Blog Posts

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Scrupulosity OCD, from what it is and how it works to the best ways to approach healing and recovery.

I recently had a viewer of my podcast reach out to me and say, “Where do we draw the line between Scrupulosity OCD and church culture? Your account has opened my eyes to harmful thought patterns, but I feel like these are taught to us as children.” I can definitely see how this is a common question – especially when it comes to high-demand religions. So how can we differentiate Scrupulosity OCD from church culture?

Recovering from OCD is all about learning to cope with anxiety without doing a compulsion. However, for many Scrupulosity OCD sufferers, the compulsion of avoidance can be particularly difficult to overcome.

OCD is also known as the doubting disorder – and that means that sometimes, Scrupulosity OCD sufferers may wonder if they're pretending to have Religious OCD so that they have an excuse to sin.

Learn how Scrupulosity OCD showed up in my life starting at 7 years old.

It’s no secret that individuals who have Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) tend to have a relationship with faith that may appear distorted to others. For instance, they may struggle to incorporate self compassion, be more strict with standards or frequently become distressed about whether their faith is strong enough. However, one aspect of the relationship those with Scrupulosity OCD have with faith that has not been widely discussed is when sufferers cross t

Sometimes when you participate in church events when you have Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it can feel like you are the only one experiencing the symptoms that you do. This is only exacerbated when you hear people at church sharing their testimonies or making certain comments during discussions. In fact, you might even feel like it’s taboo to talk about your struggles, whether it’s your doubts, your difficulties with self-esteem or some of your intrusive

Church feels overwhelming. You don’t feel like you can participate in your religion that same way you used to. You’re not sure how to get back to who you used to be before you entered Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) treatment. I’ve learned that a lot of these feelings stem from a sense of mourning your past religious experiences. And it’s interesting, because this can be the case even when the individual is doing much better now than they were when they were

You might be wondering what on earth Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder has to do with Thanksgiving. In fact, at first glance, it might not appear to have anything to do with it! However, do you tend to struggle on holidays and not know why? If so, OCD may be playing a bigger role than you might think. How OCD could impact your holiday experience From as early as I can remember, during every single family gathering or holiday celebration, I got a feeling that I eventu

One of the biggest hyperfixations I had when my Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was at my peak was chapter seven of a book called Preach My Gospel. For those who are not/never have been members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this book is most commonly used for members who are preparing to become missionaries. However, it can also be used by church members in general to deepen their understanding of the gospel. The chapter I focused so mu

By now you know that Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder perpetuates problematic behaviors that wreak havoc on the life of the sufferer (and sometimes the lives of the people who love them). However, from the outside and on the surface, the very behaviors that are causing so much pain can actually appear to be admired by others. This can be quite confusing for Scrupulosity OCD sufferers because although they may be aware that their behaviors are causing them distress

When I was on a walk one windy afternoon, I came to some troubling realizations. First, I only respected myself when I felt I was being obedient. Second, I struggled to have self-compassion when I made a mistake. Third, and ultimately, if I didn’t think I was being righteous, I couldn’t love myself. Does that sound familiar? If so, this blog is for you. Religious-based self-love When your self-love is rooted in your religious beliefs, that means it is conditional upon things

Even people who don’t have Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) wonder how they can know when they’ve truly been forgiven by God for their sins. They may read scripture passages to help them answer the question, or pray and ask God for reassurance that they have been forgiven. So why should those with Scrupulosity OCD avoid seeking an answer to this question? The answer is simple: it's the perfect trap for getting stuck in the OCD cycle. In fact, any question tha

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is one of the most popular treatment modals for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It involves...

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects so many more people than just the person suffering from the disorder. In fact, it can cause...

When I was young, I heard someone at church say, “If you stay close to Jesus, you will always be happy no matter what happens to you.”...

I’m going to give you two scenarios, and I want you to decide which experience details something happening with Scrupulosity...

Worry is not a topic that religion has been silent about. In fact, there are many scriptures talking about how worry is evidence of a...

One of the main components of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is fear. Whether it’s the fear of getting others sick, not being in the...

Imagine going about your everyday life – working, cooking, cleaning, taking care of your family, etc. – while dealing with constant,...