help & hope for scrupulosity
This isn’t a post I had planned to write any time soon. It’s a fear I’m ashamed to share. I was putting this post off for as long as I could… until very recently when I had an anxiety attack, which has only happened a handful of times in the last three years. And I... Continue Reading →
We hear it a lot: “One day at a time.” It may sound trite, but it can also be one of the most helpful things for those who struggle to live in today, like me. I am torn up with guilt for the past and suspended in anxiety for the future, and I suspect this... Continue Reading →
“Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” …“Safe?” said Mr Beaver… “Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”1 If you’ve read the... Continue Reading →
Those who suffer from OCD often feel isolated, as we recognize our abnormal thought patterns and behaviors are different from those around us. We often have a mistaken assumption that we are the only ones in our lives who struggle in such a way, but in fact, many people who struggle either don’t receive a... Continue Reading →
What does a scrupulosity cycle look like? I gave a short explanation of the loop of obsessions and compulsions on the What is Scrupulosity? page. But in reality, it’s not linear or simple. The cycle is less a neat sequence of steps like those of a winding staircase and more the disorientation and unpredictability of... Continue Reading →
Last week I wrote about "doing the opposite." But how do we face uncertainty without losing heart? And how do we engage with the Lord in the midst of it? As Christians, even as we strive to follow Christ faithfully, we have a lot to learn from modern psychiatric practices, including exposure and response prevention... Continue Reading →
How do we battle spiritual obsessions and compulsions? What practical steps can we take to fight through the fog of scrupulosity? The most commonly used therapy for OCD is known as exposure and response prevention (or ERP), which ideally should be practiced in the context of professional help (i.e., a counselor or therapist trained in... Continue Reading →
For the first several months of my struggle, I didn’t share with others. At least, not completely and transparently. I remember sharing with my dad in the early days, but I only shared vaguely about my lack of assurance. He told me this was normal—every Christian doubts their salvation at some point. I felt encouraged... Continue Reading →
I don’t know exactly when my struggle with scrupulosity began. The timeframe is foggy, and it’s hard to keep track of events and timing. The struggle has lasted for at least eight years and has been full of ups and downs, yet there are some noticeable consistent threads and themes. I hope a brief overview... Continue Reading →
Grace Abounding in OCD 