StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

Fellow Christians with OCD

I need a bit of advice. I have been making some progress with my religious ocd. I am looking to expand my social circle and meet other Christians. The only issue is the last time that I did this, I met Christians who tore me down and told me i had no faith simply bc I had anxiety. They even made the implication that I had demons because I struggle with fatigue and OCD. Needless to say that this did not help me in my struggle with OCD. I have since broken all contact with these toxic people who call themselves Christians. My concern is that I may meet people like these again and I don't know what the appropriate response would be to such behavior. I have thought that it might help if I get to know people first before I try and have this kind of deeper fellowship with them. I just can't understand why some are under the delusion that being a Christian means that we should never have struggles or that we have it all together all the time. Just thinking about it gives me this heavy feeling of pressure and panic

Religion & Spirituality OCD

OCD_Lemmonaide

Date posted: 3y

I encountered this too. It was during an outreach partnership between my church (at the time) and another congregation. People asked me to talk about what Jesus had done in my life, so I started to go on about how he has carried me through severe hardship including OCD. Almost immediately I started to get accused for a “lack of faith”. Thankfully another fellow church member stepped in for me and defended me. But the accusations from some people at this other church got so bad that we essentially got ousted and had to leave. It was terribly painful. Thankfully those experiences have been minimal. There’s actually an article interviewing me that briefly talks about this experience, I can share it here if you find it helpful. Unfortunately I also had a falling out with the church I had been attending at the time (this same church I was attending when the article was written) but it was not due to my psychiatric diagnoses. It was over the faults of the pastor. Thankfully I am in a wonderful church community now that is much spiritually healthier. A lot of the attendees are open about going to therapy, some attendees are even rehabilitated criminals. I feel much safer there to disclose my struggles.

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

I can't tell you how much it means to me that you shared this with me. Thank you so much for this. It really helps Yes, please do share the article. I'd love to read it

OCD_Lemmonaide

Date posted: 3y

@StillHoldingOn https://corechristianity.com/resource-library/articles/when-broken-people-show-up-at-your-broken-church/

OCD_Lemmonaide

Date posted: 3y

@StillHoldingOn My life mission is to minister to those who are struggling with mental illness in the church. There are not enough helpful resources out there. There are some good articles on this website, but not enough. The lady who wrote this article had a son with schizophrenia.

OCD_Lemmonaide

Date posted: 3y

@StillHoldingOn The really sad thing is that this was written just as a conflict between my really good friends (the ones “like family” to me mentioned in the article) and the pastor happened in the church. It didn’t involve me but the pastor hurt my dearest friends and we ended up leaving. There are some wonderful believers in that congregation but the pastor is bad news.

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Flamewheel I finished the article. I loved it! Thank you

OCD_Lemmonaide

Date posted: 3y

@StillHoldingOn Ultimately I decided to go public with my mental health issues because I find that in the long run it helps people. I’m also a gifted communicator and I as might as well use the gift for good!

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Flamewheel Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that about what happened with the pastor, but I was glad to read about the close friends who are like family to you. My older sister had a dream and saw Jesus. He told her that the church is supposed to be a place of healing for people who suffer with deep soul wounds, but that the church is deeply sick. Of course there are those churches like the ones mentioned in the article where people are made to feel comfortable and welcome and that is good, but it seems that this sickness is still very prevelant in the churches so much to the point that even our Savior is deeply concerned

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Flamewheel Absolutely! God gifted you this way for a reason. It's true, I believe it. Your struggle with mental illness can be used as a way to reach others for the Gospel and help people into a closer fellowship with God

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Flamewheel If you ever need anyone to talk to, feel free to message me here on this thread or you can find me on the Slowly app. It's free. My member ID is 5B9JXM

OCD_Lemmonaide

Date posted: 3y

@StillHoldingOn I am bookmarking this post so I can go back to it and find you in the future :)

OCD_Lemmonaide

Date posted: 3y

@StillHoldingOn I came across this new book about challenging unwanted thoughts from a scriptural perspective. I think it’ll be helpful for us! https://www.wtsbooks.com/collections/counseling/products/a-still-and-quiet-mind-twelve-strategies-for-changing-unwanted-thoughts-9781629959214?variant=41956079435976

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Flamewheel Oh, thank you!

Overcomer

Date posted: 3y

I also been watching mark Dejesus videos on YouTube he speaks on these topics in grace and loving ways

Overcomer

Date posted: 3y

Update he actually just did a video about what we talking about latest video it starts at 31 mins

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Overcomer I love Mark Dejesus! I'll check it out. Thank you!!

Overcomer

Date posted: 3y

Yeah I understand you….

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

Thank you for your reply. It helps to know others understand ❤ Have you experienced something similar before?

Overcomer

Date posted: 3y

@StillHoldingOn Yes I’m struggling with anxiety and I’m Christian. I was accused of that possible having demons I thought I did too . My dad is a pastor said that this issue wasn’t demons n it was psychological and fear so it helped me. It’s a lot of pressure but Jesus doesn’t pressure us so it helped . I’m also a lonely Christian for some time so I get you. I also cut of most Christian friends it was lonely. I would say that most are loving recent church I joined I don’t talk to people much but I felt the love there. I don’t close off all contact. I just say hi n smile but some are loving u will feel it

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Overcomer Thank you for sharing that. It means a lot 💛 My husband and I are visiting a new church and I've seen some good things so far. Maybe things will be different there

Overcomer

Date posted: 3y

@StillHoldingOn Yes I went to a new church such warmth there too always happy to be there great pastor.

Overcomer

Date posted: 3y

@Overcomer N you are welcome.

[Deleted]

Date posted: 3y

Comment deleted by user

Overcomer

Date posted: 3y

It’s tough to hear that . Especially if you are not ….

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

Thank you for your comment. It means a lot. It feels so good that there are others who understand

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

I agree, it is really invalidating

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Songbird27 I understand what you mean. I find that people in my family have a hard time understanding also. If you ever need anyone to talk to feel free to msg me here in this thread if you like anytime. Or you can find me on the Slowly app. It's free. My member ID is 5B9JXM

StillHoldingOn

Date posted: 3y

@Songbird27 Yw. And thank you so much

Godisincontrol

Date posted: 15w

Religious OCD Christian

Please help anyone else here with Religious ocd and is a Christian? My brain is going hay-wire and want to know I'm not alone... what do your thoughts say and how do you overcome compulsions? Im going through a rough moment and feel sick with anxiety and stiff. I want to obey God but my thoughts won't stop. I surrender to the Lord and then I have peace with the compulsions and they go away but the thoughts are the scary part please - is this spiritual or is it mental? Or is it both? Would love to hear a Christians opinion on this... because my thoughts latch on and won't dissappear but I know that the Bible commands us to take control of our thoughts and to renew our minds...yet God has grace for this and mercy for our every need... I know God is in control (completely) and my mind creates a lot of the issues for me without any spiritual stuff (it's a very powerful thing) but it's still scary. Lord help me, I surrender myself to you Jesus, counsel my soul and help me.

alissaa

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 3d

Christian Religious OCD

My religious OCD is having a field day with Christianity. I grew up Catholic, although we were the type of family who only really went to church on holidays. It was just a knowing of our belief in Jesus, and trying to live morally good lives. Knowing that Jesus died for our sins. Then my OCD latched onto the idea of “willful sinning”, knowing something is a sin but doing it anyway. I am not a saint. I swear, I engage in sexual activity, I tell white lies occasionally, drink alcohol occasionally…. Much less than the typical person. I know these things are sins according to the bible. I feel like I do decently well and am a decently good person. But my OCD has decided that because I don’t 100% align with the teachings of the bible, I must be going to Hell. The worst part is I don’t even entirely feel guilty, which makes me feel like I’m just truly evil and want these things. No amount of reassurance feels like enough, it feels like unless God told me directly himself that I’ll never be able to let this go. I’m getting frustrated with religion, and with myself. It feels like no answer is right. You would think the fear would drive me into being a perfect person, but its not, and what OCD deems as “perfect” feels impossible to attain. What am I supposed to do? How can you feel peace with God, while you’re also supposed to fear Him? I feel like I’m not good enough for Him, and never will be.

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