Scrupulous/OCD?

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Catholic4ever98

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To anyone here who is scrupulous or has OCD in regards to the faith: please find a priest, a spiritual advisor, or someone mature in the faith to talk to.
I am scrupulous myself- spiritual direction, in combination with a consistent prayer life, has helped me grow and start to overcome this tiring disease. I still have a ways to go, but it is a step in the right direction. Being able to put my thoughts into words that are spoken aloud, versus solely written on a computer, has helped me understand myself better. The advice that I get from my spiritual director helps me see my question in a new light and use it for the future in different, but closely related, situations. It forms my conscience. I know, from personal experience, that our scruples cause us to search for a yes and no answer and that it is overwhelming to only find grey answers. Its hard, but freeing, at the same time as God truly does look at our hearts and intentions to everything. He knows us better than ourselves, and He calls us to live an abundant life as we dwell in the infinite love that He pours out on us each and every day.
This disease, although God does not desire it for anyone, is a chance for us to be bold, become vulnerable with others, and place our trust in God. It is so easy to ask questions on a computer ( I’ve done the same) but in the long run, this will only treat a symptom. It will not cure the cause and root of our scrupulosity. The Lord longs for our true joy and peace. Come to Him; He will help you- we are God’s beloved sons and daughters, and He is the perfect Father.The vulnerability and humility that can come from seeking guidance face-to-face is beneficial to our souls and our relationship with God as it allows us to stop relying on ourselves and start to rely more on the Lord for His guidance as He works in our lives, and He loves to work through others.
Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry.
St. Padre Pio, pray for us!
God bless you all. 🙂
 
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And may God bless you! You are so precious that is why you care so very much. Don’t beat yourself up. Padre Pio was right on!
 
People should not assume that every scrupulous person has the psychiatric diagnosis of OCD. Many Catholics go through a time of overly-sensitive conscience, and doubts about the morality of various acts.

Servant of God John Hardon, S.J. defines a scruple as follows:

“SCRUPLE. Unreasonable doubt about the morality of an act done or to be done. Its basis is an erroneous conscience combined with a lack of control of the emotion of fear.” (Catholic Dictionary, p. 462).
 
Ron_Conte said:
People should not assume that every scrupulous person has the psychiatric diagnosis of OCD. Many Catholics go through a time of overly-sensitive conscience, and doubts about the morality of various acts.

Servant of God John Hardon, S.J. defines a scruple as follows:

“SCRUPLE. Unreasonable doubt about the morality of an act done or to be done. Its basis is an erroneous conscience combined with a lack of control of the emotion of fear.” (Catholic Dictionary, p. 462).
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Even without OCD (and yes, people here should not diagnose the scrupulous with OCD; that’s medical/clinical and is no one’s place except one’s physician)— people still should recognize the scrupulous, even without assuming OCD.

The answer for the scrupulous, with or without OCD is the same: confide and obey a trusted confessor. If OCD is involved, see a therapist too.

The treatment for the scrupulous, however, is the same. Do not answer their questions; send them to their confessor. Even if the scrupulosity is temporary. It is not to be tolerated or encouraged. Not by us, and especially, not by the scrupulous. One way we can help is by refusing to address their questions and by sticking to the advice that they must obey their confessor.
 
They talked about Scruples/OCD in yesterdays programme on EWTN Open Line with Fr Wade Menezes. Some very good advise so I recommend all to listen to it.

 
porthos11 said:
The treatment for the scrupulous, however, is the same. Do not answer their questions; send them to their confessor. Even if the scrupulosity is temporary. It is not to be tolerated or encouraged. Not by us, and especially, not by the scrupulous. One way we can help is by refusing to address their questions and by sticking to the advice that they must obey their confessor.
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I am left shaking my head at how many posters here continuosly answer the questions and feed into it - even though we’ve had our good clergy members here beg them not to. It does more harm than good. I just don’t understand the misguided need to try and “help”.
 
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Ron_Conte said:
I disagree that we should not answer their questions. Part of the problem of scruples is a lack of understanding of ethics. So we should help them learn moral theology, so they can clear up doubts about sin.
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No, absolutely not. You are not an authority here, and neither are any of us. Because of that, the scrupulous will not believe you, even if you are correct. Further, none of us here are qualified to help the scrupulous. The scrupulous do not need moral theology. They need a reliable confessor. Further, you are in fact incorrect about the scrupulous not understanding ethics. Most of the scrupulous DO have a very strong ethical and moral foundation. At an intellectual level, they possess the requisite knowledge. The problem is applying this knowledge to their conscience, and as one who suffers the tendencies, these are two very different things.

These forums do not clear up doubts about sin. They exacerbate them and make the scrupulous worse.

The best thing for us to do is shut up and send them to their confessors.
 
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