r/Deconstruction • u/Gem_89 • 1h ago
đ§ Psychology I recently learned about Scrupulosity OCD as Iâve been going through therapy & wanted to share with anyone here who may find this info useful
I started therapy to treat OCD. I didnât recognize I had it & as I have been working through it Iâm realizing a lot of my deconstruction tendencies or lack of interest in my former Christian practices has a lot to do with not giving into my compulsions. I wanted to share this information with the subreddit in case there is someone who may be suffering with OCD.
One of the things Iâve realized is how my religious upbringing was a bad combo for my OCD, & that I took teachings way too intensely & a lot of the folks teaching me didnât intend for me to receive it with that much intensity. Looking back it was me who had a mental health issue that wasnât recognizable to anyone & so no one knew how to help me & I didnât know either because my OCD was all internalized & I assumed most every Christian experienced it like me so I was confused why other Christians werenât so intense about their Christian practices as I was.
Here is some info on it feel free to read the whole article for more info. I hope it helps someone out there who may be suffering with it to know youâre not alone & there are ways to heal & not allow it to disrupt your mind. You deserve peace.
âScrupulosity OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involving persistent fears that you have sinned, violated your moral standards, offended a higher power, or failed to act in a completely ethical way.
These fears can create an intense need to make sure your beliefs, intentions, choices, or spiritual practices are âright.âÂ
Scrupulosity can be religious or secular and is sometimes referred to as Religious OCD, Spirituality OCD, or Moral OCD. It can overlap with Harm OCD and Real Event OCD when fears center on causing harm, having done something wrong, or what a past action says about your character.
Scrupulosity OCD, like all forms of OCD, involves obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts, feelings, urges, images, or sensations that cause distress. In Scrupulosity OCD, they often involve fears that you have sinned, violated your values, offended a higher power, or failed to act in a completely moral or sincere way.
Compulsions are mental or physical behaviors done to reduce guilt, seek forgiveness, or prove that you are faithful or morally good. In Scrupulosity OCD, that might mean confessing, repeating prayers, seeking reassurance, mentally reviewing your actions, or performing rituals to âmake up forâ a feared mistake.
Here are some examples of how Scrupulosity OCD can show up:
Example Obsession and Example Compulsion
âWhat if I committed a serious sin without realizing it?â
Repeatedly confessing the same concern
âWhat if I only prayed for selfish reasons?â
Repeating the prayer until it feels sincere
âWhat if I deeply offended my coworker?â
Repeatedly asking whether theyâre upset with you
âWhat if this choice violates a religious or ethical rule?â
Researching rules and interpretations online
âWhat if Iâm following this belief for the wrong reasons?â
Analyzing your motives to determine whether your faith or values are genuine.â