Catholics with OCD or intrusive thoughts

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I know this situation. I once talked to a Christian who suffered with OCD in the past. He had the same intrusive thoughts about prayer as I did. He told me that he knows that he wants to pray to GOD and GOD knows that this person wants to pray to GOD. This applies to every Christian. It is very helpful for my prayer life to know that God the Almighty knows that I want to pray to God the Almighty, no matter what those intrusive thoughts and images say. I tried not to concentrate on those intrusive ideas and with Jesus it slowly becomes better. Jesus absolutely knows your situation and he knows everything about OCD.
The guy who formerly suffered from OCD gave me the tip tho address God as “Father Jahweh”. This should not turn into another compulsion, but help trustfully praying to God. Another tip is to write your prayers. Of course that’s just an option how you can pray, but it can be helpful, when it seems hard to pray.
I pray for you! 😃
 
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Also, St. Michael prayer helps!

When in doubt, pray. He’s going to be listening to you as if He is your best Friend.

I also have a mental illness. You got this! Things definitely get better. I promise!!
 
AMcD said:
Hello eveyone, I just wanted to start a chat for Catholics who have OCD or intrusive thoughts/ images. I find it though because my OCD centers around my faith and the doctors and therapists that I see do not believe everything the church teaches. This is a place of support and for people to share their experiences.
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I am a tormented soul; please pray for me. God bless.
 
Fischli said:
Is there anyone who is disturbed by intrusive images or thoughts during prayer?
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Yes, i do, and i suffer from intrusive thoughts on a daily basis in general. It’s a mental illness and probably one that is not very well understood. I take Citalopram which can help, but that is just me.

God bless.
 
goout said:
Stop fighting with OCD thoughts. Acknowledge them and accept that God allows them.
Fighting with them gives them a power over you they do not deserve.
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This is true. The more you resist the thoughts, or actively try not to think them the worse it will get. How can you not think of something you are trying not to think of? I say" don’t think about a puppy" and what is the first thing that many will think of? Puppies.

But, that said. ignoring the thoughts is easier said than done. They can be quite brutal and get you where you are weakest and most troubled. They can be so profane and vile and filthy and blasphemous…they are like having an evil gremlin in your head who is a disgusting, blasphemous pervert.
 
I don’t have OCD, but the intrusive thoughts are distracting sometimes. It’s helped me to use different imagery when I communicate with God. I think we often get the idea that He’s a scrutinizing accountant behind a desk tallying up our sins. But recently I pictured the child Jesus, 7 years old, and hoping someone will come to his birthday party. And no one shows up. That’s how He was treated when He came to be with us. Does that little One care if you’re thoughts aren’t always perfect, so long as you show up to the party and try to play nice? It may seem trite, but it helped me use my heart to override my noisy head and maintain a little better focus.

And if your toddler or pet gets dirty rolling around in the mud, do you cast them aside? No, you probably laugh, maybe with a little frustration, clean them up, and go on with the day. Well, while we’re in these physical bodies, we’re sort of like souls with a dirt covering. Again, not theologically precise, but helps me to think of God as happy that I’m at least trying to get less dirt on me and others, though we’ll never be 100% clean this side of heaven.
 
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