoughts are obsessions and repetitive behaviors are compulsions. In cases of OCD he sufferer repeats the same behaviour or ritual in order to make certain thoughts go away. Performing the task calms the anxiety temporary but obsessions return after some time. The OCD can progress to the point where it hampers a person’s daily life. Some examples might be :
Frequent hand washing (fear of contamination and disease)
repeating actions several times as if in an established ritual (fixed routines ease thoughts of agres
Homeopathy for Intrusive thoughts and OCD
Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person nor just their pathological condition. Serious, responsible people with perfectionist tendencies seem to be more prone to developing OCD. A miasmatic tendency (inherited predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions and it is definitely relevant in OCD as there does seem to be a hereditary link.
Another factor to be borne in mind is that researchers have found many sufferers have very low levels of serotonin, the hormone that modulates emotions, sleep patterns and appetite. On a biochemical level it can be beneficial to investigate causes of low serotonin. These might include drugs used through the pregnancy, gluten intolerance (as gluten can cause types of depression) and unresolved emotional events, even those long buried in family history.
Below I will give some examples of homeopathic remedies used for OCD but please bear in mind this is not a complete and definitive guide to the treatment of this condition and it is highly recommended that you consult a qualified homeopath who can create a prescription individualised to your unique symptoms and family history.
Carcinosin
Suits people with perfectionist tendencies who are basically sweet natured and sympathetic to others and rarely get angry (anger is suppressed). They are people-pleasers and have a love order and harmony and may have been dominated or put under pressure to be perfect by their parents. They can become workaholics and push themselves to the limit.
Arsenicum Album
Those most suited to Arsenic are affectionate, sensitive and stable in good health but may be prone to restlessness, stress and anxiety about their health with a deep need for reassurance. Perfectionists by nature they are intolerant of any disorder and when under stress or ill may develop phobias or obsessions, for example about cleanliness.
Argentum Nitricum
Best suited to people who are extroverted, cheerful and impressionable – they are often found in careers that require quick-thinking and a good memory or where the emphasis is on performance. Good for agoraphobia (fear or open spaces) and fears of any new or public situations. The mind can be full of of health anxieties and compulsive thoughts. For example while walking over a bridge they might find themselves having thoughts of jumping off the bridge. The mood is one of restless anxiety, the person feels unable to relax and everything is hurried. The anxiety may be accompanied by palpitations, tremors, awkwardness, sweats, insomnia and even vomiting.
Nat Mur
A remedy suitable for sensitive people who are easily wounded by criticism. They keep a tight rein on their emotions but this can lead to moodiness and self-absorption. Despite a desire for company they feel awkward in social situations and can isolate themselves to avoid being hurt, thus seeming self reliant and stoical. They are often conscientious, diligent and loyal in their relationships. This remedy can help with rigid, fixed thought patterns and attitudes. There may be a history of grief and disappointment or depression.
Syphilinum
OCD behaviour particularly obsessively washing the hands and generally great anxiety that can be worse at night. Substance abuse can be an associated feature and self-destructive tendencies or someone in the family may have suffered with these problems.
When to seek help
Mums might worry about whether they are at risk of harming their children because of these thoughts, and this is an important aspect to talk to a professional about. One important piece for moms to know is that if they are disturbed and bothered by these thoughts, it’s most likely because they DON’T want them to happen – that’s the very reason they are so distressing. The scary thoughts are normally not in-line with how moms want to treat their children.These kinds of thoughts become dangerous when they ARE aligned with a mom’s intentions. For example, if she has thoughts about harming her child and feels justified in these thoughts, or truly does want to act out on them. If this is the case, it’s imperative that this mother gets support, as she could be experiencing postpartum psychosis (call a crisis line, 911, or talk to a doctor right away).
