• ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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    3 months ago

    I think it goes to something else. The (relatively uncommon) compulsion is caused by an issue with the part of your brain that inhabits those thoughts that you don’t normally even notice.
    So it’s like the brain occasionally hits the gas pedal when aiming for the break.

    It’s part of what makes it so distressing for people who have it, since it tends towards the things they don’t want to say.

    • garbagebagel@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Do you mean like intrusive thoughts that we normally stop, or is there a different part that we’re not even aware of?

      • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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        3 months ago

        Both I believe. There are things that come up in your brain that get tossed before “you” are even aware of it.
        Like, when you see a person all the different words you know of that could be associated with them get “activated” as your brain comprehends the details.
        You see a man wearing jeans and you know he’s wearing jeans, but you don’t think to yourself “blue pants”. It’s not relevant.