christians with OCD

i am having a very hard time sitting with intense fear. my OCD latched onto a fear theme i had years ago and thought i moved past and it keeps making me feel like im in the same horrific mindset as i was which scares me and makes it worse. writing this feels very scary for me but maybe someone can understand or help? i am a christian and ive been baptized years ago (during the intense OCD years ago) and go to church every week and really do want to get close to God and trust Him more. i have a horrible fear of evil and possession which was first triggered years ago after watching a scary movie. the hardest part with the theme reappearing now is not only am i scared of that but also scared of going back to that really intense state of mind i was in that i felt so stuck. i know a lot more about my OCD now and how to recognize it now than i did before but in the moment of having these spikes the logic doesn’t matter. i know as a christian and child of God i need to trust that i am protected by God and don’t need to fear evil. idk why it feels so terrifying. :( during my spikes i feel afraid of what if God isn’t protecting me and what if i do get attacked. it’s so hard to sit with that feeling and not turn into a panic. the intense fear does pass after some time but then i feel like i have to rethink what happened to make sure i didn’t cause anything bad to happen or that im safe. and since its a spiritual fear, its not something i can know with 100% certainty. i feel like i can’t talk to anyone about it because its so taboo and idk what to do 😩 some one please help 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Anonymous(Bree)

Date posted: 20h

For people with OCD, there is NEVER enough certainty or reassurance. Everyone, even normal brained people, have to live with risk and uncertainty. And it sucks, I get it!! But do your best to pivot back to the present moment. Get really good at being aware of your current state. Because that’s all we can truly know. “ no matter what happened or happens, right now I am safe and I can stand in that or take the next step to where I want to be!” Hope that’s helps, and I will say a prayer for you my friend. God bless you ☀️💕

anonymousgal...

Date posted: 20h

@Anonymous(Bree) thank you so much 🙏🏼

Anonymous(Bree)

Date posted: 20h

@anonymousgal 311 Of course! I’m preaching to myself too. We’re not alone

PilgrimOfIron

Date posted: 20h

I have contamination OCD, and I first starting following Jesus properly during a month I consider "contaminated". I originally thought that my faith is contaminated. But this thought never took hold: because our connection to Him is not of mind or body, but of soul. There is no mental thought or belief that can touch the soul, because it's purified by Him. If you think your OCD is smart or clever, it's messing with the wrong target, it's trying to rival God Himself. And guess what? Even Satan lost that battle to an archangel. What I'm trying to say is that if you're soul is with God, there is no thought or belief of "possession" which may work. God has infinite wisdom. Your soul cannot be harmed. You're just dealing with an issue of the flesh, God knows your heart. No matter what your mind tells you, God is 10 steps ahead.

nexiec10

Date posted: 20h

I struggle with this theme too as a Christian for years now. As I’ve been progressing in treatment it waxes and wanes. I have/had a hard time praying, reading my Bible, attending church, watching movies, etc. The only way through is to “act as if” to live according to your faith no matter what thoughts and feelings pop up. And it’s helpful when they do pop up to use a non engagement response and to refocus on your life. So for example - possession thought comes into your mind “thanks for the thought brain” or “I see that thought but I’m not engaging with it” and then refocus back on your life. The key is to cut out rumination about the obsession and when the thoughts come disengage from them. I promise it gets easier with time.

anonymousgal...

Date posted: 20h

@nexiec10 thank you 🙏🏼 i noticed im starting to want to avoid things and people. like my friends and bf, who i haven’t told anything to. its hard because i just want to feel normal like my old self so bad and not live in fear. and i know what to logically do “to live in the present and have faith” but even when i try to do that the thoughts are there in the back of my mind and i feel as tho im not okay or not gonna be okay and its so scary

zh_xi_wallxhz

Date posted: 20h

Two things… God recently showed me that there is so much power in sharing your struggle with a confidant and having a prayer warrior pray for you. He gave me this word in James 5:16 that I believe drastically changed my healing journey with OCD — “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” *Of course, with OCD, we have to be aware of the fine line between confessing that is instructed in this scripture vs. confessing as a compulsion!* But I knew God was calling me to share my struggles with my mom, who I had never once talked to about my OCD and I knew her prayers were covering me. Second, meditating on short verses has been huge for me. *Again, the fine line between this and compulsively repeating a prayer/verse…* Romans 8:15 tells us, “You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.” I read through this chapter about the Holy Spirit living in us and began to ask Him to control my mind when my mind feels out of control and to “lead me to life and peace” — Romans 8:6. I don’t know the weight, heaviness, and distress of your fears and I’m sorry you’re going through that. I hope there is someone in your life who can pray for you. I am but a stranger on the internet, but I will be praying for you today! ♥️

ggabriella

Date posted: 21h

Can you talk to your pastor / priest? I’m sure they could give you some reassurance

Stollar

Date posted: 19h

I just started reading this book, which you may find helpful as a fellow believer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/104109647X?lv=shuf&hvlocphy=9060264&hvptwo=&hvnetw=g&mcid=&hvext=372754808683&hvadid=812932844857&language=en_US&hvpone=&hvlocint=&hvcampaign=23942112146&hydadcr=8512_13923334_2507220&hvpos=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvocijid=16221902810143954598--&hvqmt=a&hvexpln=0&tag=smgglusdsasps-20&hvtargid=kwl-2484167636399&adgrpid=198237695235&hvrand=16221902810143954598&channelId=500&ref_=&plpRedirect=mhFallback

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