The only way I seem to get over my obsessions is to find reassurance from someone ? How do I stop this AND stop the anxiety that comes with the obsessions?

Reassurance used to help me, too. But it only stopped the obsessions for a few years; it never got rid of them fully. Have you tried ERP yet? If so, how’d it work for you?

I get that. I used to have religious OCD too. I think it’s the hardest to do ERP for. My best advice would be to just let the thoughts come then and then to not do any compulsions against them. I’m Methodist so I know it’s different, but I don’t think God would be upset if he knew you were trying to better yourself and if he knows your thoughts aren’t intentional. That way you don’t have to carry out any intentional sins either. God doesn’t want you to suffer. You’ve got this and I’ll be praying for you!

Thank you so much!

I appreciate that so much.

Of course! Good luck on your journey towards recovery!

I have not. Because I’m so terrified of sinning that I need to know if I did something mortally wrong. Or else I can function

From what I understand seeking reassurance sounds like your compulsion/ritual. Just like someone who has an obsession with catching a disease might was their hands until they feel they won’t catch anything and the anxiety goes away, you’re seeking reassurance until the anxiety/fear about whatever the intrusive thought you’re having is goes away. So the anxiety will disappear momentarily, because you’ve preformed your compulsion/ritual to satisfy the anxiety, but only for a short period of time. Seeking reassurance can actually worsen the ocd in the long term. From what I understand with ERP the only way out of this loop is to stop compulsions (so seeking reassurance) and exposing yourself to your triggers, which provoke the intrusive thoughts.

Can’t *

I know it only helps for that moment or a few hours until I worry about something else and need the reassurance again...I just don’t know how to stop

I have religious ocd as well and I have so many bad thoughts that intrude my mind and when I get rid of one another pops up! I’m also scared of ERP because these thoughts are just awful and I hate thinking then when it’s just ocd and they also cause me to doubt and I get anxious very easily. You’re not the only one and I know it’s tough but God will get us through this and he has great things in store for us! I recommend reading Jeremiah 29:11. Keep going! We are strong! And God loves us very much and he will never leave nor forsake us❤️

Hebrews 13:5 ❤️❤️