Intrusive thoughts suck

Man I feel like my ocd has getting better but worst at the same time. It’s weird to explain but the thoughts don’t give as much anxiety as they used to but now I’m struggling with the intrusive thoughts. It’s ruining my life cause when I try to pray or even read Bible I get the worst thoughts and images and I hate it cause I genuinely love and respect god but my thoughts would say otherwise. I been Christain my whole life and I feel like god is telling me something but idk man just really Lost and confused I don’t even enjoy doing activities anymore

allieandscrup

Date posted: 3y

PLEASE don’t try to read into your intrusive thoughts and feelings! Don’t try to rationalize them or try to explain where they come from. This doesn’t help with OCD. The thing about intrusive thoughts is that they do not align with what we value. It’s also completely normal to be concerned when our thoughts aren’t bothering us as much as they used. This is normal. We place so much emphasis on the fact that we don’t like our thoughts, but when we recover, it’s normal not to be as bothered by them. This is how everyone else in the world feels about their intrusive thoughts. Everyone has intrusive thoughts, but only people with OCD focus on them and obsess about them like we do! Again, it’s normal for people with religious OCD to experience intrusive thoughts about God, religion, etc, while praying or our reading the Bible or whatever. You can’t give up on doing these things that you value. You have to notice that these thoughts are there without reacting to them. It’s just a thought. Everyone thinks thoughts. It doesn’t mean you like the thought. While we can control what we actively think about, we cannot control the thoughts that pop into our brains. And please don’t try to analyze if the thought “popped in” or you caused it. That’s OCD. Responding to our thoughts, apologizing for them, trying to rationalize them or explain them, is all compulsive and will not make you better. Some really great religious figures also suffered from religious OCD, like Martin Luther and John Bunyan! We do not live in a perfect world, and our minds and bodies are not perfect. I really do not believe God judges us for our intrusive thoughts (though my OCD would have me think otherwise). Our brains aren’t working perfectly, and God knows that. Have compassion on yourself like He has compassion on you. In Mere Christianity, CS Lewis wrote “God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome.” My mom once said, about intrusive religious thoughts, (which she has also experienced): you can’t care so much about the things that you think. I try to remind myself of that when I get bothered by intrusive thoughts or when I don’t like something religious and feel guilty about it. I hope this helps. I know it’s hard to put into practice, but you can do it!

Anonymous

Date posted: 3y

And also I thought I was only one who was concerned the thoughts don’t bother me as much anymore which I feel guilty saying but maybe it’s a good thing

allieandscrup

Date posted: 3y

@Anonymous Guilt about it is a completely normal reaction! It may be hard to believe it’s a good thing, but it is!

Anonymous

Date posted: 3y

I thank you so much praying god gets us both through the storm

allieandscrup

Date posted: 3y

Thank you!! Prayers for you as well!

guyno

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 3y

I used to get instrusive sexual thoughts about Jesus when I prayed and then would have to apologise and start the prayer again. I would the also have to say amen multiple times otherwise anything I did could have been part of the prayer. Now my theme has changed and I still get intrusive thoughts when I pray, but I don’t pay so much attention to them anymore. OCD sucks

ilikecoffee

Date posted: 3y

Can I ask about your feeling towards god? What do you feel they are trying to tell you? Do you think your intrusive thoughts are from god?

Anonymous

Date posted: 3y

I love god and want to be in heaven when it’s all set and done I don’t live the cleanest life but I feel like this is his way of waking me up cause after all OCD attacks what u value most and this his way of drawing me closer to him

allieandscrup

Date posted: 3y

@Anonymous I also feel like my OCD brought me closer to God. I feel like my life was pretty questionable and OCD sorta “cleaned me up,” which sucks because I’d love to live a good life now without also having OCD lol. It’s a difficult thing to understand. Anyway, please remember that your status in Heaven is not dependent on your actions, but rather your faith in Christ. Maybe OCD is drawing you closer to God, but please remember that that doesn’t mean you NEED ocd to keep you in line or anything. I feel that way about myself, but trying to remember that’s an OCD lie.

Anonymous

Date posted: 3y

I thank you so much for this I needed to hear this it definitely is hard to practice it really is I think we are all too hard on ourselves it’s juss hard not to be especially when U know u don’t want to disrespect god in any way. I do ask tho have u fully recovered? And what tips do you have on just trying to let these thoughts pass?

allieandscrup

Date posted: 3y

It’s definitely hard not to be hard on ourselves. It feels wrong not to be hard on yourself. Unfortunately, I haven’t fully recovered, but I will say that the sort of intrusive thoughts that I used to experience don’t bother me anymore. The sort of thing like blasphemous or disrespectful or sexual intrusive thoughts. I also used to have intrusive thoughts about selling my soul to the devil that really scared me and I felt like I had to undo the thoughts or stop them from coming. Even writing that down is still scary to me, but it’s an exposure I guess haha. When you stop letting the thoughts control you, you may feel worse at first, but they really do stop coming (eventually). It may take some time, but don’t give up! My biggest advice would just be to identify the thought as OCD as soon as possible. Just notice the thought, acknowledge “okay, this is OCD,” and redirect your thoughts to something you value or whatever you were doing before. I don’t mean to suppress the thought or try to make it stop, but just to be like “okay this is ocd, that means it doesn’t matter and I don’t have to pay attention to it, I’m going to go finish praying now.” At first this will probably make you more anxious, cuz ocd will try to convince you in some way the thought is very important and needs to be dealt with, but it doesn’t. When it feels really hard, remember that you’re doing this to recover! It’s worth it

Anonymous

Date posted: 14w

Religious OCD, ashamed of my thoughts

I am a christian guy who grew up in a christian community and family. For as long as i remember, ive had horrible thoughts about all kinds of things that i dont know where to begin. Due to my extreme thoughts, i feel as if i am unworthy of practicing my religioin, such as praying, reading, meditating, etc. I feel ashamed when i go to church, as if i dont belong there because i feel like i am secretely evil, and that God knows i am evil and i am committing blasphemy by going there, and refusing to "repent", from my thoughts. But then again, my thoughts are just thoughts, sure. So whats the problem? - The problem is that in my faith, i have been taught that we must control our thoughts, so they do not get power over us to make us commit sin. Such as "If you think lustfully about a woman, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart". This verse has killed my self esteem, due to the constant unwanted sexual and disturbing thoughts. It makes me feel like a monster, who secretely just wants to abuse and be horrible to people, even though i know very well i do not want this. Sometimes i think horrible things about the people i love very much, such as my girlfriend. It feels so wrong and evil, even though i know it isnt my true will.

Tulip1234

Date posted: 6w

OCD or something else

I have religious OCD and the thoughts have been becoming really bad. I’ve been hitting myself punching myself screaming quietly if that makes sense pulling my hair out talking to myself nonstop. I can’t even hang out with my family without doing these things or going to another room to do these things, these thoughts of overtaking my life I will always be Christian God is most important to me and I’m so scared because these thoughts are terrible. They’re disgusting they never ending. There’s always something going on in my mind. I don’t understand. I’m scared. I’m turning into a bad person. I don’t wanna dishonor the Lord God, I don’t know if this is just OCD or something else.

Cammy123

Date posted: 5w

Religious OCD

So about 2 years ago I gave my life to Jesus. I've always been a "Christian" but never truly lived liked one. Honestly never truly felt love for them until 2 years ago. It was the best couple months of my life!!! I felt so happy and loved and unstoppable! I thought this fire for God & Jesus will never burn out. One day I had a thought about is God real? It bothered me so bad and I went into a massive spiral. Doubting everything. My faith. if I was good enough. Am I really saved? Do I have enough faith? Is my doubt real? Is it too much? Have these blasphemous made God not want me anymore? Or Jesus? :( But I knew I was and that they were real! I know I've heard them. Then I started having horrible blasphemous thoughts but then it would go back to doubting thoughts then back to the blasphemous ones. I hated the thoughts and doubts. The thoughts are so mean towards God, Jesus & HS. It’s anywhere from evil thoughts to cussing thoughts to rejection thoughts/denying. Demonic thoughts. Literally anything bad you could think of! Even thoughts of if I really love them or wanna follow them. I learned about OCD from what I've looked up but I've been dealing with this for about 2 years now. It's hard. I doubt if it’s OCD. Definitely feel like I'm trapped or my faith isn't the same. Which makes me sad because I want my faith! I feel like I've gotten lazy and honestly that I don't deserve them or am "too far gone" from them. I feel like idk how to be a Christian or how to have faith or just exist tbh. I wanna love God & Jesus! I want faith! I just feel kinda stuck. Has anyone gone through this or has advice or tips?

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Intrusive thoughts suck

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