When OCD Is Loud, Trust Your Higher Power – Article Spotlight
July 13, 2026
This article was originally published on the International OCD Foundation Blog. You can read the full, original post here.
Here are two main points about this article:
The Trap of “Solving” Thoughts
From the Article: “The difference is not the content of the thoughts. The difference is how often they come, how intense they feel, and how much distress they cause… someone with OCD feels a strong need to solve the doubt. Without realizing it, these efforts make the thoughts louder and more frequent.”
Many of my clients at Mindset Family Therapy come in doubting their faith, blaming themselves, and assuming their intrusive thoughts mean they lack faith.
OCD leads them to misunderstand their thoughts and feelings. OCD targets what you care about most (your faith). You might feel hopeless when you believe those thoughts. I’d like to invite you to try the following practice to help you decrease getting stuck ruminating trying to “solve” your thoughts.
Track Your “Solving” Habits:
Notice when an anxious, faith-based doubt pops up. Instead of immediately praying for reassurance or arguing with the thought, pause. Acknowledge the thought, “My mind is trying to solve an unsolvable doubt right now.” or “I’m noticing the urge to solve that thought.” Then gently shift your focus to the present moment to what you are doing and use your senses to stay present.
Shifting from Certainty to Trust
From the Article: “OCD is a health condition that seeks certainty where faith invites trust… You can act in faith and trust your Higher Power, even when the OCD voice is loud.”
True faith requires trust. Acting in what you believe despite the unwanted and unpleasant thoughts and feelings. And trusting your Higher Power. On the other hand, OCD demands 100% certainty. Remember, that’s a trap.
Healing happens when we allow the “loud” thoughts to exist in the background while we choose to move toward our values anyway. Try the following practice daily.
The 5-Minute Delay:
The next time you feel a powerful urge to perform a spiritual compulsion (like over-praying or over-analyzing a “bad” thought), wait 5 minutes before acting on it. Use those 5 minutes to do something that aligns with your values, even while feeling anxious.
Next Steps for You:
- Download the IOCDF new resource specifically for people of faith: “OCD is Not What You Think It Is” Brochure and check out the Faith & OCD Resource Page.
- Get Support: If you are struggling with scrupulosity OCD or any other themes of OCD which are affecting your faith, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Reach out to us at Mindset Family Therapy to learn how Values-based exposures (ACT-informed ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) can help you reclaim your faith from OCD.
Written by Annabella Hagen, LCSW
See the original IOCDF blogpost here
