Listen to this when
Life Kit: How to deal with intrusive thoughts
Your brain sends you a horrifying thought. You don't have to answer it. 💭
Who it's for
A practical, warm and short introduction for someone who has just been shaken by a thought that "came out of nowhere".
Feelings it meets
What it is
An August 2025 episode of NPR's Life Kit about intrusive thoughts: the sudden, unwanted, often disturbing thoughts most people have. NPR illustrator LA Johnson shares her own experience (she also made a companion illustrated comic), and two therapists explain what intrusive thoughts are, why they stick, and how to respond to them, including when they may be part of OCD and worth getting help for.
Where to find it
NPR Life Kit feed on NPR.org, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast apps; transcript and companion article on NPR.org.
Before you start
Heads up: Brief mention of self-harm thoughts.
Age: Not rated (suggested 13+)
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2
