Help with OCD

[Ireland2015]

I need help with scrupulosity and OCD.

[deValentin]

Moral scrupulosity has been known for centuries. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) who suffered from it wrote: “the devil tempts the delicate conscience with scruples while he tempts the lax conscience with indifference”.

1. It’s a sign of an overreactive conscience. People with scrupulosity OCD are not willing to face reality and look at their actions with the eyes of an impartial observer. They exaggerate their faults, and feel the need to confess sometimes imaginary crimes or to be absolutely sure they didn’t do anything morally wrong.

2. They are so concerned about what OCD-free people would consider petty lapses that they forget to look at the big picture and don’t usually get involved in charitable or humanitarian work. In that sense, an overreactive conscience is counterproductive.

3. They don’t choose the course of their lives. They let the issue that’s presently tormenting them decide in their place the course of their lives. OCD-free people who feel troubled would try to determine whether they have a reason to feel troubled. If they can’t find any reason they would move on. If they find a reason, they would act in such a way as to put their lives back on the right track. People with moral scrupulosity don’t question whether their present lack of peace of mind is justified or not. They think that if they feel guilty, there must be a reason, and desperately seek that reason or invent one if necessary.

4. I believe that if they could find a better way to live, they would choose it. But, failing to find one, they feel trapped in a way of living that may bring them relief in the short term, but makes them suffer in the long run.

[MothFir]

This book is a good start:

amazon.com/Doubting-Disease...

My OCD has taken many forms but scrupulosity was a major one for many years. Happy to talk about it if you have specific questions.

[Mcfly64]

Hi Ireland2015. Part of my ocd is also scrupulosity. Rev Katie Dunne who is on the iocdf website has a podcast called What’s the scoop with Scrup. Check it out.

[Mcfly64]

Sorry Scoop on Scrup.

[SudoWoodo]

Hello,

Two resources that I have found tremendously helpful are:

Jamie Eckhert, that’s her YouTube channel but she has a website scrupulousity.com she is both a sufferer and a mentor.

Then on YouTube : Mark DeJesus whom is a pastor and also a sufferer has more resources than I can name on his channel.

I hope either of these help you and just know you are not alone.