Scary Mental Images in Teens: Causes of & Support for Disturbing Intrusive Thoughts
December 1, 2025
Does having a disturbing thought mean I’m a terrible person? For many teens, this can be a secret fear they wrestle with behind closed doors.
Unwanted disturbing thoughts or scary mental images can be confusing and frightening. Yet, almost everyone has experienced an uninvited thought from time to time that gets stuck in their head and won’t seem to leave.1
Intrusive thoughts can happen for several reasons, including underlying mental health conditions. Recognizing when a child is battling with their thoughts allows you to provide them with the compassionate support they may require to regain control. A mental health professional is always available if these thoughts reach a level of concern.
This page can help you understand intrusive thoughts in teens by exploring:
What intrusive thoughts are- Mental health warning signs teens may exhibit
- Common causes of the scary mental images youth may experience
- Impact of disturbing intrusive thoughts
- Coping strategies for teens
- Effective treatments for intrusive thoughts
- Where to seek professional help
What Are Intrusive Thoughts In Teens?
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, distressing thoughts that suddenly take hold without warning and for no apparent reason. The disturbing intrusive thoughts teens may have can shatter their focus and derail their train of thought, no matter how hard they try to ignore them.2 What’s more, these uninvited thoughts can take the form of thoughts, images, or urges, which can feel deeply distressing.
You may have heard of intrusive thoughts being linked to conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, in which case, certain examples may spring to mind, such as thoughts about cleaning or needing order. Yet these aren’t the only forms intrusive thoughts take. They can actually cover a range of topics, including doubts, harm, embarrassment, health concerns, sex, traumatic memories, and morality.3
Additionally, teens may experience intrusive thoughts related to adolescent changes, such as body image, relationships, or being socially accepted.
You may be relieved to know that intrusive thoughts often have no real basis and are usually harmless. These thoughts don’t reflect real impulses, wants, or predictions of the future. They are simply thoughts. Still, it is the reaction to the thoughts (like anxiety, worry, and distress) that can make them so disturbing and problematic.
Many people experience random, uninvited thoughts from time to time. But if they happen frequently or begin to impact daily functioning, they may be a sign of a deeper concern, such as a mental health disorder.
Signs of Mental Health Challenges in Teens
Intrusive thoughts in teens can be tricky to detect unless they tell you about them. However, certain behaviors can accompany intrusive thoughts and help to indicate a mental health condition, such as OCD, depression, or anxiety. Therefore, recognizing behavioral signs of an emotional or mental challenge is essential for getting your teen the support they may need.
Some behaviors that may point to a mental health challenge include:4,5
Avoiding things that may trigger anxiety- Repetitive behaviors (compulsions)
- Appearing anxious or nervous
- Becoming upset or frustrated when routines are disrupted
- Withdrawing from usual activities
- Repeatedly seeking reassurance
- Feeling ashamed
- Low mood or energy
- Constantly apologizing (unnecessarily)
If any of these behaviors resonate with your teen, they may be grappling with a mental health condition. Recognizing these signs early allows you to support them and seek professional treatment to help them recover.
With a clearer idea of what signs to look for, let’s dive into the root of the problem: What causes disturbing, intrusive thoughts?
Causes of Intrusive Thoughts in Teens
Intrusive thoughts can be triggered by several different factors, including stress, neurodevelopmental differences, lifestyle, and hormonal shifts. The most common causes are explored in more detail in the following sections.
Adolescent Developmental Changes
Adolescence is a time of many developmental changes and challenges, including hormonal fluctuations triggered by puberty. Some of these hormonal shifts can affect certain brain chemicals that influence our moods, impulse control, and anxiety.6
What’s more, teens’ brains are still developing. This means that the connections involved in anxiety and self-control are not yet fully formed, making teens more vulnerable to experiencing random, intrusive thoughts.7 This can, in turn, lead to distress and potential struggles with emotional regulation.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive thinking in youth may arise from a condition called “obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).” OCD affects up to three in every hundred children and teens, and is defined as recurrent intrusive obsessions and/or compulsions that cause severe stress and interfere with day-to-day functioning.8
So, teens with OCD may experience repetitive, intrusive thoughts or images that can result in significant anxiety or distress. Then, in an attempt to alleviate these feelings, they may perform certain behaviors known as “compulsions” or “rituals.” For instance, a teen with obsessions about picking up an illness may repeatedly wash their hands.
However, compulsions only ever bring a temporary relief from intrusive thoughts. You can find out more about OCD on our page Teen OCD Symptoms.
Stress and Mood Disorders
Disturbing or intrusive thoughts are also linked to other mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (through trauma flashbacks in adolescents).9,10
The link between anxiety and intrusive thoughts is that anxiety puts the brain into a heightened state of threat awareness.11 This makes it easier for unwanted or distressing thoughts or images to creep in and demand attention.
Stress and obsessive thoughts also share a connection.12 And, as teens can become stressed out through school work, body changes from puberty, or peer pressure, this can increase the risk of intrusive images or thoughts.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Neurodiversity can also play a role in the development of intrusive thoughts. Research shows people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have more intrusive thoughts – which may appear as hyperfixation – than neurotypical people. This is thought to be due to the brain circuitry that causes them to struggle with focusing their attention or thoughts.13
Lifestyle Factors
Certain lifestyle factors can also trigger or worsen the severity or intensity of intrusive thoughts in teens. For instance, if you’re tired or stressed out, you may find that your mind is much more likely to latch onto unwanted thoughts, leaving you ruminating over the smallest thing.
Factors that can worsen these thoughts include fatigue, hormonal changes, caffeine, alcohol, and even some medications.10
Knowing the potential roots of intrusive thoughts can help teens take control and make beneficial changes in their lives. We look at some coping strategies in the next section.
Coping Techniques for Anxiety Youth Can Use
Intrusive thoughts in teens can be scary and distressing. If you’re a teen in this position, you may feel unsure what you can do to help yourself. Fortunately, there are several ways you can begin tackling these thoughts and regaining control and calmness.
Coping skills can make a great difference in managing anxiety on a daily basis. But, if intrusive thoughts are causing distress or getting in the way of the things you want to do, remember that help is out there. Mental health professionals, like doctors or therapists, can help you work out where these thoughts come from and support you in overcoming them.
Suggestions of self-care and coping techniques you could use at home include the following:
Self-Care and Coping Techniques:
- Get enough sleep: Sleep is important for feeling energized and also for having a brain that works at its best. Therefore, getting enough sleep can really help when it comes to reducing or battling those intrusive thoughts. You could try setting a sleep and wake-up time that gives you the eight to ten hours you need, or create a relaxing bedtime routine to help you drift off.14
- Cut down on caffeine: If you rely on caffeine from coffee, cola, or energy drinks to stay awake and alert, you may want to reconsider how much of these you drink. Research shows that caffeine makes anxiety and panic worse, which can have an unpleasant knock-on effect for intrusive thoughts.15
- Try grounding exercises: If you’re creating your own mental health toolkit, grounding exercises are a great addition. These techniques help you to focus on the present and relieve feelings of anxiety, stress, or depression.16 This means they can be useful for redirecting your attention away from disturbing thoughts and onto something more productive and enjoyable. We provide some examples of these on our page, Grounding Techniques for Teen Anxiety & Panic Attacks.
- Use mindfulness practices: Mindfulness is another way to anchor your mind in the present while observing thoughts that pass through in a non-judgmental way. For ideas on mindfulness exercises, check out our pages, Mindfulness For Teens, and Mindfulness Activities for Teens with ADHD.
- Learn more about intrusive thoughts: Understanding intrusive thoughts can help you face them with less fear. It can be helpful to remember that thoughts are not facts or predictions of the future. They are just thoughts, and not every thought is significant.
Effective Treatment for Intrusive Thoughts In Teens
Sometimes, self-help and parental support just aren’t enough to relieve the distress that intrusive thoughts bring. The good news is that effective treatments are available to help teens who struggle with these types of thoughts. If you’ve been searching online for “teen treatment near me,” the following sections may be useful as they provide an overview of the most effective treatment options.
Therapy for Intrusive Thoughts Teens Experience
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapy that can help teens manage intrusive thoughts. CBT for intrusive thoughts helps teens recognize how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. They can then use this knowledge to gradually confront intrusive thoughts and the anxiety they trigger. Teens can also learn how to better tolerate distress caused by intrusive thoughts, thus removing the power that they hold. This approach can be particularly effective for treating intrusive thoughts related to depression, anxiety, or OCD.17
Alternatively, trauma-focused therapy can help when intrusive thoughts or disturbing images stem from trauma. Therapy such as eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) can help teens process past traumatic experiences so that symptoms like flashbacks and scary images improve.
Medication for Disturbing Thoughts
Medication for intrusive thoughts is not a first-line treatment. Yet, it may be an appropriate option for teens who experience significant symptoms or if therapy alone hasn’t been completely successful. In these situations, a doctor may prescribe medication to treat underlying conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or OCD.1,18
Receiving the right support can make a significant difference to a teen’s overall well-being and mental health.
Mission Prep: Supporting Teens With Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts can be incredibly frightening, especially when you don’t know how to cope with them. However, teens don’t have to live in fear of their thoughts. With the right support and evidence-based treatment, they can learn to manage these thoughts and regain control.
Mission Prep specializes in treating teenagers with mental health challenges, including disturbing intrusive thoughts. Our team offers evidence-based therapies, including CBT, on a schedule and in a setting to suit you, through virtual sessions, face-to-face therapy, residential programs, or something in between. Whether you need some extra guidance or a complete treatment package, we have options to suit every need.
If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, contact us today to find out how we can support your family on the road to a calmer tomorrow.
References
- Wiginton, K. (2024, April 23). What are intrusive thoughts? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/intrusive-thoughts
- APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Intrusive Thoughts. https://dictionary.apa.org/intrusive-thoughts
- Cleveland Clinic. (2025, April 28). What are intrusive thoughts? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/intrusive-thoughts
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). OCD at school. Retrieved November 11, 2025, from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/ocd-at-school
- American Psychiatric Association. (2024). What is depression? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
- Karpinski, M., Mattina, G. F., & Steiner, M. (2016). Effect of gonadal hormones on neurotransmitters implicated in the Pathophysiology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Critical review. Neuroendocrinology, 105(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1159/000453664
- Xie, S., Zhang, X., Cheng, W., & Yang, Z. (2021). Adolescent anxiety disorders and the developing brain: comparing neuroimaging findings in adolescents and adults. General Psychiatry, 34(4), e100411. https://doi.org/10.1136/gpsych-2020-100411
- AACAP. (n.d.). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Resource Center. Retrieved November 11, 2025, from https://www.aacap.org/aacap/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Obsessive_Compulsive_Disorder_Resource_Center/Home.aspx
- Kralj, A., Payne, A., Holzhauer‐Conti, O., Young, J., & Meiser‐Stedman, R. (2024). Intrusive thoughts and memories in adolescents with major depressive disorder or post‐traumatic stress disorder. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63(4), 543–557. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12488
- Reid, S. (2024, July 19). Intrusive thoughts: why you have them and how to stop. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/anxiety/intrusive-thoughts-why-you-have-them-and-how-to-stop
- Kandola, A. (2022, October 27). What are intrusive thoughts? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/intrusive-thoughts
- Bilodeau, K. (2024, March 26). Managing intrusive thoughts. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/managing-intrusive-thoughts
- Abramovitch, A., & Schweiger, A. (2009). Unwanted intrusive and worrisome thoughts in adults with Attention Deficit\Hyperactivity Disorder. Psychiatry Research, 168(3), 230–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2008.06.004
- Jenco, M. (2016, June 13). AAP endorses new recommendations on sleep times. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/6630/AAP-endorses-new-recommendations-on-sleep-times
- Klevebrant, L., & Frick, A. (2021). Effects of caffeine on anxiety and panic attacks in patients with panic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 74, 22–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.11.005
- Raypole, C. (2025, February 20). 30 Grounding techniques to quiet distressing thoughts. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding-techniques
- IOCDF. (2024, May 20). OCD in Kids. https://kids.iocdf.org/professionals/mh/about-erp-for-pediatric-ocd/
- International OCD Foundation. (n.d.). Medication for pediatric OCD. In OCD in Kids. Retrieved November 11, 2025, from https://kids.iocdf.org/professionals/mh/meds-for-pediatric-ocd/
