I struggle with intrusive thoughts. Do I have OCD?

[carpediem41]

Hi all,

I am a born again christian and have been for many years (altough I had a few years when I stopped reading the Bible, going to church etc).

About 15 years ago I went through a difficult time in my life and struggled with religious intrusive thoughts and anxiety and all because I had a panic attack in a chuch and became scared of the supernatural, demons etc. I had people pray for me for deliverance in case I needed it. I struggled with these thoughts for a few months and then they went away.

When the lockdown started here last year, these thoughts have returned (maybe because I was on furlough and didn’t have anything to do to occupy my mind).

They are typical thoughts about blasphemy, scared I might go to hell, etc. I googled to see if other people experience these thoughts and felt a bit better when I discovered that other christians struggle with these.

There is one thought that causes a lot of distress and I think that it started when I watched a film years ago about demons sleeping with people and that has caused a fear that the evil one will try and sleep with me. Has anyone had this fear? Is it even possible for demons to have sex with people? The thought of it terrifies me. It’s an irrational fear, I know and I have to remind myself that I am a child of God and that he will protect me

It terrifies me and I of course googled to see if others have had this thought but never found someone that has which makes me more anxious. So if anyone had this intrusive thought please let me know (you might say I seek reassurance, whoch may be true).

These thoughts go away and then they come back.
I try of course to pray about it and use distractions methods and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
I guess these thoughts will go away once I return to work.

I didn’t think the anxiety and these thoughts will return after such a long time.
Do you think I have OCD? If I do, then why it only shows every few years or so?

Even writing these words is making me feel better.
Thank you so much!

 

[SkyWriting]

I recently experienced "night terrors" evidently similar to a
childhood problem I had, which I grew out of.
It's a chemical imbalance that is not well understood or easily treated.
It feels very much like outside forces trying to attack.

 

[carpediem41]

Sorry to hear about your night terrors...

Do you think I might suffer from the same chemical imbalance? Can you explain more please what you mean by this imbalance?

 

[Macchiato]

I recently experienced "night terrors" evidently similar to a
childhood problem I had, which I grew out of.
It's a chemical imbalance that is not well understood or easily treated.
It feels very much like outside forces trying to attack.

Hmmm. I didnt know it was a chemical imbalance. I wonder what causes it bc i didnt always have this.

 

[SkyWriting]

Hmmm. I didnt know it was a chemical imbalance. I wonder what causes it bc i didnt always have this.

It is mental and environmental and inherited. So experimenting is the only solution to find what works for you.

 

[SkyWriting]

Hmmm. I didnt know it was a chemical imbalance. I wonder what causes it bc i didnt always have this.

I had it as a child and (much older) had a couple of episodes
in my elder years. It could be hormone surges, it could be
fluctuating sugar levels, or other things.

Your brain is subject to any surge or deficiency of any kind
and it's a miracle that we can think clearly at all.

One easy solution is exercise. It helps stabilize a number of factors.
Next time just try "Walking it off" Often our blood sugar levels rise
and without moving the sugar has where to go. Try bicycle riding
and see if that fixes it.

 

[Ceallaigh]

Back in 2008 I suddenly flipped out and thought I was going to hell. I was eventually put on Celexa because they diagnosed me with a brain chemistry imbalance. Eventually I got over it.

 

[carpediem41]

Back in 2008 I suddenly flipped out and thought I was going to hell. I was eventually put on Celexa because they diagnosed me with a brain chemistry imbalance. Eventually I got over it.

wow! How did you get diagnosed?

I assume they did a brain scan?

 

[Mari17]

These resources might be helpful for those of you who are curious about possible causes of OCD:
Natural Causes – OCD & CHRISTIANITY
International OCD Foundation | What Causes OCD?
Understanding the Science of OCD | Made of Millions Foundation
And a good explanation of how OCD works in our brains:
Overcome OCD: Recovery tips for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder