Muslims and Jews can also suffer from beint too scrupolous.

I'm glad to see this subject addressed. I've always known I was a Martin Luther but haven't known what to do about it. All I can say is that it's agony. Until I heard the word scrupulosity, what I experienced was something I was unable to describe to anyone. And even yet, I'm not sure I would call what I have scrupulosity or OCD. I've recently read a study that defines me even better. It explains the difference between someone who acts like a fully adopted son of God, versus someone who is a fully adopted son of God but still has an orphan mentality (although I might compare it to a bad marriage where you walk on eggshells because you never know what's going to make your spouse throw you out, beat you up or kill you). People with an orphan/bad mariage mentality live in constant fear. We are always waiting for the other shoe to fall; we're waiting to do the unintentional and yet inevitable thing that's going to get us kicked out of heaven, or at least bounced off the face of the earth. We know that we can never please God and eventually we are likely to quit trying. At night we fearfully lay on our beds in a fetal position wondering whether God will allow us to live until morning, until we cry ourselves to sleep by repeating over and over the words, "You know my frame; you know I am just dust." This "condition" has rarely been written about, and when it is, it is usually referred to as a "Catholic" disease without a hint of a cure. I am looking forward to reading Osborn's book. And, in the meantime, I will resort to the only cure I know, which is to be repeatedly told, "God loves you, God loves you, God loves you." It is impossible to say (or hear) those three words too often.

thanks for article..i know theology well yet suffer from this disease..like samuel johnson did..who i relate to as a comfort..the killer is the energy used..can't sequence out stuff i want to do..stuff i like..it all converges at once and leaves me semi-catatonic..thinking times 10..then again..from theolgy to cooking supper..i hate it and have asked our Father to accept all my thinking or talking as a form of constant prayer..which actually becomes conscious..this helps me.. and knowing difference between real sins and eccentric personality quirks etc..that arent..also, don't make agendas for yourself..just be true to your new self in Christ..a modification of shakespeare's saw...glad someone brought this out..

alison,
where did you read the article on living as an adopted child or on with an orphan mentality?
jack

As one who has suffered from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and specifically, scrupulosity, it was the most challenging, most difficult "dark night of the soul" I have ever experienced in my entire life. Before being diagnosed with OCD and scrupulosity in 1992 by a Christian psychaitrist, I was overwhelmed with the most hiddeous, blasphemous thoughts imaginable that would race through my mind constantly. To remedy this, thinking it was Satan's attacks, I would cry out to God over and over again in a ritualistic, sort-of prayer. And although it may have given me temporary relief, in essence the blasphemous thoughts would only worsen and become more intense. I also felt like I had to be a "Super-Christian"--reading my Bible for literally hours every day, as well as pray for hours on end, or otherwise I was going to hell. I was always under a state of guilt and anxiety, just knowing that God was on the verge of dropping me into the Lake of Fire. I would go to the altar at church several times during services, even when invitations had not yet been given. I was plauged even with thoughts of suicide. The Bedrock of my faith in Jesus Christ that I had claimed since I was 4-years old was shaken to its roots, and I truly felt abandoned by God. However, once I was finally diagnosed with OCD and started to understand that my difficulties were not directly related to Spiritual Warfare but a Mental Illness (although I know that Satan was laughing in the midst of my suffering), and began treatment with medication and psychotherapy, God began to bring healing to my life. I can now look back and see that where I thought God had abandoned me, He was really holding me closer than I could have ever imagined. He was not going to let me go. Now, I have continued to struggle with OCD in one form or another since then, though not directly related to my spirituality, but God continues to remain faithful and guides my life every day. I want to encouage anyone reading this Blog that may be suffering in this way not to lose hope but to seek help from both mental health professionals and spiritual advisors. May God minister to your brokenness and make you whole again.

Hello I have OCD and I say things in prayer I don;t mean and then have to pray to tell God that I don't mean them and then ultimatley messing that prayer up and the cycle repeats every day all the time and it drives me insane. What can I do to stop the cycle.

This is for Jack's posting back in April 2, 2008. I can so much relate...and finally on medication now too, I believe that God brought these doctors into my life and they have been wonderful. I'm taking baby steps and keep my faith in GOD and Jesus in my heart and soul.

I'm not sure I would call what I have scrupulosity or OCD. I've recently read a study that defines me even better. It explains the difference between someone who acts like a fully adopted son of God, versus someone who is a fully adopted son of God but still has an orphan mentality although I might compare it to a bad marriage where you walk on eggshells because you never know what's going to make your spouse throw you out, beat you up or kill you.The Bedrock of my faith in Jesus Christ that I had claimed since I was 4-years old was shaken to its roots, and I truly felt abandoned by God.
----------------
Ancil

Alabama Alcohol Addiction Treatment

hey i have ocd and im only 15 years old im not as bad as i was
when i was younger but i would like to know could ocd lead to anykind of health problem of even couse an death problem

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Mike,
Just let the thoughts be there, knowing that they are not sins but are the result of a malfunctioning brain. God knows and understands your plight. Trying not to think of them just keeps them in your mind. Practice letting them be there and ignoring them. They are junk mail from the brain. Treat them as you would the rantings of a drunk on the street corner. Check out The Scrupe Group, an online self-help group of fellow sufferers monitored by a Lutheran pastor.

I feel like I must pause and think the names GOD and JESUS whenever I think to do it. Also, I feel like when I read or say GOD or JESUS then I must them out loud(or louder than the other words in the sentence or song) and then and focus and think of Them. Also, I have trouble keeping bad thoughts out of my head even if I don't mean them, then I must alpologize. I feel like if I commit a sin, even minor, or don't know if what I did was sin, then I must apologize. I feel like I have to apologize if people around me commit sin. I just don't want to do anything wrong and must do everything right. What can I do to help? What is the truth?

I SAY PRAYERS and say things that I don't mean then I go back and say that I didn't mean them but then worry about if he listened to the thing I didn't mean. It is very time consuming and the worry lasts and lasts what to do ?

Romans 8:1 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ" Through Christ's sacrifice God has forgiven you, you who He has always loved. Forgive yourself, let these thoughts go, they are not who you are in Christ Jesus, you can be truly free, just trust God's Word! Don't be afraid to tell people close to you or get help. God works through people just as he works through miracles, trust in Him always and know you are forgiven and loved!
God Bless
~M

Hi All
I was just reading through your posts and can sympathize so much. After probably twenty years of off and on OCD/Scrupulous behavior, I have finally come to the conclusion that my feelings/condition results from out of control anxiety. The good news, I've found something that is helping A LOT! It's called the Linden Method (just google it to find the program). The program was created by a fellow sufferer of OCD and Panic Attacks who "healed" himself with this method and has since helped hundreds of thousands of others.

I know for those of us who suffer from religiously-based OCD or scrupulosity, it can seem like even getting better is somehow sinful. Just know (and deep in your heart you do) that God doesn't want you to live this way. Jesus is with you right now but you need to help yourself so that he can help you too.

I would HIGHLY recommend checking out Linden's program. It is a little pricey ($100) but wouldn't you pay ten times that to be free from how you're feeling? Check it out and May God Bless You and Free you from your self-imposed prison.

ps - I am in no way an employee or marketer for the Linden Method. I don't receive any kickbacks/bonuses for sending people to it either. I just wanted others to know about a program that has done a lot for me.

Take care,
Mark

I am a christian that has suffered many years with ocd/scrupulosity. I knew I had a problem when I was in college and I would spend hours trying to pray the sinner's prayer. I would try to pray but felt like I didn't mean what I said,so would keep praying trying to pray the perfect prayer. Then once I finally felt satisfied, I was then on eggshells to 'keep my savation"-quite a miserable existance for someone who really loves the Lord. Mike, I appreciated your posting. I think the key is to treat it like junk mail and to recognize that you can't make it go away.

Jenifer

My battle with scrupulosity began three years ago Firstly i thank God Almighty who has given us knowledge which is is limitless. Common knowledge would tell us that since we commuunicate with each other we realise that we are not alone in this heavy battle I always think that i am a soldier ready to go to battle with an enemy in my mind and i always come out the victor. i dont take medication anymore since i realised that the voices that call out from my mind are harmless.I now shrug these thoutghts off and it is easy We are suffer from some form of OCD ours are more painful since it is religious. The reason why we suffer is because we may have suffered some trauma in life eg divorce, loneliness, death of a close loved one etc so we turn to God ,but the god we turn to is the one we created in our minds

Hi im a 22 yr old female who has suffered from ocd ever since i was about 15 i have suffered from a type of ocd called trichotillamania. i pull my hair on a daily basis and just dont know who to turn to or where to go. i want help but where i live in nebraska in a small community there is really no good therapist out here and its hard to look in other major citys around my area because i donot drive or have a lisence. is there any one who can help me please let me know.

Listen, I fought with OCD when I was 16 years ago. And it took me some years to get rid of it. The reason I didn’t get rid with it in the beginning was that I was fighting OCD which is vanity, empty thoughts, ridicules thoughts, meaningless...etc but in that moment I didn’t know better. I took those thoughts for serious and battled with them. That was my mistake. Now I want to inform you all who have OCD or Scrupulosity. To listen to this very carefully. OSD is an unquenchable false feeling, which never ends. More you battle it, more fuel you give it. The best way for me to cease with this was to ignore it. It gets better with time, believe me. In the beginning it feels like you cant, but just relax, let it flow throw you, nothing will happen. And with time the OSD thoughts (what ever they are) will vanish slowly. And later you will not even think about them. And even after that, you will laugh at yourself how you could worry for those silly thoughts. They will not affect you anymore. This is because they are silly thoughts. To all Christians who have fallen in Scrupulosity. It is the same case for you. take it easy. Jesus want you to be bold! Trust Him, and enough. No one is sinless. Forget being perfect.
Stop victimizing yourself. And don’t let people pity you. OCD is silly thoughts and they will vanish the day you make your mind to ignore it. Stop worrying. Go back to your normal life and do things you like, so you busy your head with other things then silly things.

adminen2@gmail.com

God bless you!

Hey, I want to give anyone suffering from scrupulosity some encouragement. I used to get particular scrupulous thoughts that appeared in my head but have managed to completely defeat them and now they are no more. This is how you do it: when a scrupulous though comes in your head, force your mind to change the subject immediately or instantly go do something else so you're not thinking. While you are changing/stopping thoughts think to your OCD thoughts something like "GO AWAY OCD". Once you have changed your thoughts or started doing something, don't let your OCD thoughts come back. It's tough, but be strong. And ask for God's help - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13.

After doing this constantly whenever I got the thoughts, they eventually disappeared altogether. I believe it took a few weeks in total - you just have to keep at it every time they come. So have hope - it is possible to change your brain chemistry (biological imbalances in the brain cause OCD) and stop these thoughts altogether. I believe that sometimes God heals through us taking action (along with miracles, which I pray you'll get if you need one), so sometimes you have to do the work if you want to be cured.

And to anyone suffering scrupulosity, please know that you have had my prayers! I pray for all sufferers. And if you can, please also pray for those who have it and especially those who are suffering from it but are unaware that it's a medical condition. Please pray God will reveal it's an illness to them and that they will find their cure.

And remember:

"That is, in Christ, He chose us before the world was made so we would be His holy people - people without blame before Him." Ephesians 1:4

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Is saying the Rosary Prayer important to you? If so, please take part in this anonymous online research study to provide more understanding about the place of the Rosary Prayer in Catholics' lives. This doctoral research is intended to provide information that can help mental health professionals to better serve their Catholic clients. Thank you for your help. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/rosaryprayer

i have had ocd scrupulosity for 12 yrs now.very horrible blasphemous thoughts against the holy spirit. i obsess over those awful thoughts and worry about committing the unpardonable sin. i need help

This is from the foot notes from my 'life application study bible' refering to Luke ch 12 v 10 in regards to the unforgivable sin:
'Jesus said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable.This has worried many sincere Christians, but it does not need to.The unforgivable sin is attributing to Satan the work that the Holy Spirit accomplishes.Thus it is the deliberate and ongoing rejection of the Holy Spirit's work and even of God himself.A person who has committed this sin is far from God and totally unaware of any sin at all.If you fear you have committed this sin ,be assured that your very concern shows that you have not sinned in this way'.
I suffered the same OCD you describe above but it was in conjuntion with depression usually over Winter,I didn't know what it was at first and thought I was being tormented by the enemy not suffering from a mental condition.I have had bouts of it for as long as I can remember in one form or another e.g worrying if I had a disease,or that I was possessed,that I had committed the unforgivable sin, to worrying that I would hurt or kill my family e.t.c.I had prayer for this on more than one occasion from Christian friends and family who I trusted and thought wouldn't over spiritualise it or judge me, and that gave me comfort but ultimately did not stop it from happening.One thing that did help was to ignore the negative or disturbing thought and visualising a Stop sign when it happened instead of trying to make a sentance or prayer to counter it,I know it depends on how low or tired you are feeling at the time also.A short time later I went to my doctor who prescibed 'Fluoxitine'(prozac) short term to get my depression curbed so I could think clearly.At the time I did not want to go on it as I felt I had failed and was not relying on the Lord's strength,also there still seems to be a stigma around taking medication for Depression or OCD and some people seem to think you are weak or should just snap out of it.After 3 weeks the OCD and depression subsided and after approx 12 months I slowly came off them and started taking Omega 3 fish oil and have been off it now for 18 months.Now I take St John's Wort(a natural alternative) when I start to get symtoms or feel low.
I never gave up on Jesus and when things were most difficult I would just give all my thoughts to God no matter how awful they were,I would also carry around notes with scripture on them.These really helped me: Ephesians ch 6 v 10-18 'The Whole Armour of God' and
Ephesians ch 3 v 20-21.
Just know that it is a mental condition that you suffer from and God knows you intimately better than you know yourself,Read Psalm 139: 13-18,he knows every thought you will ever have and he knows your heart,he chose you to be with him for eternity before the world was even made.
May God bless every area of your life.

The pastor I had for 25 years said if you have had these thoughts, you are done for, beyond hope, that you are a reprobate - that you can't be forgiven. How can one get over it? I have dealt with this for 25 years.

To the last commentor who has been suffering for 25 years, I pray that as you would cut off a piece of fabric with a pair of scissors, you will visually cut off/away this pastor and his UNbiblical counsel. Re-read the posting before yours and know that your eternal security is based, not on what you do or have done, but on what Christ did on the cross. His work is finished and if you've given Him your life and you know Him as your personal Lord and Savior, then your salvation is sealed, secured and unchangeable. Keep your focus on Him, delight in His love letter to you and in His love and grace. This on what He says to think on in Philippians 4:8 and meditate on and become a doer of Philippians 4:6-9. This will be very helpful to you. His Word is living and powerful. He will never leave you or forsake you.

Love in Christ,
TL

WoW! Until I did extensive searching I never knew this existed.
I have had this for weeks and it was driving me mad. I Couldn't
sleep,eat,or function both in my family and at work. I Finally sought
a Christian therapist who has not mentioned this disease yet. I actually
feel alot better now that I know I'm not alone. I never thought I
would suffer from a form of OCD. This happened out of nowhere but
at the begining of Lent! I was raised Catholic and had always believed
in Jesus Christ but when bad images appeared I was devastated. I hope
it goes away one day like it came, but, at least for now I understand.
Keep the faith, and remember the Lord will love you unconditionally.
JESUS,I LOVE YOU!

Wow. It is so good to hear that what I have been suffering from for quite some time now is understood by other people! I have been to so many Christians for spiritual help, but because my perspective about myself was so negative for experiencing all these thoughts, and they had no way of being able to relate to what I was trying to explain to them, I felt very discouraged and really struggled to put into practice anything they said. It was like it went through my brain like a sieve - I couldn't hold on to it long enough for it to change me. I had far too many negative ideas about myself - and not nearly enough Truth! How did this situation get so bad? I have loved God my whole life, but barely had a revelation of Jesus as my personal Saviour. I have been trying to "save" myself through getting it all right. I think I tried this so hard for so long, that I opened up some "doors" for the enemy and he came in like a flood. It has not been fun. BUT GOD! is so gracious and is helping me to start from where I am and roll my cares onto Him (humble myself that I can't do it & He can and wants to do it). I am taking my first steps out into the sunshine and I'm loving it! It really is Salvation by Grace through Faith. Wow has it ever been hard for this to go from "information to revelation"!!!! And I still have to meditate on it every day just to keep it. BUT HE HELPS ME IN MY WEAKNESS!!! - So if you ask me, the 'cure' is faith in the WORD; and Faith works by love, and we love Him because He first loved us. ...I have finally been accepting - little by little, my Father's love for me. I used to know it, but because of this debilitating "condition" I imagined Him to be farther and farther away all the time. Not true!!! I am the apple of His eye! He gave His own Son to suffer for me so I can be with Him! He will never leave me or forsake me! He is able to keep me from falling! No one can take me out of His hand! Even when I am faithless, He remains faithful!!!! What has been key for me, is to stop myself when I have been in trouble with this (which has been freqently!) - wherever I am/whatever condition I am in - and "cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me" and "His grace is sufficient for me"! (actually I learned that surprisingly, to not cast all my cares on Him was actually pride beacause I wasn't trusting Him like He told me to - as though I knew I could do it better than He could!) The Scipture actually says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you." As long as we insist WE have to do it - we're going to find it pretty challenging to access Grace (He calls it pride).

So, my thoughts on this "condition" we have been experiencing: I have a hunch that it can be fixed through
a) Deciding to believe our Father's love - even though we don't feel it yet,
b) Humble ourselves to cast all of our cares on Him because He cares for us. Even if the best you can give Him (like me this morning) is "Lord, I know that I'm not ready/willing/able to trust you with all of my heart yet (because I'm almost certain that I will soon have another thought that "proves" to me how messed up and "far away" from You I am - then it's gonna feel like You're rejecting me again and I have to go away and fix myself again before I can try to come to You again)- and I know that your Word says to "trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart - but this morning I CHOOSE BY FAITH (NOT feelings!) to give You What I do have to give You. He will receive what you give Him and He can work with you as you take baby steps in trusting His wonderful Love and Grace.

c) And GET IN THE WORD AT ALL COSTS!!!! And refuse to receive an ounce of condemnation - ever!!! Conviction is good. The truth will set you FREE!!!! If you have a big heavy emotional weight and let out a big sigh when you read something in the Word - chances are you just fell for a lie again. STOP. Take a breath "There is therefore now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus". The Word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any two edged sword. It does not return to God void. My mind is being renewed and I am being transformed right now. (Rom 12:2)
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". Read it OUT LOUD. Get it recorded if you can. Saturate yourself with the Word. All of us have different stories - but if we had been saturated with the Word before - this condition would never have been able to take root because we would have just laughed at all those thoughts that are preposterous compared to the beautiful Living Word - Jesus Christ. No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

Well, I've got to get going now, but this has been wonderfully healing for me to get this out. I hope it can have some life for someone else to get blessed.

I love you all,

Jennie
age 32

I really found a lot of similarities here. I was struck with this late in life( over 50) and really had
Never heard of this debilitating disease before. The closer I got to Jesus the more images of the
Lord and other spiritual persons entered my mind. I have a boring job and have a lot of down time.
If I keep busy it helps. There are times when words spontaneously come out, almost like touretts.
I was buying books (understanding scrupulosity by Thomas M. Santa, The Doubting Disease by Joseph W Ciarrocchi, The power of the subconscious mind) to name a few. Looking for answers
And support. It's been about 4 month's now. I have good days and still some bad when I say " Jesus please intervene and make it stop. I've always believed in Christ and tried to live a god life.
I've had some bad experiences especially as a child and exposed to porn at a very young age.
I've asked for forgiveness for my past mortal sins and turned away from sin since. Scrupulosity holds you prisoner for fear you won't be forgiven which we all know as Christians that Jesus will
Forgive us as long as we are sorry and remorseful from the heart and turn away from sin. All I can
Say is have faith believe that Jesus died and shed his blood for us and will bring us to everlasting
Peace and life with him in Heaven. God bless us always. ;-)

Thanks Jennie...your post was so encouraging. I have been struggling with this for 5 years now and although I don't wish this on anyone I'm so glad I'm not alone in this. I'm so glad that the Lord loves me and I just want to live for Him and follow Him forever and I'm glad He understands my weakness and is always faithful and won't let me give up.

I pray for healing for all of us and also pray that we will stand firm in Jesus our Lord and Savior.

By FAITH you are healed. By HIS wounds you are healed. Look here, I have been struggling with this for a while. All you got to do is trust in GOD and have FAITH in JESUS. I know its hard, I know the pain and the day to day struggle. Only GOD can and will heal you, you got to come to JESUS and believe in HIM. HE is for you not against you. No doctor and no medication can heal you like JESUS. HE is the source. It's hard, I know. But remember whoever believes in JESUS, got HIS Spirit in him. HE know. GOD knows. GOD's Spirit lives inside of you and what you know, GOD most definitly knows. yeah your gonna fall and mess up, but you got to keep getting up. Run with HIS grace, HE gave it for a reason: cause we need. By FAITH I'm healed. You got to run with HIS WORD. Thing of it this way: If you gonna believe in Jesus for eternal life, than you need to believe in Jesus for day to day living. HE died and blead for you. And if your struggling with confessing. Remember either you repent one time or twenty times, your forgiven either way. What Jesus did on that cross, no one can change it. your forgiven regardless how many times you confess.

It is nice to know that I am not alone. I have been trying to find a cure for this. My mind is my enemy. There isnt a day that goes by that I don't have repetitive negative thoughts, repetitive prayers of asking for forgiveness for thoughts that I don't want to think. I am a mess.