How to tell if intrusive thoughts are Depression or OCD

[SeanCky]

I don't feel depressed. I haven't lost or gained weight and I dont sleep all the time despite being tired from sleep apnea. I am still active and play basketball etc. I was diagnosted moderate depression over a year ago. I however have intrusive thoughts and wanted to know how can I tell if they are OCD or Depression? I was also told by a physcologist around 7 months or so that I was over my depression and I gained my weight back and became active again.

[SeanCky]

meant to say when they aren't there I am great

[SeanCky]

I appreciate the feedback. I haven't been on meds or really seen a doctor about the thoughts. They have gotten to the point where I searched the net constantly about info on them. I go months at a time without the thoughts and then I'll have them for a few days at a time but no moodswings except the thoughts make me very "to myself" and wanting to play video games or read a book to concentrate my mind elsewhere but when they are there I am great. Even when they are there I try to remain active and still play basketball 2 times a week and softball once a week and I work full time.

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

Ok now I'm clearer.  These sound like classic obsessive thoughts which can come with or without depression.  Therapy and meds can help.  These thoughts are quite common and if you try and push them away or take them too literally they cn escalate and bully you.  Just noting them and realizing they have no relation to reality can go a long way toward depriving them of their power.

tg

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

Ok now I'm clearer.  These sound like classic obsessive thoughts which can come with or without depression.  Therapy and meds can help.  These thoughts are quite common and if you try and push them away or take them too literally they cn escalate and bully you.  Just noting them and realizing they have no relation to reality can go a long way toward depriving them of their power.

tg

[SeanCky]

No, I really feel I am not depressed however I have intrusive thoughts. My phsyc assumed they were from depression and ruled out OCD or anxiety disorders. However now that I no longer show depressive signs I still have the intrusive thoughts. I was just curious how to tell if my "obsessive thoughts" are from Depression or from an anxiety disorder. I used to have really bad anxiety attacks with them but not so much now...lately if I have them it's more of a overwhelming sense of fear and being afraid. They are thoughts that are completely unrealistic such as harming someone even though I have never even hit a person in my whole life and I am 26.

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

I'm a bit unclear on your question.  Your depressive symptoms are reduced, are there other things that lead you to wonder if you are depressed?  Depression can be a trigger or a result of obsessional thoughts.

Can you give me more idea of what you are wondering?

tg