Scrupulosity OCD and Faith: Making Values-Based Choices

Struggling with religious doubts? Learn how to distinguish between a faith crisis and scrupulosity OCD, and discover how to choose a life of vitality and values over the urgency of anxiety.

Though it had been an arduous journey for Sally (see previous blogposts), she recognized that ultimately, she could choose how to respond to her doubts—whether they were rooted in religious scrupulosity OCD, a faith crisis, or a combination of both.

The urge to obtain quick answers through social media to appease her anxiety had only led to endless uncertainty and deeper despair. This is a common trap in OCD, where the “need to know” becomes an insatiable compulsion.

Sally decided her faith mattered most to her. She chose to pivot away from the noise and search from legitimate, helpful sources. She decided to invest her energy, time, and effort into seeking to understand her faith more diligently. She re-engaged in treatment, learning to move forward despite the distracting voices within (the scrupulous OCD mind) and without (the opinions of others).

You, too, can choose the path you want to take when struggling with doubts. The human brain can literally change its physical makeup based on our actions—the information we feed it and the thoughts we choose to ruminate upon. When we repeat certain behaviors, whether helpful or unhelpful, our neurons wire together to reinforce those patterns. In the context of OCD, breaking the cycle of rumination is key to this neuroplasticity.

Information Seeking Options

• Prioritize Vitality: Focus your time and energy on what truly matters to you as you seek answers that bring vitality to your life, rather than just seeking temporary relief from OCD-induced anxiety.
• Trustworthy Sources: You can choose to seek answers directly from faith leaders and official church sources. When you do, remember to anchor yourself in what you know and believe, rather than letting OCD force you to focus on doubts that may not have immediate answers.
• Anchor on the Divine: When you doubt doctrine but still have faith in God, you can choose to anchor on God. Ask Him for the strength to bear the “present affliction” of your mental and spiritual journey.
• Document the Journey: Consider writing about your experience. Months later, reading your journal may reveal that God was with you all along. OCD often blinds us to the present moment; looking back can help you see how His love sustained you.
• Action Over Feeling: When you don’t “feel” the Spirit of God, you can still choose to do what matters. You don’t need the “right” feeling to act on your values. Just as a parent cares for a sick child in the night without feeling “joyful,” your actions show your commitment. Scrupulosity OCD often makes us obsess over our feelings, but your values are found in your actions.
• Acknowledge the Unknown: Remember that not “knowing” or “understanding” something doesn’t mean it isn’t real (much like the complexities of quantum physics).
• Exercise Your Agency: At the end of the day, you have agency. If you believe you must leave your faith, ensure it is a value-based decision and not one driven purely by the urgency of OCD or intense emotional distress.
• Define Faith: Remember that faith, by definition, implies a lack of total certainty. It is impossible to have all the answers right now.
• Presence Over Adversity: A sign that you are following your true values—rather than the dictates of OCD—is that you feel able to stay focused in the “here and now,” remaining open to life despite adversity.
• Value-Driven Joy: When your behavior brings passion and energy, it is likely serving your values—even if anxiety and doubt are still present.

Discerning the Voice of OCD

When you feel a sense of rigidity and an urgent “need” to perform a behavior because you feel like you are in survival mode, that behavior is likely serving OCD or another mental health condition.

If you feel stuck in that urgency, ponder these questions:

• Are the activities I engage in every day related to what matters most?
• Are those activities providing vitality and purpose every day?
• Are my values and those activities keeping me motivated during difficult times?

Then, if after diligent and faithful search, you choose to leave your faith, be mindful of living your values (e.g., being a loving person, learning, exploring, connecting with people). Your values are the compass in your life. They are your guide; without them, anyone—with or without OCD—can feel lost.

Enjoy a life full of meaning and vitality.

Take a Moment to Reflect

If you are currently struggling with the “urgency” of scrupulosity OCD, take one deep breath.

Ask yourself: “What is one small thing I can do today that aligns with my values, even if I don’t feel the ‘right’ way yet?”

Will you commit to that one action today?

Let’s choose vitality over rigidity together.

By Annabella Hagen, LCSW

Pexels: Photo by Dulce Panebra