emmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
CaptainKierkegaardCaptainKierk...
- Date posted
- 3y
The Puritans very much have a yin and yang thing going on. There’s the famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” More subtly, but more scary to me when I was younger and day-and-night burdened with the worry that I was destined for hell, is John Bunyan’s book Pilgrim’s Progress which has all sorts of descriptions of people who never make it to paradise (some of whom I saw myself in more than the main character). On the other hand, a more recent book, Gentle and Lowly, which is a very consoling book about Christ’s love for sinners (it has made me cry), draws a lot from the Puritans, particularly Thomas Goodwin, and contains things which are important to affirm. If you wanted to take a more ACT approach, Kierkegaard is the man but his thought and writing is very dense. Also you may find solidarity in the story of William Cowper, writer of hymns such as “There is a fountain, filled with blood” as well as an acclaimed Romantic poet and vocal opponent of slavery (along with his friend John Newton). He believed he was destined for Hell because of an intrusive dream he had, and attempted suicide three times. Anyway hope these help!
emmy sueemmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
But just to be clear- it takes a lot of clever thinking to read this kind of stuff while in a religious themed episode to me- otherwise I use them for reassurance. It’s a balance between “ok this is what I’m going to read while the OCD thoughts are still with me. They are welcome to surface at any point”
Anon Y. MousAnon Y. Mous
- Date posted
- 3y
This theme is too hot for me to touch…it’s causing lots of problems, but undergoing treatment, hopefully it will get better…so I can’t even answer.
emmy sueemmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
I get that. It would be too hot for me too if I was younger I think. I’ve had OcD my whole 38 years but this theme puts all the other ones I have to shame:)
JohnGJohnG
- Date posted
- 3y
@emmy sue I agree. Scrupulosity has definitely been my hardest theme to deal with.
JohnGJohnG
- Date posted
- 3y
Yeah, one of my biggest questions is how do you say "maybe, maybe not" or "accept the uncertainty" of going to hell? I haven't really done ERP for this because I don't know how to approach it.
emmy sueemmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
One idea I thought of was reading Scripture warnings against unbelief….
RíonaRíona
- Date posted
- 3y
Talking to others helps, maybe a pastor?
emmy sueemmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
I have found that almost makes it worse since they understand OCD:)
RíonaRíona
- Date posted
- 3y
@emmy sue Read Love Wins by Rob Bell
emmy sueemmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
@Ríona Does he have OCD?
CaptainKierkegaardCaptainKierk...
- Date posted
- 3y
@Ríona that’s the opposite of exposure
emmy sueemmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
@CaptainKierkegaard I think I have to agree on that one
RíonaRíona
- Date posted
- 3y
@CaptainKierkegaard Thats true but depending on what kind of church you go to, you might just hear fire and brimstone all the time so getting some alternative viewpoints can be good.
emmy sueemmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
So…I’ve had that phrase “sinners in the hands of an angry God” come up so much this past week. I know He’s not angry because I’m justified by Christ. But I can say, but maybe I’m not. Sheesh that is freaky!!! I read Gentle and Lowly this spring during the start of my recent religious theme. All the tears. So so so so good! Even tho I was struggling, it really spoke to me. And, it actually became an exposure for me to keep reading the Bible and praying- because I tend to avoid those when I’m obsessing. Thanks for the reminder of Cowper. I have one of his books somewhere. Pretty sure he had OCD before anyone knew what it was.
kaylanicole01kaylanicole01
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Hi there! Thank you so much for your vulnerability and willingness to reach out on here. The main thing with ERP is to develop statements that revolve around uncertainty. Saying “this may or may not happen.” I know that that’s very distressing especially when it comes to a higher entity like God, but it will decrease your distress in the long run. Have you talked about this with your NOCD therapist? Remember that OCD is strong, but you are stronger!
emmy sueemmy sue
- Date posted
- 3y
Thanks- I’ve been to therapy/ just never struggled with a theme as bad as this one. I know I need to treat the content as irrelevant and it is just so dang hard to take the risk. I feel like I’m almost there though. Like I’m about to turn the switch on, you know? My NOCD therapist gave too much assurance so I stopped doing it. Not a lot of options in my state but I’m thinking of trying again with a different one
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Girlypop
- Date posted
- 21w
ERP for fear of cancelation? (Event/False Memory)
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Anonymous
- Date posted
- 9w
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.
Anonymous
- Date posted
- 9w
Religious OCD
I need help everyone. My thoughts have been getting worse… I haven’t used my ERP because it feels too scary and too real and so I am caught in this spiral of doing compulsions with every other thought that I have. I have thoughts about that bad guy that are so horrible and then I think that the bad guy is talking to me so I do compulsions and desperately want GOD to believe me when I say I don’t mean the thoughts, but then it creates doubt about whether or not I actually do mean the thoughts. And now I am afraid of my own thoughts This makes me want to fix ALL of the thoughts and feelings that I have to prove even more to myself and to GOD that I don’t mean these thoughts. On top of all of this, I am trying to convince myself that it’s OCD and not me at all. Does anyone have this and can anyone help? I am so tired and scared and burnt out…
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