Scrupulosity How do people get over scrupulosity?

Yes, I have heard of ERP and tried it before with a few therapists. We would then just get stuck because I could not determine if a guilt I had was justified or if it was OCD. Even now I just do not know if I should feel guilty about certain things or not. I have so many examples, but here is one: I have been unable to buy a pair of new shoes for months because of OCD. One day at work my co-worker tells me of a shoe store he went to. He actually went to the store on his work time using the boss's car. So obviously this was wrong for him to do. But now I cannot shop at that store because my mind says it is wrong because of 2 reasons. First co-worker was telling me this while we were on the clock at work. Secondly, co-worker was wrong in shopping while he was on the clock at work and I would be benefitting from that wrong.

Hello Madison, Thanks for replying. So how do you determine if the logic is actually just OCD?

Madison, So can you explain and give examples of what you are struggling with?

Wow, did not expect someone else to have similar OCD symptoms as I do. Most OCD experiences I read about are people who have to spend more time to get things done due to compulsions such as checking and cleaning. For me it is those too, but Scrupulosity is really debilitating as my mind is always scanning to see a fault whenever I am trying to accomplish something so instead of taking longer to get something done, I cannot do it at all. In 2010 tried to buy a house twice and had to cancel the contract because of guilt. Been trying for months to buy a pair of shoes but each time guilt found a way to stop me. How do you manage to do ERP with guilt?? How can you tell if a guilty feeling you have is reasonable or if it is OCD? I just cannot do ERP if I believe a guilt might be justified.

Seems like we have the same kind of OCD. I question even the therapist since he/she is human and may have different moral standards. Morals are so subjective. Here is an example where depending on who you ask, you get different answers: Say you had a good feeling about a lottery number but had no money until payday. So you go into your roommates room and take $5 without asking. You know you will pay back him/her back the next day. So you take the $5 and play the lotto. Next day you put the money back. Then later that day you find out you won $1 million. But now thinking back you realize that you essentially stole the $5 even though you gave it back. How would you feel about the winnings? What would you do?

I would also take her car, but then I would feel extremely guilty about the $100k. I could only spend it on things that are not essential like eating at restaurant, going to ball game. Cannot spend it on essential things like clothes for work, bills, rent, utilities. If I were to buy shoes for work, then anyday I came to work wirh the shoes I would feel guilty about wages earned at work for that day.

What do you think a therapist might suggest in last example?

Same way they get over any other OCD theme — by ERP! (I have scrupulosity as well)

Part of ERP is sitting with uncertainty, too. Could be OCD... could be not... and accepting that. Eventually it won’t bother you anymore/as much. That’s my understanding, at least. I highly recommend you get an OCD therapist to help you way better than I could (cuz I’m struggling in this exact same area).

So does the OCD prevent you from doing anything?

Very interesting. I thought of another scenario today. Say your roommate is going on vacation and told you where she put her car keys. She said to only use the keys to move her car to other side of street if city is doing street cleaning. She does not want you driving around in her car. So next day you are cleaning your room and find a lotto ticket you forgot about. You call the grocery store where you bought it and they tell you that you won $100k. Also that ticket expires today and they close in one hour. Store is a 40 minute drive from your house. You go to your car and it won't start. You call roommate and she not answering. You check for taxi services but no one is close. Only option left is to take your roommates car without her permission or lose the $100k. What do you do?

So give me an example of an exposure your therapist asked you to do.