Religion and OCD

I’m a Catholic Christian and I love my religion so much. I have found that every now and again, my OCD becomes triggered and I find myself distancing from God & my faith, and avoiding (or trying to) avoid God because religion starts to give me anxiety or trigger my OCD. Lately, like the past week and a half, I think I’ve been doing well. I’m still anxious (and talking about it makes me anxious too, so I guess this is kind of an exposure), but I’ve been trying to keep practicing my faith nonetheless. I’m proud of myself, I’ve been able to keep my OCD at bay and continue to live my life and practice my faith. I even have anxiety right now, but instead of dwelling on “what if?”, I’m trying to continue telling my OCD “so what?” I would just like to know, what do you guys do to deal with moments of anxiety or fear or irrational thinking?

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 18w ago

I am also a Catholic with OCD! Something that has really helped me is the Surrender Novena (if you google it it will come up.) It’s a really powerful prayer. I also have taken the ending prayer from it and I pray it often by itself when I’m feeling overwhelmed with intrusive thoughts (not as a repetitive compulsive thing but as a “allow the thought, respond with this prayer, move forward” type thing). “Jesus I trust in You, take care of everything.” Know that God loves you, scrupulosity is more common than you think, and even many of the saints suffered with it. God knows you and your heart and doesn’t hold it against you. It’s not a sin to struggle in prayer or with connection to God, especially when it’s OCD related. My therapist also recommended that when I get crazy about “what if i’m misinterpreting God’s will for my life” that I ask God to send down an angel to literally make it abundantly clear that this direction I am headed and have discerned is entirely wrong. it feels silly and over the top but God has sent angels to people for redirection before, and if it was life or death for my soul, he would make it clear to me. Otherwise it’s faith, trust, and good intentions. I hope this helps. I’m praying for you!

Username: JesusSaves424JesusSaves424

Date posted: 18w ago

@Anonymous Thank you so much!!! I will pray for you also. This means so much to me 🩷

Username: sarah045sarah045

Date posted: 18w ago

@Anonymous i’m struggling with knowing Gods will for my life right now i think he’s made it clear but i was watching tiktok and was looking at deliverance videos and now i can’t tell if i need deliverance or i just have bad OCD thoughts..

Username: Tea and HoneyTea and Honey

Date posted: 18w ago

I am a Christian too. Going to church, reading the Bible, and having religious discussions have always triggered my OCD. I have religious OCD, and everything to do with God is a potential trigger to me. So I totally understand what you are saying. But it sounds like you are doing a great job facing it!! One resource that has been really good for me is Mark DeJesus on YouTube. He has lots of videos on God’s love and grace, and he has struggled with OCD himself.

Username: JesusSaves424JesusSaves424

Date posted: 18w ago

@Tea and Honey Thank you!! I will watch his videos for sure!! God bless you (:

Username: sarah045sarah045

Date posted: 18w ago

yes the what if and so what’s (i haven’t done the so what’s) i can’t tell if im being in Gods will or my ocd is bad

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 6y ago

Religious OCD is terrifying because I can't logic out of it. I can try saying "that's not how God works," but then my brain will be like, how do you *know*. Like does anyone else have religious OCD and feel the need to pray all the time? If so how do you avoid that urge? How do you find a healthy relationship with religion when even the smallest mention of it triggers you?

Username: Anonymous 99

Date posted: 2y ago

Christians with OCD

Hi friends, To my fellow christian’s who struggle with OCD. Can you share what you notice to be compulsions for you mentally/physically when it comes to faith? I’m struggling to differentiate what is me and my faith and what is me and the OCD. I don’t have a therapist so just would love some advice. EXAMPLES Iv noticed in myself I think are apart of the OCD: - obsessing over reading the Bible first thing, needing to keep my Bible streak and feeling guilty if I don’t -repeating certain prayers that I think I need to pray to be safe -mentally checking that I still feel connected to God throughout the day

Religion & Spirituality OCD

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 21w ago

Religion OCD

Does anybody else with religion OCD ever feel like no matter how many times you tell yourself that God is watching over you your body just won’t let you feel safe? And does anyone with religion OCD ever feel like because it has to do with religion, it is so much bigger? I’m currently sitting in my bedroom in paralysis because I don’t know what to do with myself in my mind. Can anyone with religion OCD weigh in?

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