Mental Health Assessment 16 questions PROGRESS STATUS: 60%   10.  Persistently and recurrently... (check all that apply - click "Next" if none apply) I can't prevent certain persistent and distressing thoughts from popping into my head. These thoughts and worries are not simply a result of excessive anxiety in response to stress in my life. I know that the obsessive thoughts are created by my mind, but I am still unable to control them. I feel compelled to repetitively perform certain actions or rituals that have little practical merit. I can't stop repeating the behaviors or mental acts. I repeat these mental or physical behaviors to calm myself down and/or prevent terrible things from happening to me. I recognize that what I am doing and/or thinking is inappropriate. The behaviors and/or thoughts I experience take up a lot of my time, interfere with my life, and/or cause me concern.