Questioning my faith or ocd

Since I started to accept that maybe some of the problems i deal with might be things that i should accept cause either way I feel shame if i have these thoughts, and i think that being that person is shameful. I'm struggling these days and I noticed I have thoughts about God not being real, not helping me, questioning if its real and these thoughts makes me feel shame. But i keep accepting it cause Im tired that i feel like im lying to myself and everytime i feel like im avoiding the truth, so I try to accept it that its okay that im having these problems(I do the same with suicidal ocd,I start to accept maybe its real) but since im doing this I noticed it makes me depreassed cause of shame. Made things worse, I always spin about shame that it might be true, i try tk accept it but it doesnt work, I feel like maybe i should go back and label every feeling and thought as ocd but i know i wouldnt be free cause i would feel like im trying to make myself feel better... But if its ocd, how can I decide its that if I have the emotions like im losing my faith, I get angry when i hear about faith, sometimes i feel like i really question it, have thoughts like i dont want to have faith...

Religion & Spirituality OCD

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 4w ago

Feeling trapped between trying to accept distressing thoughts and wanting to label them as OCD, only to face more shame and depression, sounds exhausting. This struggle with doubt, shame, and uncertainty, particularly around significant beliefs like faith, can be characteristic of how OCD operates. If you’re struggling and need more assistance, remember that help is available. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at NOCD to find out how we can support you. Also here are some helpful resources: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/hiding-your-ocd-can-be-a-burden-heres-how-you-can-let-it-go/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/why-people-with-ocd-may-experience-imposter-syndrome/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/doubting-if-you-have-ocd-a-message-from-someone-whos-been-there/

Zeedle-D

Date posted: 4w ago

I’ve had those “God’s not real” thoughts. Also other thoughts that built off of that one that went really deep. As a Christian I definitely felt scared and concerned if all these thoughts were true. There were many things that helped me. Looking back to past experience and my relationship with God is one thing that has helped. Also just reminding myself this is ocd, that is the cause of it. Reminding myself that we live in a broken world and that one day all the pain will be gone helps a lot. Time helps a lot as well. The moment you have those scary thoughts can be overwhelming, but when you work through them and remember it’s just the ocd, the anxiety fades and the same thought has little to no impact after an hour or so. This has been my experience, hope it helps.

Tea and Honey

Date posted: 4w ago

What really helps me is this: I don’t worry about my thoughts at all. If I have negative thoughts about God or Christianity, etc., I don’t try to fix them. I don’t dwell on shame when it comes to thoughts or feelings. I know what I believe, and I don’t monitor my thoughts at all. I just let them be as negative as they want to be. I am very devoted to God. God is my one and only treasure. But I have learned that all thoughts are MEANINGLESS. God doesn’t care if you have icky thoughts or negative thoughts—because they are all meaningless. So when you can let go of what type of thoughts are in your head, then you can have more freedom to enjoy your life and enjoy God.

PRIV8

Date posted: 4w ago

The problem is that I attach myself to those thoughts, sometimes automatically like when i get angry, but then if i want to stop it i feel like i dont want to cause im angry and i want to feed this more cause i had enough. It was really scary when last week i had like a depression attack or idk what was it but i had sad thoughts ans kinda hopeless thoughts and i wanted to not feed them but then it felt hard and like I just want to feed it cause i had enough and it felt really uncomfortable to not feed it, it felt like i want to be with those depressiove sad thoughts, or same with angry thoughts, and these times i get scared that its not ocd, its more like a real problem

Tea and Honey

Date posted: 4w ago

@PRIV8 This is what OCD does. It attaches emotions and urges to thoughts (and actions). You are describing classic OCD symptoms. A good therapist could really help! The answer is usually ERP. There is a paradigm shift that you really need: You need to ALLOW yourself to think of all the scary thoughts. Don’t try to fight them off. Don’t try to resist them. You also need to allow yourself to experience the angry emotions. At times when I was angry at God, I would have the sudden urge to think a thought in my head about selling my soul to the devil. And I would have the urge to go ahead and think that thought out of anger. Sometimes the emotion and anger was so overwhelming, that they overcame my resistance, and I went ahead and thought of the scary thought. What relief it was to find out that need to resist those thoughts at all!! God does not need us to resist those thoughts. We need to have the understanding that the thoughts don’t mean anything. And we can allow ourselves to think them, even if they are about the worst things possible, like bad thoughts toward God or selling your soul. When you learn this, it is the doorway to freedom. I’ll give you a few more examples. When I’m listening to music or watching TV, and I hear something powerful and noble, my OCD usually responds by giving an urge to sell my soul to the devil through either a thought or action or both. But when I feel moved by the powerful emotion from the TV, it becomes hard to resist doing that thought or action, because it feels overwhelming. Just now, there is a lyric in one of the songs I was listening to, that was kind of like a swearword to me. And my OCD wants to make a lunge at me at that moment to agree with that word. This is what OCD does. It wants to inhibit you from experiencing any emotions, because it wants to convince you that emotions make you out of control and will lead to bad thoughts. Therefore, we feel like we have to suppress our emotions. But that is so wrong! If you are feeling angry, and your OCD tells you that you have to resist certain thoughts or actions, but you don’t want to because you want to vent your anger, then you are falling into an OCD trap. The only way to get out of that is to ALLOW yourself to think of those thoughts. And allow yourself to experience the emotions. ERP will help you with this. You can break free. You just need to a free paradigm shifts. I want so much got you to get out of this trap!!

Tea and Honey

Date posted: 4w ago

@Tea and Honey Right above “What a relief to find out that I did NOT need to resist the thoughts”

Cantal

Date posted: 13w 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?

Justsurviving

Date posted: 11w 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 🙏

Anonymous

Date posted: 20d ago

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.

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