Why can’t I get gross images out of my head?
Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
– Written by
Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.
– Updated on September 7, 2025
Question
I never use to be this way but find that I am increasingly anxious over images that I witness first hand or from descriptions relayed to me. I never use to be squeemish but I now find that I am hypersensitive to things such as the following. The description of an injury to a person’s face from a bad car accident; a photograph of what should’ve been a cute furry mammal with some sort of insect on it; things that are clustered which brings to mind clusters of bugs. These images make me so anxious and angry and I get frustrated by it. When I see something that sets me off, it takes days and weeks for the effects to diminish – but then again I see something else that sets me off again. I am a 52 year old woman, am going through menopause and wonder if that plays into this. Plus it doesn’t help that I’ve developed very bad insomnia, which caused daily migraines and so now am taking Amitriptylin to stop the migraines and to help me sleep. The meds help a little but I am still only getting about 4-5 hours of sleep each night during the week. At any rate, I am really struggling with my revulsion over images which never use to bother me before. It would be great to hear your opinion about this and to learn if there is something I can do to make this stop. Thanks very much.
- Dr. Dombeck responds to questions about psychotherapy and mental health problems, from the perspective of his training in clinical psychology.
- Dr. Dombeck intends his responses to provide general educational information to the readership of this website; answers should not be understood to be specific advice intended for any particular individual(s).
- Questions submitted to this column are not guaranteed to receive responses.
- No correspondence takes place.
- No ongoing relationship of any sort (including but not limited to any form of professional relationship) is implied or offered by Dr. Dombeck to people submitting questions.
- Dr. Dombeck, MentalHealth.com, LLC make no warranties, express or implied, about the information presented in this column. Dr. Dombeck and Mentalhealth.com, LLC disclaim any and all merchantability or warranty of fitness for a particular purpose or liability in connection with the use or misuse of this service.
- Always consult with your psychotherapist, physician, or psychiatrist first before changing any aspect of your treatment regimen. Do not stop your medication or change the dose of your medication without first consulting with your physician.
Answer
The symptoms you’re describing would probably be classifed as obsessional, as in obsessive-compulsive disorder obsessional. However, it would be odd if you were just developing an OCD-like condition at age 52, as the vast majority of OCD starts in childhood, or at least during early adulthood (e.g., by age 30). You are wise to suspect that physical changes in your body may be playing into this sort of anxious condition. Many medical conditions can cause anxiety symptoms to occur, and medications can cause anxious symptoms as side effects as well. Amitriptyline, an old-school tricyclic antidepression medication, is known to sometimes cause anxious or activating symptoms, although not specifically OCD like symptoms. It’s worth looking into, anyway. It would be a good idea for you to go back to your doctor, describe the obsessionality and associated anxious symptoms you are experiencing, and see what he or she recommends. A medication change may be in order.
Medical Content
The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience. They actively contribute to the development of content, products, and services, and meticulously review all medical material before publication to ensure accuracy and alignment with current research and conversations in mental health. For more information, please visit the Editorial Policy.
About MentalHealth.com
We are a health technology company that guides people toward self-understanding and connection. The platform provides reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities. Its purpose is to educate, support, and empower people in their pursuit of well-being.
Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a somatic psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in clinical psychology and neuropsychology.
Mark Dombeck, Ph.D. is a trauma-informed psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping people navigate mental health challenges.
Be the first to read new articles from Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.
Join MentalHealth.com for free to get updates
Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
– Written by
Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.
– Updated on September 7, 2025
Additional Reading
The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience. They actively contribute to the development of content, products, and services, and meticulously review all medical material before publication to ensure accuracy and alignment with current research and conversations in mental health. For more information, please visit the Editorial Policy.
We are a health technology company that guides people toward self-understanding and connection. The platform provides reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities. Its purpose is to educate, support, and empower people in their pursuit of well-being.