In the vast spectrum of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), each person’s journey is a unique constellation of thoughts, fears, and triumphs. Today, we are honored to delve into a particularly nuanced chapter of the OCD narrative – the world of scrupulosity.
A client has graciously agreed to share her insights, challenges, and victories in navigating life with scrupulosity OCD through a Q&A. In a world where understanding and compassion are keystones in dismantling stigma, this client opens up about her experiences to shed light on a subtype that often operates in the shadows.
Q&A about Scrupulosity OCD
1. What do you wish faith leaders knew about OCD/mental health?
I honestly can’t say I’ve ever thought about specifically what faith leaders think about OCD. In my mind, OCD is not very known. And what people know about it, people will try and use colloquially (“I can be OCD about this..”). I haven’t heard a faith leader do this. Since I’ve been active in two churches in Houston, I also haven’t had a bad experience when it comes to pastors talking about mental health. The current church I attend has a very positive view of mental health. The church offers to pay for 3 sessions of counseling if you need that and the pastor speaks pretty regularly about therapy, etc. After I left my former church, there was a sermon talking about how our society focuses too much on mental health; when it’s actually a sin issue (my paraphrase). That church has changed a lot since I attended. That sermon happened after I left. Also after leadership changes. (Former leader spoke more openly about mental health)
2. Is there anything that you wish the faith community as a whole better understood about OCD/mental health?
One thing I would maybe put in this category is years ago I listened to a podcast, where one of the people on it spoke about having OCD, and I thought “I think I may have OCD”. I was in a discipleship group at the time, and I shared my thoughts with the group. My leader responded, “Oh, I wouldn’t speak that over your life”, and I don’t know if it was because of her, or because my OCD wasn’t as present, but I don’t think I really thought about it or brought it up again for awhile. So I guess in that context, I wouldn’t want people to be discouraging about potentially having OCD. Nor would I want people to frame it as if it’s something I can choose to have or to “not speak into my life”. This was before I had my “official diagnosis”. That came a couple years later. I heard a friend speaking about having OCD, and when my symptoms started to reveal themselves strongly, I reached out to her and got a counselor recommendation. Both contexts were within the church. Not in my immediate circle, but I do think there are probably people in my life that would have a hard time tying mental health methods and faith together.
3. How has OCD/mental health impacted or limited your ability to participate in your faith?
I don’t think I’ve ever questioned God as to why I have OCD. But there are times where my OCD is triggered, and I believe there’s a slight moment where I wonder why it was allowed to happen (It being the trigger). If I have questioned God, feelings of anger or frustration at being triggered usually quickly take over. On the other hand, it has only been recently where I have tried to tie in faith with combatting my OCD. I think in the beginning I was very focused on the science behind how to treat OCD, and didn’t know how to pray about any of it. That was also a time of my life where I was talking less to God and working through other confusing and disappointing feelings towards him. I haven’t fully worked through those feelings, but I am now in a place where I am trying to tie OCD treatment, medicine and my faith together. Today it looked like asking for prayer from a friend so that I could be brave and make an appointment where I would face an exposure. I’ve also tied certain Psalms to my treatment and prayer about OCD. I’ve recently been trying to tie the Psalm that says “my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth” to ERP and being brave. Also the Psalm that says “they will sow in tears, but reap in joy”. This relates to that, because ERP is very hard, but my prayer is it yields great rewards. And I have already seen it yield in things being better.
Resources
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF): The IOCDF provides a wealth of information on various types of OCD, including scrupulosity. They offer resources, articles, and online support communities.
Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Program for OCD: We offer a 3 and 5 day intensive outpatient program for OCD, tailored to fit your individual needs. More Information
OCD Support Group: We offer a free twice per month support group to support you in your OCD recovery. More Information
At the Houston Center for Valued Living, we offer therapy in Houston for a variety of life’s challenges. Our team of compassionate therapists offer a variety of therapeutic specialties including:
- OCD
- Intensive Treatment for OCD
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Reproductive Mental Health
- Children
- Parenting
- Adolescents & Teens
- Trauma/PTSD
- Body focused repetitive behaviors
We are located at 4203 Montrose Blvd in Houston, Texas 77006. You can reach us at 713-331-5538 or info@hcfvl.com