Violent thoughts

LegacyUser

This is something that's been bothering me for quite some time and I'm just wondering if anyone else has the same.

There are many times when I'd be talking to people (in all sorts of scenarios... work, social etc..), that I'd actually think about doing a violent act towards them, even if I have no ill feeling towards them whatsoever.
For instance, I may be out in the pub and have a pint glass in my hand talking to someone, and then I'd see myself glassing them with it in my mind.
It's not just drink related by the way.
I might be in the kitchen cooking dinner, and if my flatmate is in the room, I'd 'see' myself getting the knife and stabbing him.
These would usually just be quick flashes.


Thankfully, I've never carried out anything like this. I know, however, I do have a pretty bad temper if pushed to the edge, but I've always controlled it well and many people see me as very easy going and placid. My major worry is, god forbid, I actually carry out something like this.
I'm not asking for help, but I'm just wondering if anyone ever has had the same sort of thoughts?
I've had a fairly decent upbringing, and am at a loss to fully explain it. I was bullied a bit at school, but I'm at the stage of loving my life now where I am, so am finding these thoughts worrying.

If I do seek help on this, who should I talk to and how?
thank you.

dame

Your GP could be the best person to go to because he/she will know the different specialisations of therapy/counselling/psychology. They can refer you to the best professional person to help you. I do think you should seek this help.

projectmayhem

i've had this before, a lot actually. i put it down to stress personally. you don't do it when you're all chipper and happy, do ya?

i think at some point everyone thinks something a bit strange. the reason you're sane is that you don't act upon these thoughts. i wouldn't worry too much, tbh.

nicolo

happens to me a fair bit, just ramndom violent images in my head or something an i get a little shock. i think or more so hope it normal.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Dec McC

happens me all the time. i think - what if i stabbed someone or knocked someone down in my car and just play out the consequences in my head but never actually go thru with it. i think its fairly common.

6th

Speaking from a Paranormal point of view I would suggest that it could possibly be an external influence urging you to carry out such violent acts.

Of course it also reminds me of the scene from "High Fidelity' .... very funny.

LegacyUser

Sounds like a typical example of obsessive thoughts to me (it's very normal). I've been there myself, and I can promise you that you have no reason at all to fear that you'll ever act on these violent thoughts. If you can label them "angry thought" or "obsessive thought" or "fear" and just let them pass without believing in them and without worrying (and just ignore all the worried thoughts that you might hurt somebody, 'cause you won't), that might be a help.

If the fear is becoming a big problem in your daily life, find a counsellor that is skilled in cognitive therapy, and he'll (she'll) help you.

(And for me it also helped a lot to start take control of my own life and to learn say a firm but friendly "No!" to people when I felt like it, instead of always being "pleasing".)

beans

It sounds like you're carrying some pent-up feelings in there somewhere. Councelling is a good start toward exploring these feelings. Nothing to be worried about, just something that needs to be explored. Once you understand yourself a bit better you'll be able to get closer to 'loving your life' as you put it.

This is all a manifestation of who you are, so don't fear it. But maybe get some help coming to terms with it? Best of luck

scorplett

42!

dazftw

I get this alot too.. I treat it like its just something I do when im not concentrating properly sometimes I find it funny for example

I would be walking to town and see and old granny and want to drop kick her...

The only time I would get really violent would be with people I don't like

Id say your fine it will pass!

Like when I was younger I use to always say in my head I don't believe in god and that stopped

the latest one is I always see the numbers 9 and 11 in a sequence :eek:

Don't get to worked up about it!

irlirishkev

I get this aswell.

I get very disturbing thoughts popping into my head, but I dismiss them straight away. For some reason, my brain seems to think 'what could be the most inappropriate or disturbing thing to think of right now', and then it thinks it. It's happened all my life. Don't know why, don't really care. They're just thoughts. I don't act upon them.. I suspect you have the same 'problem', if that's what it is.

It's very hard to control one's thoughts.. like trying to clear your mind. If I ever try to clear my mind, I end up actively thinking about trying to clear my mind.

I wouldn't stress over it tbh..

Mountain Ape

Watch American Psycho. The guy in that movie has the same problem. Its just a bloke thing. Cave man instincts etc.

Actually I find those feelings very amusing. Sometimes when I,m at a meeting (the more important and serious the better) I visulise the people at the table in one on one fight situations. So I imagine who would win in a fight against my boss etc. Very funny.

Naturally I always picture myself winning.

Try it.

azezil

like may others already replied, I to have had such fantasies.

I recall one in particular, walking home from work through a residential area a kid, just playing on his bike, he cycled in front of me and I imagined grabbing him by the neck, lifting him up and slamming him down onto the spiked railing to my side, I could see in vivid detail the top of the spike penetrate his skull, severing his spinal column, the look on his face of shock and slowly death, the blood trickle down the railing, his final, twitching and exhale....

It seemed somehow satisfying... at the time I was working in a really ****ty job, high on stress, low on reward, since leaving, those thoughts have all but left, in fact I don't recall having such an image since then!

My advise, something in your life is causing you stress, change it, deep down you know what it is.

r3nu4l

Don't worry about it too much OP, if it happens with greater frequency or if the thoughts become progressively more violent or you find yourself reaching to do something then think about asking for help.

I've not had thouhgts like this for a long time but I did have them at one stage, I think it was related to a terrible job I had at the time. Stress?

Victor

6th, scorplett this is the Personal Issues board. Please post constructively.

LegacyUser

'I had real problems with exactly the same thing, until I went to a counsellor last year.
It was the best thing I ever did and I'd highly recommend it.
When I was driving and people were walking on the road, I'd see myself driving at them. I always worried about hitting my missus, etc, etc.
Everything you've said, I have done the same, and more.
It only took around four sessions with the counsellor and I got my head sorted: even though I'd been experiencing the thoughts for years.
They're called automatic negative thoughts, the head doctor told me.
Everyone gets them, some people just get them a bit more than others.
Also, I have OCD and the O stands for obsessive: most people dismiss the thoughts; people with OCD can't and, indeed, keep thinking and thinking about them, causing a mini crisis in your head.
But, since I spoke to the counsellor, I've been great. Should have done it years ago, actually.
Essentially, the counsellor told me not to worry about them.

See someone.'

Black Swan

Ask for a referral from your GP.

metrovelvet

Its human nature and a billion dollar industry;Hollywood.

Write them down, you may get a story out of them.

LegacyUser

'Agree with Kwannon, sounds like Pure O a form OCD... something that people never act upon. Good link here http://www.ocdonline.com/articlephillipson1.php'