How can I help

[Beautyinsteadofashes]

How can I be helpful to a loved one experiencing a severe obsessive thought?
I understand about seeking assurance. And I know I can’t talk someone out of an obsessive thought. I just want to be as supportive as I possibly can.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[Jonaitis]

I know several people, including myself and my brother, who suffer from intrusive thoughts. What I have found very helpful (assuming they are Christian) is to tell them to rest in the assured fact that God does not change, he is faithful and good, full of compassion and grace, and would never allow those intrusive thoughts to overcome that person's standing with him. Jesus encountered many people troubled with various problems, and how did he respond? He responded with compassion. This is God incarnate, and he displayed incredible compassion on those who sought him. Why would God, even Jesus, cast away the one that he saved with his own precious blood? How could they fall out of that love, if there was nothing they did to earn it? If you cannot be saved by your good works, then you cannot fall out of his love and salvation by your works.

I am actually trying to write an article on my blog that addresses this issue in greater depth, because I am noticing an increase of people in this day and age who have it.

This may encourage you, if the person is an unbeliever: God saved my brother several years ago because of this anxiety. It broke him, it made him look to no one else for help. I am thankful to be the one who happen to be there to tell him again about the amazing grace of God in Christ Jesus. Ever since then, he still suffers it, but he tells me that he cannot imagine suffering it any longer if he were still an unbeliever. The hope he has in Jesus Christ keeps him, comforts him, and encourages him.

Let's say they don't want to believe, should we still help them? Of course. I typically tend to lead people to find Christ as a great refuge to turn to in it, but there are methods to help it anyways. That person should try to ignore it, because the more you fixate your mind on it the more it will annoy and disrupt your thinking. You have to allow them to pass, you cannot let them take your attention. This is hard to do, but this is one of the ways that people typically recommend. But if one tries this, it becomes less painful and easier to deal with.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

How can I be helpful to a loved one experiencing a severe obsessive thought?
I understand about seeking assurance. And I know I can’t talk someone out of an obsessive thought. I just want to be as supportive as I possibly can.

Find somehow, I don't know how (haven't looked in years), someone who remembers and knows someone who can test for pellagra (seems to be very much forgotten for decades). This might be helpful (just finding out).

 

[Mark Quayle]

How can I be helpful to a loved one experiencing a severe obsessive thought?
I understand about seeking assurance. And I know I can’t talk someone out of an obsessive thought. I just want to be as supportive as I possibly can.

What comes to my mind is how depressed people appreciate dogs, because the dog never asks what is wrong. He is just there, and thinks the world of you, demanding nothing. And somehow it is all easier to handle because he obviously cares about you.

 

[Bobber]

An oppressive thought? Well if they're not a Christian that opens the door for you to tell them to strongly consider this is spiritual in nature. Many people feel guilty wondering how they can have such a thought but the thought never originated with them to begin with.

It may have come from a wrong spirit. Ask them first to ask Jesus into their heart and life for they need the life of God to more importantly be born again and take authority over that spirit In Jesus Name and break it's power. If you don't feel you're a strong enough Christians to do this then take them to one you know is. (not a put down to you but some genuinely don't feel they have the spiritual strength and knowledge to do this)

If it is a Christian they likewise need to take authority over it by speaking to it and breaking it's power in Jesus name. Paul the Apostle states in 2 Cor 10:3,5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the fleshFor the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds,Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Cor 10:3,5

When it says we don't war after the flesh is means we don't use natural means and the world's way of doing things to overcome a spiritual problem The weapons of a Christians warfare are the blood of the lamb and the Name of Jesus and the word of our testimony what we declare and decree in Jesus Name. Above we see what we're to do with thoughts, wrong thoughts....cast them down in Jesus name and allow every thought we entertain to be ones which are in line with God. We then implant God's thoughts into us in an abundant measure which means feeding our spirits with what God says and the power which is in God's word will cut asunder the things of the flesh....or you could say sets aside wrong thoughts.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12

Thoughts may come and persist in staying but thoughts not acted upon or purposely meditated upon die unborn. If your friend is feeling guilty about a wrong thought you could tell them to you can't stop the birds from flying over your head but you can stop them from making nest in your hair. Having a thought is not a sin. Jesus had thoughts put upon him by the devil in Matt 4, but he resisted them and rejected them. You'll notice that Jesus spoke words and gave commands to the originator of wrong thoughts that came to him?

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matt 4: 8

 

[disciple Clint]

How can I be helpful to a loved one experiencing a severe obsessive thought?
I understand about seeking assurance. And I know I can’t talk someone out of an obsessive thought. I just want to be as supportive as I possibly can.

Well we somehow think that we should come up with something to say to make things better or to help solve a problem. I have found that often the most comfort is given by those who just sit with you or hug you or tell you that they love you or pray with you.

 

[whereloveandmercymeet]

The big thing is being there for them. A lot of the time when you’re going through a bad experience it feels like people abandon you.

If they are Christian you can pray with them, if not, pray for them in the background

 

[Mari17]

I have OCD, and here are some of the things I find helpful:

1. Patience. (Sometimes I have to talk through my thoughts many times. Not to say you can't gently remind someone that they've said it all before though.)
2. Giving me logical answers and a "normal" person's perspective when I need it. Goes without saying that you should not have to repeat this multiple times though, as it turns into reassurance. Sometimes my mother tells me, "This sounds like OCD" or "This is another angle on your obsessive fear," and then I know that I need to move on without more reassurance.
3. Humor!! The OCD cycle usually turns into a repetitive routine: fear, asking reassurance, getting reassurance. My OCD expects me to try to get reassurance, and when I get it, it feeds into the obsessive cycle. The natural human reaction is to want to soothe someone's fear, but I find that if someone says what my OCD does NOT expect, even though it's not what I want to hear, it's healthier for me than getting reassurance, and feels better deep down. If one can (kindly) incorporate a sense of humor, it works even better! For example, "Do you think my hands are dirty?" Response: "Yes, they must be filthy! Don't touch me!" (said humorously of course). This is also the kind of self-talk that the person with OCD has to learn to use on his/her self.

 

[dabro]

I’m the one she’s talking about. Yes I’m a Christian. In 08 after I quit my job I was dealing with POCD. A very nasty form of pure o. In the summer of 08 the theme switched to where I thought I was dead and at Gods Judgment. Just saying that shakes me up. I was doing fine from 2010 to 2017 until I had to move to TN and I was yanked off of klonopin.


Every time I read about Hell I think that what I’m suffering is my eternal punishment. That the pain I go thru validates the fact that I am dead.



I can’t read scripture any of it because it triggers me. I can’t even read John 3:16 because what my OCD mind says well why didn’t you read it when you where alive. Therefor if I’m at Gods Judgment I have no excuse.


It’s really troubling me folks. I’m starting to feel physical pain and my eye sight is getting worse so I think this is the Lord destroying my body.

 

[Mari17]

I’m the one she’s talking about. Yes I’m a Christian. In 08 after I quit my job I was dealing with POCD. A very nasty form of pure o. In the summer of 08 the theme switched to where I thought I was dead and at Gods Judgment. Just saying that shakes me up. I was doing fine from 2010 to 2017 until I had to move to TN and I was yanked off of klonopin.


Every time I read about Hell I think that what I’m suffering is my eternal punishment. That the pain I go thru validates the fact that I am dead.



I can’t read scripture any of it because it triggers me. I can’t even read John 3:16 because what my OCD mind says well why didn’t you read it when you where alive. Therefor if I’m at Gods Judgment I have no excuse.


It’s really troubling me folks. I’m starting to feel physical pain and my eye sight is getting worse so I think this is the Lord destroying my body.

Well, even if you did choose not to follow God in your past life, what is preventing you from choosing to follow Him now, even if you are going through His judgment?