Discernment Between OCD Thoughts and Real Thoughts?

[Roseheart]

How do you tell the difference? I am having thoughts about something I've chosen to do for the future, that it's wrong, and I say to myself "It's OCD, it's the devil", and I pray to God asking Him to make sure I really know it's not Him giving me these thoughts and I ask Him to make me be SURE that it's Him if it is... but then I still think "What if it's Holy Spirit's conviction?" and then I tell myself it's not, it's the devil, but then I wonder whether that's my sin nature trying to do away with convictions. Does anybody have any advice for me how to know which is which?

 

[gracealone]

Hi Roseheart,
I think most of us with OCD second guess our decisions. We are hyperscrupulous about "doing the right thing" to the point where we can overthink such a thing to the point that our OCD starts to put some pretty strange notions in our head about it. The root fear lies in our doing something to displease God and if we do that we fear the consequences. Anyhow, my counsel to you is that unless you can find a specific scripture that states specifically... you should not ___________________, (fill in the blank with your plan for the future), then you should continue on in your plan. You need only acknowledge God and ask Him to direct and guide you as you proceed in implementing your plan. Just ask Him to open and close doors according to His good purposes. Then move on. All the "thoughts" are just your OCD pushing you to ruminate or check about something because OCD needs something to chew on. Ignore the thoughts or you'll be giving them validity.
My two cents for what it's worth.
God bless,
Mitzi

How do you tell the difference? I am having thoughts about something I've chosen to do for the future, that it's wrong, and I say to myself "It's OCD, it's the devil", and I pray to God asking Him to make sure I really know it's not Him giving me these thoughts and I ask Him to make me be SURE that it's Him if it is... but then I still think "What if it's Holy Spirit's conviction?" and then I tell myself it's not, it's the devil, but then I wonder whether that's my sin nature trying to do away with convictions. Does anybody have any advice for me how to know which is which?

 

[Roseheart]

Hm, thank you, gracealone. I always get a bit suspicious when a doubt suddenly comes up out of nowhere when I've never had one before (I've had this plan for a long time and only last night I suddenly had doubts). I also sometimes make a decision that it's okay, but then doubts come crawling back again. Do you have any tips on how to replace unwanted thoughts with good ones? Sometimes I get one, and I'll change focus to what I learnt from my Bible reading recently, but the thought sort of hovers in the background, if you know what I mean?
Anyway, thanks - your post was helpful, and I hope it will guide me more in the future.

 

[gracealone]

Hi Roseheart,
It's normal in OCD for the thoughts to try and shove in when we've turned away from them. It's really OK for them to hover in the background as you put it and for you to even make room for them to be there. What I mean is allow them to be there but don't attend to them. What has helped me is to treat them like so much annoying static on the radio. In regard to reducing the unwanted thoughts the best tactic is to completely ignore them. Therefore if you engage in "thought replacing" by thinking a thought that is the opposite of the OCD thought you are in effect attending to them and making them seem worthy of attention. This will make them stick around longer cause your brain then highlights them as being important because you responded to them by taking action against them. Three little words help me to manage my OCD doubts/questions... "let it be".
I am not suggesting that you don't read your Bible or meditate on "whatsoever is good, or lovely or of good report any virtue or praise", what I'm suggesting is that you don't do battle with the thoughts. You don't strike back at them or they won't leave you alone. OCD thoughts get fatter when we feed them by attending to them.
Hope that helps a bit. Basically we have to do the exact opposite of what our anxious feelings are compelling us to do. Not so easy when your gut is in a knot... but with practice that feeling will subside.
Mitzi

Hm, thank you, gracealone. I always get a bit suspicious when a doubt suddenly comes up out of nowhere when I've never had one before (I've had this plan for a long time and only last night I suddenly had doubts). I also sometimes make a decision that it's okay, but then doubts come crawling back again. Do you have any tips on how to replace unwanted thoughts with good ones? Sometimes I get one, and I'll change focus to what I learnt from my Bible reading recently, but the thought sort of hovers in the background, if you know what I mean?
Anyway, thanks - your post was helpful, and I hope it will guide me more in the future.

 

[Roseheart]

Thank you - you've really helped me.
I'd write more, but that's the whole truth.
God bless!