Assalamu Alaykum brothers and sisters!

Okay, starting in September of 2011, I started getting shirk thoughts and has not stopped since then, even though it has gotten batter. So one day, I was praying and all of the sudden, a word popped into my head (the word was "saint). I panicked and thought I committed shirk. I have looked online to see if anyone had the same problem as me and I found some that were similar and the answers said to ignore.
I tried to ignore, but the thoughts kept coming back. I think a reason for that is because I kept thinking about shirk, which made me feel like I was committing shirk. I cried and cried and asked Allah(SWT) for forgiveness. After I tried to ignore, it stopped for a while but then another word came to me (word was shaytan). Now this word started to pop in my prayer. I tried to ignore it, but I kept thinking about it. I kept feeling like I committed shirk and that I just lost a chance in Jannah. Someone told me that this is a great test from Allah(SWT) I am going through which made me feel a little better. I know in my heart that this waswas is not from me but from shaytan, but at one point, I literally feel like it is ME who is saying on this purposely( Even thought I don't believe in it). I think that this is another trick of Saytan to make me feel like a kuffar.

I keep thinking that I committed shirk.

Please, brothers and sisters. If you have any knowledge about my problem, I would love to hear it.

Jazakhallah.