paymybills

Date posted: 13d ago

scrupulosity (Christians)

I have posted here before and barely got advice so let’s try this again. It’s been a long week of doubts fears and obsessions. I already know that it could be worse so I’m staying hopeful. But anyway for the past two weeks I’ve been wanting to attend this concert. The artist is know for his hopeful bubbly music. I wanted to go because his music makes me happy yk. For background the past few times I went to concerts I used them as distractions that I hope would help me overcome SOOCD which eventually led me to idolizing them. Overtime I realized that concerts weren’t going to cure me so I started to rely on God talk to the people around me and go through therapy Fast forward to now I’ve been wanting to attend this concert but had obsessions about if was wrong or not. Then I started to obsess over that fact that it secular and that I’m sinning because i should only listen to gospel and nothing else. To help me overcome I bought it anyways. Right after I bought it I felt a split second of peace before regret took over. I felt that it was sinful to be excited about going or about picking out my outfit and so one. I tried to overcome by listening to the set list and during that time I heard that artists say “can we do that s**t and started to panic I went down this rabbit hole of how I shouldn’t go and how God wouldn’t want me to be there about how cursing is against God and if I were to go I would be inviting sin into my life. I felt that I could no longer go even though my intentions were to have fun and enjoy my life mind you this was planned for my birthday. I find myself in this loop stuck. I’ve had this happen before but have never felt this sad and overwhelmed by it. It just feels like u can’t do anything that every thing i do is against God to the point where I can’t even enjoy a moment of peace. I even prayed and invited God into the experience. I still feel like this is all sinful and searching things up on the web doesn’t help but just cause me to doubt and obsess 10x more. I’m actively looking for a new therapist I’ve been out of therapy for the past few months and maybe I just need that extra help 🤷‍♀️any advice

Someone99

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 13d ago

Have you ever heard of Mark DeJesus? He's a former pastor, OCD survivor, and has a ton of good information on this very topic. I would recommend looking him up on YouTube. So step 1 would be to address the OCD part of this situation. Step 2, much of this can be addressed by biblical doctrine. What does the Bible say about the character of God, grace, the church age, our status as God's children, and most importantly, the doctrine of salvation. I had major religious OCD myself, so I understand what you're going through. I'd be glad to talk with you more as well. God bless!

paymybills

Date posted: 13d ago

@Someone99 I haven’t heard of him but I’ll definitely check him out. I’ve been trying to search up advice for what I’ve been going through so hopefully this helps. Thank you

Someone99

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 13d ago

@paymybills https://youtu.be/LxNbnLZwetg?feature=shared

Someone99

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 13d ago

@paymybills I would really like to keep in touch in some way. Believers with OCD should stick together to encourage each other through it all.

lilya17

Date posted: 13d ago

I definitely understand this… and experience the same thing! Sorry I don’t have advice but you’re not alone in that loop of thinking. Dm me if you’d like! :)

paymybills

Date posted: 13d ago

@lilya17 That’s okay☺️it’s good to know that I’m not alone in this feeling.

littlecreek24

Date posted: 13d ago

Hi so I often feel the same way about my interests, because there's a lot of secular things I enjoy. My priest (who has OCD) told me that having OCD is a real disability, it's like not understanding why someone without legs can't bow. They can't, and we can't do things that we know will make OCD worse aka compulsions. Most things will not save you, but they won't damn you either, they're neutral. All things in balance. Do what you need to do (self care, working, praying), then do what you enjoy, and trust that God wants you to be happy. Even Jesus went to parties (wedding at Cana), and made more wine so people could enjoy themselves!

paymybills

Date posted: 13d ago

@littlecreek24 Ty for this!! I’ve been trying to continue doing the things that I enjoy, but it’s like these thoughts suck all the excitement out of me. Like sometimes I’ll be excited and happy when I’m doing something I enjoy . Then I’d go right back to thinking that it’s all terrible to do and against God. Praying and trying to express my feelings to God about this has become difficult. Do you have any other tips that have helped you?

littlecreek24

Date posted: 13d ago

@paymybills So for the scrupulous person, if you're doubtful that something is a sin, then it's not and you should do it. Even if the thing you enjoy feels ruined by your thoughts, just do it anyway. I sometimes struggle with looking at images of Jesus on the cross because I'm scared of feeling lustful. So in that case, I should keep looking regardless of any feelings or thoughts I get. Also, pray but not compulsively. Like if there's a specific prayer that you compulsively say, drop it. Pray by being aware of God's presence and feeling His love for you.

paymybills

Date posted: 13d ago

@littlecreek24 Ohh okay so one last question how do you stand firm in what you’re doing. For example looking at the cross even if your OCD makes you question. For me it started off with thinking that going to the concert is sinful because it’s gonna be full of people who sin and not wanting to go because of that. So I bought tickets anyway but now I’m struggling even more. Do you just pray or try to ignore it

littlecreek24

Date posted: 13d ago

@paymybills Lol I still struggle to look at the cross, so my only advice is to allow those feelings to sit while you do whatever you're doing. I wouldn't advise praying because that would be a compulsion. Ignore it? Sure if by ignore you mean allow the feelings to sit... don't try to avoid the uncomfortable feeling by shoving it down. Just... do nothing. Do what you're doing. I'm going to continue looking at the cross, and for you that means go to the concert.

Cantal

Date posted: 26d ago

Theme switch: Scrupolosity

OCD has decided to latch onto my religion (Christianity) and I find myself doubting my belief in Jesus Christ. Yet when I research, I even find myself doubting the atheistic and agnostic approach as well. I’ve been a Christian since I was 13, growing up in a non-Christian in truth but nominally Christian household. This is rough. Any advice?

Anonymous

Date posted: 25d ago

Religious OCD Scrupulosity

Hello everyone. I was just wanting to post on here regarding a situation that I have been dealing with for a few months now. I have been taking my walk with Christ seriously for about a year now and ever since I started I’ve noticed a bunch of intrusive thoughts and it’s caused me much distress. It all started back in June of 2024. I missed a church service because my wife and I were taking care of our daughter and I went to a Best But store and upgraded my old Apple Watch to a new one. I felt like doing so I committed idolatry because I went and bought that instead of going to church. I felt immense guilt for doing so and the next day I cancelled my order. I thought that maybe I was over thinking the entire thing so I went ahead and placed a new order and got the watch. For two weeks after getting the watch, I ruminated about whether I should keep it or not. It didn’t feel right with me and was overwhelmed with guilt for having it and it was debilitated with anxiety and stress. Eventually I decided I would just give it back so I went to go return it on the last day I could do so only to find out I could not. I thought that was a sign from God that I could keep it. I felt the most relief after that that I had experienced in quite awhile but then the next day after I started have thoughts again thinking that I didn’t try hard enough to return it and that I’m some how putting it before God. Well eventually I came to terms that there was nothing I could do about it and I was able to stop worrying about it being an idol. Well my mind jumped from that to another thing in my life and this one has been harder to get over. I have been on hair loss medication for 7 years and I had a thought one day telling me that “if I’m a true follower of Christ, then I shouldn’t take the medicine because I’m placing too much importance on my looks” I again felt immense anxiety and dread and tried fighting these thoughts away but could not help but think” what if it is and this is conviction of the Holy spirit”? I would constantly look up online any answers I could find to help relieve my anxiety but I can’t. I pray to God all the time for his will to be done in this situation and sometimes I feel better but then it all comes back. It’s hard for me to read the Bible because there’s so much about idolatry I always feel like it’s God talking to me like it’s a sign or if I’m just taking it that way? I asked God to show give me an answer about this situation and a day later a YouTuber I follow posted a video about removing idols from our lives. I felt that was God speaking to me or wasn’t sure maybe it was a coincidence? I just feel so cornered and out under so much pressure on what to do. Of course I would like to keep taking my medicine because it has helped me but then I have thoughts that tell me it is an idol because I am not able to give it up. I cut back taking the medicine a lot more often over the last months but I don’t know if this is God telling me to do so or my own mind. Like if I want to keep my hair I believe God allows healing through medication and it’s a gift. But these thoughts are telling me that I rely on taking it and it’s an idol and that unless I give it up completely I’m not following God’s will and it’s an idol. It’s caused immense doubt because then I read Romans 14 and it says anything you do with doubt is sin because it’s not of faith. I feel like I’m being attacked and cornered because I’m forced to stop taking something that has helped me. Now I have thoughts telling me to stop wearing my retainers every night because I got Invisalign a few years back to fix my teeth and that unless I stop taking my medication and wearing my retainers I’m not authentically following God. I don’t know what to do at this point. I don’t want to go against God and I don’t want to commit idolatry. I know God is all loving so I doubt this is all coming from him. I have to take/wear these things daily for them to work and the ocd will twist that in saying they are idols because of that and I just feel so cornered and defeated. I try to find things constantly online to see if anyone else has similar issues but I can’t. I know this is a long post but just trying to get some clarity on the matter. What should I do to help my situation?

Religion & Spirituality OCD

Justsurviving

Date posted: 10d ago

For Christians

I been going to church looking for answers about my false memories if they are even false and overall ocd. Everything that I'm learning about ocd ultimately I get told that it's due to sin and that's why I feel overwhelmed and have the urge to confess on things idk if they are real or not. I just dont know whats my truth my mind Is saying one thing but I need a lot of confirmation if what im thinking its true thats why i been seeking confirmation going to church. Would appreciate a response or if anyone is going through this 🙏

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scrupulosity (Christians)

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