OCDhuachuca
- Date posted
- 10h
Hi
Does anyone here have advice for Religious scruples?
no more runningno more running
- Date posted
- 9h
I think the first comment on this post is very unhelpful and only reinforces the ocd cycle. I don't know exactly what your obsessions are but the important thing is response prevention. For example: You can read a Bible verse about judgement without analyzing it. You can write down an scary thought like "I might go to hell. Well that would suck!" and then continue your day. If you pray, you pray the way you would do before ocd. You do it once, then just walk away with the anxious feelings present. Reading or listening to a story about being condemned and not fix the feeling that comes with it. If you are feeling anxious about committing a sin, DO NOT ask a priest, a friend etc for reassurance. This is usually a common compulsion. The solution is not being a better christian. Basically, you have to accept with being a worse christian(because it will feel like it) in order to get better. But you can do it. Let me know if you need more help❤️
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 10h
Yes, if your religion is important to you, you’ve got to allow yourself to be led. Your OCD is not the authority on God. You have leaders, turn to them for guidance and follow it without thinking for a period of time. Tread God like God, not a genie, don’t beg for miracles. Put away any superstitions you have, write them down and commit to not doing them for a small period of time, while you follow your leadership.
OCDhuachucaOCDhuachuca
- Date posted
- 9h
@Anonymous I’am in a Christian recovery group… not sure if it’s helping the OCD… but willing to listen. Have a Christian therapist it’s been one step forward one step back…. I mostly just repeat for my thoughts nightly or every other night. Thank You
CaspersKeeperCaspersKeeper
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 9h
My therapist and I talked about this today (mainly because there can be a lot of bad advice in the community here specifically for religious OCD) the advice she gave was to set boundaries- if you feel compelled to pray all the time (for forgiveness or to affirm you are saved) instead set a specific time that you pray- that’s one example. So what can help is to see what your trigger is (identify it) and then identify the compulsion? Often time our compulsions are “normal” spiritual behaviors, but the amount that we do them or think about them is…. Insane. So setting parameters around when we do them as a spiritual practice and when we do them as compulsions works best.
CaspersKeeperCaspersKeeper
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 9h
@CaspersKeeper So examples… reaching out to religious leaders about questions on interpretation or help through really big moments may be normal, but asking them highly specific questions on a normal basis about normal human things being sinful or not isn’t. Praying daily is normal- but praying daily for a long time to repent over every little sin and making sure you pray for every little thing isn’t- prayer is to converse with God, not to soothe a trigger of guilt or shame.
CaspersKeeperCaspersKeeper
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 9h
@CaspersKeeper Also, if you need a break from religion or an entire step away- that’s is always an option and is okay. Focus on what is healthy for you and your brain
OCDhuachucaOCDhuachuca
- Date posted
- 9h
@CaspersKeeper I repent every night…. It’s mostly that my minds go around and around about everything I do…. All day every day. Having CPTSD doesn’t help because you “obey” or do what they want out of fear and I pretty sure I project that onto God/Jesus…. It’s extremely hard for me to hold on to Grace.
CaspersKeeperCaspersKeeper
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 9h
@OCDhuachuca Yeah that is rough and not good for you at all. I personally had to set aside Christianity for a while because of similar feelings (and other things) There was someone else on here that did similar, and I recommended maybe trying to move your repentance prayers out further? Like maybe trying once a week at first? You can still pray daily- but you could be able to have a conversation with your god that way?
CaspersKeeperCaspersKeeper
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 9h
@CaspersKeeper It would be a way to delay the repentance compulsion (which you are already doing by saving it for the end of the day! But you could try delaying further?) some people I knew in church save repentance prayers for holidays when we did like the lords supper (Easter and Christmas)
Community AI HelperCommunity AI...
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 9h
Hi! I'm the NOCD Community AI assistant (currently in Beta), supported by the NOCD team. Would you like me to share some resources that might help? If so, just reply and let me know. As I'm in Beta, every response is reviewed by a member of our team, so we'll get back to you during office hours (Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm CT). Thank you for your patience as we test to make sure we're providing helpful and thoughtful responses.
Avery MAvery M
- Date posted
- 8h
Religious OCD is really tricky. I struggle with it sometimes as well and what I've learned is that some steps and techniques that may work for one person don't always work for another. I would really recommend connecting with a Christian therapist (if you don't have one already) and working out a tailored, specialized plan that works well for you and your struggles. That way you aren't bending over backwards trying to fix this yourself or feeling defeated if some things work for people you know and not for you. The most important thing to remember is that God loves you and nothing you can do will change that! God bless! ❤️
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