Intrusive Thoughts and the Unwelcomed Guest

Intrusive thoughts due to OCD are like your annoying neighbor, Randolph, who invites himself to your party. Picture this: you're throwing an epic house party. The vibes are great—music’s pumping, snacks are on point, people are laughing, and you’re crushing it as host.

Then... knock knock. Uh-oh. It’s your obnoxious neighbor, Randolph. Randolph is loud, weirdly intense, and makes you feel like you're slowly losing your grip on reality. Yep—Randolph is your intrusive thought.

You tell Randolph, “Hey man, not tonight,” and boot him out. But two minutes later—bam! He’s back. Now you’re serious. You barricade the door with locks, chains, a bookshelf, and two-by-fours from Home Depot. “There. Randolph-proof.”

But guess what? Randolph hits the gym. Gets jacked. Suddenly, like a bull, he breaks through the door and rejoins the party.  Meanwhile, while you're battling Randolph with a mop and a bucket of emotional exhaustion, you realize you are not enjoying the party.

Eventually, you wise up. You stop the door battle. You shrug and say, “Fine, Randolph. Come in. Grab a juice box. Just… don’t touch the Monster drinks.” At first, it’s awkward. Randolph slinks into a beanbag in the corner, muttering to himself and making balloon animals out of napkins. You glance over—but nope, you don’t take the bait. You turn back to the dance floor, laughing, connecting, and living your life.

The magic? Randolph thrives on attention. And now, you're not giving him any.

Eventually, without your energy to feed on, Randolph starts to fade into the background—still weird, still occasionally juggling coasters, but less and less noticeable. By the end of the night, you realize… Randolph’s gone. Just left. No scene, no goodbyes.

Sure, he may show up again, hoping for a reaction. But now you know the trick: Don’t feed the Randolph. He only sticks around if you do.

-The Unwelcome Party Guest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYht-guymF4
Modified by Dan Muster, APRN, PMHNP

Author

Dan Muster, DNP, APRN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner