I know this is a trans* blog but... I want to ask a mental health question. I sometimes get urges to do something, like throw what I holding across the room, or hit my head against a wall (it's been like this for a really long time). There are also moments where I am really restless and I want to rip my skin apart or pull my hair out. Do you have any indication what this could be? //please answer is you can, this has been troubling me for a few years
Ren says:
Those definitely sound like intrusive thoughts. They're distressing, involuntary, and often part of you understands at the time that they're not thoughts you should be having (although this isn't always the case). Afterwards you might feel guilty, or disgusted. Does that sound about right?
Things that can cause intrusive thoughts: OCD, depression, body dysmorphic disorder or eating disorders, PTSD, some types of anxiety, some psychotic disorders, and even AD/HD. It's okay if you don't know what it is - what's more important is that you know what to do about them!
This is a pretty good resource for handling intrusive thoughts, although it is OCD-specific; I would recommend you try seeing a therapist about them! Handling them is different for everyone.
Personally, I find that distracting myself is the best tool, although that's not always the best thing for everyone. When I'm afraid I'm going to act on a thought I close my eyes and take a deep breath and tell myself that I am in control, and put some distance between me and whatever I'm obsessing about. (For you, getting your hands busy sounds like a good idea - try playdough, a stress ball, a kneaded eraser...etc.)