How do you decrease intensity of thoughts? Suggestions...

[thoughts_go_away!]

I hate the thoughts, but I know that if my anxiety didn't spike, I would find them less scary. I have been able to do it with thoughts about harming my husband and parents but cannot seem to shake the thought of hurting myself. A few weeks ago, the intensity was down and I was OK, except on weekends when I wasn't as distracted, but lately it's reared it's ugly head. 

So, for those of you that know good techniques for how to decrease the intensity of the thought, how did you do it? For my husband, I made it comical or said something like "I want to hurt him just like I want to dye my hair blue." Of which I do not.

I just cannot seem to shake this one...the thought still terrifies me too much to focus intently on it, if that makes sense.