Are OCD thoughts a sin?

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Just wondering if OCD is a sin? I’m assuming it is due to excessive constant worrying and lack of trust in God (namely with germs in my case - i.e. if an “unkempt” individual IMO ends up touching my personal belongings, I feel the need to wash it or discard it - I know, i know…it’s quite petty, but it is really a struggle for me mentally). I’ll ask a priest for sure (and have seen psychologist in the past - though it’s not as serious/debilitating as it used to be), but just wanted to get some insight here. Thanks!!
 
Sweetheart,
An illness is not a sin. God gives us SELF-Control as a needed grace. You need to work w your doctor. Take your meds.
Play a game. Start a journal. If you have a worry, google scripture verse for worry. Wrote down the verse. Say it out loud and make it a prayer. Like 11, Luke 12 are good. Get a song called JEHOVAH JIRAH, MY PROVIDER. It’s probably on You Tube. It’s great to clean your room to it.
So- your worry, God’s WORD, YOUR PRAYER. Praise song.
Look up song, WHY SHOULD I FEEL DISCOURAGED. Why should the shadows fall? It’s peaceful song.
Build up a Healing BOOK for your OCD. Use it frequently. Make a litany prayer up. Like: I have shelter. I have clothes. I have food for Hunger, I have a nose(teehee). I have parents who love & books that I read. I even have STARDUST, he’s my great STEED. You get the idea. I was trying to make you laugh.
Trust us the tough one. You are not alone.

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

– St. Teresa of Avila

The Full Version

God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change…
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.

Feel loved, precious child of God.
In Christ’s Love
Tweedlealice
 
Since OCD is a disease, you have no/little control over it and thus would lack full intent if I understand correctly. Therefore, how can it be a serious sin if you are missing one of the key “ingredients” for it to be such?
 
franklin said:
Just wondering if OCD is a sin?
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No, it is not a sin to be sick, but it is an occasion to seek healing. The Evil One likes to use our vulnerabilities to interfere in our relationship with God.
franklin said:
I’m assuming it is due to excessive constant worrying and lack of trust in God
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God does want us not to worry, and to trust in Him, but many of us suffer from problems with this that are not OCD. It is something we all need to work at.
franklin said:
it’s quite petty,
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Please do not judge yourself for your condition.
franklin said:
have seen psychologist in the past - though it’s not as serious/debilitating as it used to be
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There are some new medications for this you might want to investigate. Research has shown that OCD is related to overactivity of the prefrontal orbital cortex. If this is the case, then it is an imbalance in the brain.
 
Absolutely not a sin. Having OCD in relation to Catholicism is often known as scrupulosity. It is distressingly common. I have OCD myself. There are even Canonized Saints who suffered from severe scrupulosity (Now recognized as a form of OCD), for example St. Alphonus Ligouri, a Doctor of the Church and the founder of the Redemptorist Order. I suffer from OCD, which sometimes manifests itself as scrupulosity in relation to my Catholicism. The fact that you are worrying that OCD may be a sin is itself something someone who has scrupulosity might worry about. Rest assured, you are not sinning by having the dreadful thoughts and doubts that OCD causes.
 
Just wondering if OCD is a sin?

Absolutely not. That would be inconsistent with Catholic teaching.

I’m assuming it is due to excessive constant worrying and lack of trust in God

That would be an incorrect assumption. It is a medical condition, and not a spiritual matter.

If you feel you need advice or help with OCD, then you should discuss this with a qualified medical professional, and not with a bunch of random strangers on an internet forum.
 
Goodness, no it isn’t a sin. I have it myself as does my younger daughter. (I suspect my older daughter is on the OCD “spectrum” also as I see several similar traits in her as I do in myself).

Yes it can lead to scrupulosity. I’ve found some relief in having a good spiritual father…and I’ve moved from Latin Catholicism to Byzantine which tends to be less “rule” focused. Now, this wasn’t my primary reason for moving but over the years I’ve certainly realized the difference between the 2 traditions and I’m glad that it’s helping me.

Some people find relief with meds, Cognitive Behavior Therapy or both. OCD symptoms tend to wax and wane…I had a really bad flare when I was pregnant with my younger daughter…I often wonder if it triggered the condition in her.

You are in my prayers though! It’s not an easy condition to deal with 😦
 
Sweet child of God,
OCD is a chemical imbalance. It can be caused by a psychological trauma. Meds are needed and therapy.
You know Tourette’s syndrome needs drugs.
But, I know an 82nd Special Forces sniper, who has Tourettes and is not on meds. Unbelievable! His Dad is a Baptist minister. He couldn’t go around spouting four letter words. He fought the urges. He must have a mild case. He isn’t spouting out profanities. He’s learned to control his tic. He holds that rifle and hits that target. I’m overwhelmed. It could be a miracle? But, he worked at it. Can you concentrate and focus to change your pattern w OCD? IDK?
A RN I worked w has OCD. Functional. Likes the number 6. Her M&M’s she takes out in groups of six.HMMM.
Test your self, at times. Ppl do get over OCD sometimes. Work w your therapist, always.

MY PEACE,I LEAVE YOU. MY PEACE, I GIVE YOU.
Come to Me, ALL YE, who are heavy laden. I will give you rest. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU. For My yoke is Easy & My burden is light.
SIGH…
in Christ’s Love
Tweedlealice
 
OCD is a mental disorder. Mental disorders are definitely connected to the seven deadly sins, but it’s important to understand that the seven deadly sins are not acts of sin, not actual sin. They are the drives that motivate sinful behavior. The sins to confess are not the mental disorder. It’s important instead to view the mental disorder as contributing to some of your habitual sins. So in treating your mental disorder, you will develop a greater sense of self-mastery and thus be more able to utilize more of your will to avoid actual sins you’ve been stuck in.

So try to stick to confession guides, but be aware that you’ll likely be able to explain some of your sins connections with the OCD. That’s okay. That makes you less culpable. Culpability has to do with how at fault you are for the sin.

In my own struggles with it, I’ve often found that if I omit confessing sins not tied to my own anxiety disorders, I run out of sins to confess. So therefore, I recognize that to gain the grace of the sacrament, I need to still confess these sins not because I believe I’m going to Hell, but because I want God’s grace to help me free myself. Just remember to not go to confession too frequently. OCD and scrupulocity are linked and the big thing is that going to confession can become more of a way to cope with anxiety than to seek actual forgiveness. A good confessor will likely advice you if he feels you’re going too frequently.
 
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