Question for those struggling that are also Christian? I was wondering what you guys think when it comes to OCD and spiritual attacks. As Christians we know the enemy tries to steal, kill, and destroy. We live in a fallen world so the enemy is all around. However I’ve also heard we shouldn’t give the devil credit for every bad thing that’s happened to us. Just because our car broke down on the way to work or we burned the popcorn in the microwave doesn’t mean it’s the devil screwing with us. So when it comes to OCD, I know it’s a mental illness and it seems like it attacks us with the thoughts/feelings/urges it presents, but sometimes I get frustrated and think is this really OCD going at it or is it the enemy filling my head with these horrid thoughts? For example, one of my main themes is suicidal OCD, so everything about suicide. I know I don’t want to kill myself and enjoy life, yet OCD being OCD, it fills us with doubt, confusion, intrusive thoughts saying otherwise. So I try to look at this as OCD messing with me with intrusive thoughts, but at times as well I think what if this is the devil playing his fittest by trying to fill my head with this and hoping I’ll do it. This can go for any theme I believe. This worries me more because I ask whether I’m on the right track of dealing with this: both/either as a mental health issue or a spiritual attack. When my OCD first appeared, I truly believed it was a complete spiritual attack. I threw away many of the things I enjoyed for fear they were not of God, dedicated myself to only listening to worship music, reading only my Bible, throwing myself completely in the church - in hopes God would miraculously heal my mind of this attack of the enemy. It wasn’t until I ultimately decided to go to therapy where I learned I had OCD and started ERP for it which has helped a ton. However I still wonder otherwise. What are your guys opinions on the matter? It makes me feel torn.

This was something I recently had to learn and am still learning! For a long time I felt that God betrayed me somehow because after many times praying for healing it didnt happen, and I didn’t see any progress until I started therapy and ERP. I thought “why did I have to go to a therapist when I was asking you so much God??” So I won’t lie it hurt my faith somewhat. But it wasn’t until recently I figured that God guided me to find NOCD, start therapy with an amazing therapist, and connect with so many people also struggling with OCD 💛

@Evelyn4416 Yay for stealth miracles! God is awesome.

That’s an excellent point as well!

@Evelyn4416 I have been dealing with religious scrupolisity lately and I feel I am falling my faith and whenever I do something good or responsible ny mind tells me it is lame and I should stop so I get worried and do but I can't tell if that is bc I am thinking about the thought or if its bc I want to be irresponsible and bad. It felt like I wanted that or something and or scares me so much

@Anonymous I’m sorry 💛 OCD conjures all that up and creates such a fear in us

@Evelyn4416 Yeah the worst part is my avoidance of good which seems opposite to what I should be doing. I dont understand ocd

Thank you! 💛 praying for you as well!

I agree as well! But what about the OCD itself, being really just mental illness or the possibility of an attack of the enemy? Or maybe both? I guess we’ll never know the answer, but when I speak with my therapist it’s strictly a mental health issue with tools to improve, when I speak with my family they say it’s the devil trying to hurt me and to keep deeper in my word - so it’s like who is right sorta situation

I had a feeling you would reply Carl haha. Yes I believe treatment and working daily for my mental health has been a huge positive in my life. My faith is also very important to me so at times I worry I leaning too far away from it when looking at how things of the world work, but honestly it could be my religious theme as well. As long as I’m working both on my mental health and my faith, I’m doing what I can and shouldn’t worry about what I can’t control, without having to pray 24/7 or doing a OCD workbook for hours at a time.

@Evelyn4416 Right. No one could “prove” whether or not it’s the devil causing these sorts of things. But I’d guess that your family’s estimation that it’s the devil is discounting the very real, tangible evidence of OCD as a mental disorder.

@NOCD Advocate - Carl Cornett Ohhhh yes. Like I mentioned in the post, when my OCD first appeared severely and was told by my family, specifically my dad and grandma, that it was a spiritual attack against me, I tried to desperately find relief which involved me throwing out many of my personal belongings in a frenzy, such as my band shirts, favorite video game, books, etc. all tossed in the trash. I was frequently told to keep praying and that seeing a counselor was “the worst thing I could possibly do”. Now looking back after months of therapy, I feel embarrassed how I acted that day and regret purging my items. I also felt upset that when I was obviously dealing with a mental health issue, my family failed to see that. Of course I can hold it against them because it was likely new for them to experience as well, but still.

@Evelyn4416 I’m so sorry your family reacted that way.