The subject of scrupulosity or religious OCD is one that is near and dear to my heart. For I have had to personally work through many aspects of that battlegrouind. So I do not address this from a distance, but as someone who has had deep struggles with OCD. I pray that my learning and healing journey will be an inspiration to yours. 

Religious OCD and scrupulosity is also a struggle that many well meaning Christians struggle with. Many do not know what it is or that they even struggle with it. To be honest, it took me years to realize that the main pattern of torment and trouble revealed that I was obsessive and compulsive. You can hear more about my personal story in other episodes. 

Religious OCD triggers a great deal of conflict, guilt, uneasiness, anxiety and inner torment over a lot of spiritually related issues that end up weighing heavily on people’s hearts. And because the OCD points to areas of religious nature, which involve important issues of religious devotion, salvation, purity, holiness and eternity, it can be easy for a person to become swept away by the storm of religious OCD or scrupulosity. 

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What is Religious OCD or Scrupulosity?

With religious OCD or scrupulosity, you become fearfully preoccupied with doing what is right and making sure your spiritual condition is settled, correct and properly lined up. But that driving conflict and disturbance grows and intensifies. You may act on some religious rituals or acts that temporarily seem to bring relief to your inward torment, but over time, the unsettledness continues and does not relent. 

With religious OCD, there is an obsession over a spiritual or religious issue that becomes magnified and taken on as a heavy burden to resolve.

These religious obsessions can be: 

Intrusive thoughts that are impure or disturbing. 

Blasphemous thoughts 

Committing the unpardonable sin

Doubts about your salvation

Fearing you may have lost your salvation

Backsliding 

Introspective searching for sin in your life. 

A heavy sense of moral wrong 

A driving feeling of “not enough” spiritual devotion

As one seeks to “fix” these obsessions, they will seek to find relief through what can become a compulsion. 

Compulsions: excessive routines, behaviors or mental acts to reduce anxiety, guilt and discomfort. Neutralize the issue. Some are outward actions. Some can be in your head. 

Checking . . . checking salvation, checking sin issues, checking feelings, introspection

Confession, repenting, praying

Reassurance seeking

Researching, investigating, the subject of obsession

Mental arguments, spinning, ruminating

Excessive talking out 

One may get momentary relief by utilizing one of these practices, but this habit becomes a compulsion. Meanwhile, the obsession often finds a way to come back and grow. 

The feelings of unrest and things not being “just right” increase over time, driving you into an endless loop of obsessions that rise up in your mind. You end up chasing those feelings, which lead you into constant compulsions you attempt to engage in order to find peace. 

Some Initial ROCD Observations

There are some upfront observations you need to be aware of when it comes to Religious OCD or scrupulosity. 

* Shame blankets the hearts and minds of those who battle scrupulosity.

* If you battle scrupulosity, you won’t get the help you need unless you are ready to receive it.

* ROCD strugglers wrestling with a lot of confusion, because their obsessions and compulsions lead them into constant loops. They are often exhausted, depressed and feel deeply defeated.

* Telling someone with religious OCD to just “get over it” or “stop thinking that way” ...