How to Overcome Religious OCD: A Complete Guide

Religious OCD, often termed scrupulosity, is a new variation of OCD that can be seen in the form of practicing religion. Some individuals develop obsessions with the idea of god, and religion and sometimes end up feeling so anxious that it affects their day-to-day lives. It is also important to keep in mind that one needs to make a distinction between faith and OCD itself. 

What is Religious OCD?

Religious OCD is essentially a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) where the person fixates on ideas relating to religion and morality and has obsessive and compulsive thoughts relating to them. Ideas such as hell, and religious behaviours such as praying can end up taking a lot of someone’s time and create hindrances in someone’s life. 

Definition and Overview

Religious OCD also sometimes called ‘scrupulosity’, is when someone feels obsessive-compulsive thoughts relating to actions and behaviours relating to religion and morality. They might feel a lot of stress and anxiety if they have said a few words in a prayer that was out of order and then made many attempts to re-do it multiple times to calm their anxiety. 

Causes and Risk Factors

Similar to OCD the exact causes of religious OCD are unknown. However, it can usually be brought down to three main factors: genetics, environment and brain structure. People with first-degree relatives, such as parents and siblings, who have OCD, have a higher risk of developing the condition. Studies have shown differences between certain brain areas in people with OCD. Trauma in one’s childhood can also be a cause of OCD.

Symptoms of Religious OCD

Symptoms are two-fold:

Obsessions, wherein one gets repetitive mental images, thoughts and urges, relating to a fear of angering their god(s) or even committing blasphemy. Other things can include:

• fear of going to hell or being punished by God
• being overly moral
• fear of having committed a sin
• constantly striving for purity
• fear of the loss of impulse control
• fear of death
• doubting what a person feels or believes
• fear of being possessed
• a need to acquire certainty about religious beliefs

Compulsions, wherein one feels the need to perform certain behaviours or mental acts to feel release from their obsessions. Other things can include:

• excessively praying
• repeatedly seeking reassurance from religious leaders
• making pacts with their religious deity
• excessive confession of perceived sins
• repeatedly performing cleansing rituals
• writing prayers to check they’re done correctly
• making mental efforts to erase or replace “bad” thoughts
• acts of self-sacrifice
• repeating passages from sacred scriptures in their head or out loud

Diagnosing Religious OCD

It follows the same parameters as with OCD. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition. A psychiatrist must diagnose this and be trained to manage situations such as this. 

Criteria and Challenges

They must experience the following:

• presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both
• obsessions or compulsions take up much of a person’s time or cause significant impairment or distress in social, occupational, or other important settings
• obsessive-compulsive symptoms are not caused by a substance or other medical condition
• another mental health condition does not better explain obsessive-compulsive symptoms

When to Seek Help

With religious OCD, a person’s obsessions and compulsions are related to religion and morality. Anyone experiencing symptoms of OCD should consider talking with a healthcare professional as soon as possible. A healthcare professional can provide information on appropriate treatments and refer people to mental health professionals. If one is experiencing any of the symptoms, then the earlier it is checked the better it is. 

How Do I Differentiate Between Devotion and Compulsion?

In general, religious behaviour is considered compulsive if it doesn’t fit the cultural context. For example, a person may do cleansing rituals daily when their religion only mandates them weekly. Another hallmark of religious OCD is that it undermines a person’s quality of life. It often causes extreme anxiety, guilt, and shame. A person may engage in rituals to the extent that they neglect work, school, or family obligations.

Treatment Options for Religious OCD

Religious OCD is a subtype of OCD. Therefore, healthcare professionals may recommend similar treatments for both conditions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a therapy technique that aims to help people find new ways to behave by changing their thought patterns, which is a very common treatment prescribed for OCD. Therapy sessions focus on exploring and developing methods to deal with challenges and behaviours that arise from day to day.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

A type of CBT called exposure and response prevention (ERP) may also be effective at reducing compulsive behaviours. With ERP, people are encouraged to face their fears without engaging in compulsive behaviours. So, a person may be encouraged to spend time in a situation that usually triggers a compulsion, but the person is prevented from performing that compulsion.

Medication and Supplements

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs are usually the most commonly prescribed medication by professionals. If this is seen to be ineffective, then one may even be prescribed antipsychotics—but only when one is prescribed them by a professional.

Support from Faith Communities

Some people may also find it helpful to talk with religious leaders or fellow members of their religion. However, not everyone will be aware of how OCD works or how it can relate to religion. This is why it’s important to also seek clinical advice from professionals.

How to Support Someone with Religious OCD

The experience of OCD is never pleasant, but the individual can really benefit from support from family and loved ones. 

Understanding Their Experience

One needs to be empathetic to the person experiencing OCD, and it is also essential to keep in mind that they are not in control of the things they do. It shouldn’t be brushed off as something that can be ‘prayed’ away.

Providing Emotional Support

A non-judgmental ear can make a great difference to the person going through religious OCD. One should consider being supportive, in whatever little way they can. Not putting additional pressure can really make them feel more at ease. 

Encouraging Professional Help

Therapy is often indispensable to the treatment of OCD. In therapy, a person can learn to manage their anxiety in ways that don’t undermine their quality of life. A therapist will not require a person to give up their faith—they only treat a person’s anxiety about said faith.

Overcoming Religious OCD: Personal Stories and Successes

Religious OCD being a sub-type of OCD itself, and overcoming it is related to overcoming religious  OCD itself. 

Tips for Managing Symptoms

Eating healthy food and eating it regularly can help manage the symptoms. Steering clear of caffeine, the stimulant in tea, coffee, soda, and energy drinks. One also needs to be able to stick to their medication and get to their therapy appointment regularly. Getting a good amount of sleep, and avoiding alcohol can also help manage the symptoms. 

Can religious OCD be cured?

In the long term, exposure and responsive prevention therapy can help a person reduce the occurrence of unwanted compulsions and begin to practice faith healthily without fear or shame. In addition, studies show that ERP is one of the most effective treatments for OCD, often leading to symptom remission.

Embracing Recovery from Religious OCD with Cadabams Insights

Anyone experiencing symptoms of OCD should consider talking with a healthcare professional as soon as possible. At Cadabam’s, we take our mental health very seriously, and we have the right kind of professionals who can make the healing process easier. With the right kind of treatment and facilities, one can see an effective diminishing of symptoms. 

FAQ

1. What is religious OCD?

Religious OCD is essentially a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) where the person fixates on ideas relating to religion and morality and has obsessive and compulsive thoughts relating to them. Ideas such as hell, and religious behaviours such as praying can end up taking a lot of someone’s time and create hindrances in someone’s life. 

2. Can religious OCD affect people of any faith?

Yes, it can. It doesn’t depend on the type of faith that one has—it can be of any faith, but the OCD one may experience around it is a universal case. It is essentially a sub-type of OCD itself, so it can be understood as that itself, which doesn’t have anything to do with only a particular type of faith. 

3. What treatment options are available for religious OCD?

Religious OCD is a subtype of OCD. Therefore, healthcare professionals may recommend similar treatments for both conditions. Treatments for OCD typically include behavioural therapy, medication, or a combination of both. However, treatment can vary depending on the person and their preferences.

4. How can I support a loved one with religious OCD?

Allow natural consequences to occur for the person with OCD. Inform your loved one that it is in their best interest for you to be involved as little as possible with the behaviours they feel they need to perform to reduce discomfort. You are here to help them resist their compulsions, but you cannot assist or do them.

5. Are there any self-help strategies for managing religious OCD?

Several self-help strategies are available, such as breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, mindfulness practice, and committing to therapy. Talking to one’s therapist is a great option because they can recommend personalised strategies.