Hey gang!
I have been meaning to write a post here. I was recently diagnosed with OCD and have had suspicions for a long time (been dealing with trichotillomania since I was in grade school) but my symptoms exacerbated when I came to Christ. Now, I feel like I have to “get rid” of everything I love to follow the Lord (e.g., stopped playing video games entirely which was a huge hobby of mine, donated all of my clothes because they weren’t “Jesus merch”, now I’ve convinced myself that I can’t listen to music anymore [even Christian artists] because I must prove to God that I mean it when I say I will follow Him to the ends of the Earth).
Now, some of these things are normal convictions. With OCD, I tend to struggle with obsessions and idols are easy for me to create with very normal things. So, sometimes I feel that this is conviction from God. But other times I feel I am creating rules for myself that do not help me in my walk with God but rather create resentment because I’ve had to “get rid” of everything I own and enjoy. Lol.
So, I am curious if anyone has tips on how to discern what God wants me to give up vs. what I can enjoy in moderation. I don’t want to become a monk for the faith and I also don’t want to push myself to the point where I resent being a Christian because I’ve created so many unnecessary rules for myself to follow.
Has anyone else experienced this? How can I know what is conviction and what is OCD?
I have been meaning to write a post here. I was recently diagnosed with OCD and have had suspicions for a long time (been dealing with trichotillomania since I was in grade school) but my symptoms exacerbated when I came to Christ. Now, I feel like I have to “get rid” of everything I love to follow the Lord (e.g., stopped playing video games entirely which was a huge hobby of mine, donated all of my clothes because they weren’t “Jesus merch”, now I’ve convinced myself that I can’t listen to music anymore [even Christian artists] because I must prove to God that I mean it when I say I will follow Him to the ends of the Earth).
Now, some of these things are normal convictions. With OCD, I tend to struggle with obsessions and idols are easy for me to create with very normal things. So, sometimes I feel that this is conviction from God. But other times I feel I am creating rules for myself that do not help me in my walk with God but rather create resentment because I’ve had to “get rid” of everything I own and enjoy. Lol.
So, I am curious if anyone has tips on how to discern what God wants me to give up vs. what I can enjoy in moderation. I don’t want to become a monk for the faith and I also don’t want to push myself to the point where I resent being a Christian because I’ve created so many unnecessary rules for myself to follow.
Has anyone else experienced this? How can I know what is conviction and what is OCD?
