Are random, nonsensical intrusive thoughts common for OCD or schizophrenia?
Every night it takes me hours to fall asleep, because thoughts appear in my head that make absolutely no sense. While I am most definitely still awake, intrusive thoughts that I have no control over appear nonstop. Mostly they are random sentences, like "Texas has no eraser barrier" or "I would like that cheese, if you must." and they are always in different voices. Sometimes they are male voices, old lady voices, little kid voices, teenage voices, even my friends' voices. It is usually very clear that they are thoughts, not like it sounds like I'm hearing real voices, except twice it sounded like it came from outside my head. The first time that happened, I was alone in my room and I was trying to fall asleep when I heard a little boy's voice clearly say "Can I have a pencil?". It was incredibly freaky. While I hear/think these things I sometimes imagine pictures as well, like an ostrich that walks over an outline of the state of California.
Other than this I am a relatively normal person and lead a normal social life. Among my friends I am the crazy/forgetful one, and I was diagnosed two years ago with a minor form of OCD and I also suffer from undiagnosed but kind of intense paranoia.
Is this normal, or do I have something other than OCD, like schizophrenia? I am just very confused about the whole thing.
The following user gives a hug of support to summerem: islandhopper (01-31-2011)
Re: Are random, nonsensical intrusive thoughts common for OCD or schizophrenia?
Something doesn't seem quite right with your mild OCD diagnosis. What you describe sounds like word salad except this is not how you speak but still something doesn't sound quite right does it?...and would suggest at the very least you should get an in depth mental health evaluation by a psychologist/psychiatrist. If that is where you got your OCD diagnosis I would go to someone else for a second opinion. Good luck.
Re: Are random, nonsensical intrusive thoughts common for OCD or schizophrenia?
Hi summerem
I have EXACTLY the same thing! Worrying about it (and whether or not it was a feature of schizophrenia) is what triggered my anxiety (being paranoid about having an illness, particularly) and possible OCD.
But don't worry - it's completely normal. What you've described is called the "hypnagogic state" or "hypnagogic hallucinations." While it has similar features to that of the "word salad" that schizophrenics experience, people only get it as they're almost asleep. If it happens in the morning, it's called the "hypnapompic state". It's a completely normal phenomena. Schizophrenia has many, many other symptoms and the word salad that sufferers experience happens throughout their day to day lives, not just as they're trying to get to sleep.
It's the very relaxed, semi conscious state between wakefullness and sleep. So in essence, your brain isn't really "with it." Ever had that feeling where you jolt up out of no where as you're almost asleep, as if you're falling? It's the same sort of thing. Some people experience that often (which is called a hypnic jerk), others experience hearing voices, others experience thinking thoughts that they cannot control, or seeing strange images that are very nonsensical. Although I occasionally get the hypnic jerk, I get the strange images and very strange thoughts on a regular basis, and they're exactly like you've described, like:
"I want a ride to the rollercoaster so I can eat lentils."
Although I am awake when this happens, I always have my eyes closed and am trying to get to sleep, and often it annoys me so much that it keeps me from sleeping. Sometimes in the morning, as I'm mostly asleep but starting to wake, I'll think very strange things too accompanied with images until I've woken up properly. For example, a few weeks ago I thought, "I need to wake up my boyfriend so he can meet me in the middle of the bed to post the mail." Whaat?!
I've done lots of research on this over the past year, and spoke to many normal people who have the exact same experiences as us and, if it only happens during the nights/mornings, then I can assure you that you're completely normal and it is not schizophrenia. I find that it happens more so when I haven't had enough sleep. If you're still worried or have other strong symptoms, definitely see someone, but from what you've said it appears to be the normal (but annoying) hypnagogic state.
Re: Are random, nonsensical intrusive thoughts common for OCD or schizophrenia?
I have the exact same thing!! It's most definitely while I am awake. It's not the pre-stage before sleep. It usually happens when I'm tired or alone aimlessly web surfing. It especially happens after an eventful day.
I've been freaking out about it because I'm so petrified that I have schizophrenia! But I listened to a schizophrenia simulator, and my experience and the simulator were VERY different. Just as you said, I know I'm not hearing VOICES, but I know they are THOUGHTS. It's weird. They just pop up. Are you seeing a psychologist? What did they say?
Re: Are random, nonsensical intrusive thoughts common for OCD or schizophrenia?
28 January 2011
Hi-
I googled the random words and phrases and your post came up. I have the same weird thing going on. I notice it most when my mind is not being really stimulated or when I am resting and/or reading, etc. When it first started happening, I definitely thought it was strange but when I talked to my psychiatrist he said they are intrusive thoughts and not hallucinations. I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder but one of my former psychs thought I had some OCD as well. So far I just live with it and am happy that these do not seem to intrude much into my head when I am very busy or active. I really have no fear that they are hallucinations. What I described to my doc he did shake his head and said that not to worry..they are not hallucinations.
I want to give you a hug but just joined and don't know how to do it--so, here is a hug, anyway! It is hard to be having weird things going on in your head and feel that no one understands. I am happy that you joined the message board. It was your post that Google led me to! Ain't the internet (sometimes (=: wonderful?
Re: Are random, nonsensical intrusive thoughts common for OCD or schizophrenia?
I have had random thoughts like that for a long time. Not all the time, but sporadically. When they have happened during the day when I'm awake, they happen even more vividly when I'm trying to sleep.
When I went psychotic (manic) I heard quite a lot of voice saying random words, catchphrases and sentences. Personally I have never found there to be a clear dividing line between loud random thoughts, voices in the head and voices outside the head. It's all a matter of degree. If you feel the thoughts have come in from outside it's called "thought insertion". Word salad has less to do with what you think than what you actually say. Your thoughts are so disordered you actually speak the randomness aloud and seem unable to help it (it's not done to get attention). I've witnessed word salad in somebody else (in a mental hospital). This guy had disorganized schizophrenia. Unlike the rest of us he was unable to relate to any other person in any meaningful way.
I still get random thoughts (while awake). Stress makes them worse, so does tiredness. But I am diagnosed schizoaffective which means I do have a type of schizophrenia.
I wouldn't worry too much. Unless you have paranoia or extreme mood swings or actually hear voices while wide awake (even indistinct ones) what you're talking about is probably a pretty normal thing. Drs make a clear distinction between random thoughts/voices experienced while half asleep and those that happen when wide awake. In mania I was ultra wide-awake yet my head was dreaming.
Re: Are random, nonsensical intrusive thoughts common for OCD or schizophrenia?
Hi, i found your post because i was curious about the difference between intrusive thoughts in OCD and schizophrenia...Im not an expert, but i am very intelligent and i have been going through plenty of psychological problems and i read alot and talk to my psychiatrist...I know that when someone starts to fall asleep their thoughts become all jumbled together into word salad. Most people dont notice it, but because you said you have paranoia and minor OCD you basically have anxiety issues.The anxiety is keeping your mind awake enough when ur falling asleep to notice the word salad...i believe you have anxiety disorders that can be treated with ssris or snris, but i dont think you are schizophrenic...alot of these illnesses are closely related and the symptoms are similar which might make you feel like you have an illness that you dont have....a schizophrenic will hear things and see things even during the middle of the day not just when they are falling asleep...they will also have psychotic episodes and have strange delusional beliefs....you are not a schizo, but u need to find the right medication and or therapy to control your paranoia/anxiety
Re: Are random, nonsensical intrusive thoughts common for OCD or schizophrenia? 
