how can I tell

[runningman]

How can I tell if what I am going through is OCD,or unbelief?It's like thoughts come through my mind trying to tell me Jesus wasn't real,or the Bible is not true.Also it's almost like there's a block on my mind that I always try to picture God in the sky and I can't anymore...I've been depressed over this stuff for about 6 months.It concerns me so much that I think about it ALL the time and I can almost FEEL my brain thinking...it's almost painful at times.I still try to pray but it's so hard and I feel sometimes like it's not "working".Is this OCD,or unbelief?Sometimes I feel like I'm hopeless,I've lost a girlfriend over this because she didn't understand what was going on with me.My life has been miserable for about 6 months now.I want to believe this is OCD,but I dont' want to be lying to myself.Any help is appreciated.

 

[frank1234]

You can Imagine your self as some body else, and then ask this person: Do you believe that Jesus is real and The Bible is true, and then listen to the "honest" response from this person; Whatever the answer is, that is what you believe. If you have any doubts about whether Jesus is real or If The Bible is real, then deal with that doubt approprietly; If the answer is not doubt, but your mind keeps focusing on it, then It might be OCD. Also there is another very strong possibility; According to the Romans chapter 7, we all have our flesh side(which has It's own thoughts, desires, etc...) and this flesh constantly thinks about whatever is of our fallen nature, So having these doubtful thoughts about whether Jesus is real or If the Bible is true could be just from the thoughts from your flesh, and you are just a little too sensetive and aware of listening to them. The good news is that as christians, out new nature always can overcome these thoughts. Which means, no matter what your flesh says, you don't have to respond to it, because you have been given power not to be under It's control(according to Romas chapter 8). So, all you got to do, is not to focus on these kind of thoughts,(maybe medications is needed), or maybe just learning not to pay attention(give much credit) to these kind of thoughts is what is required. At any rate, pray for The Lord to show which one of these is the cause and to help you deal with it. GOD bless you.

 

[Heavenheart81]

After dealing with it so long it becomes easier to discern but i have this problem i am constantly doubting myself, my faith and even my true sincerity of my love for God. I right down on a piece of notebook paper all these questions..

Do you love God?
Do you really believe Jesus is God?
Did He really Die for youre sins
Will you go to heaven when you die?
So on and so on.

take a few deep breathes and i just answer them, sometimes i might make it feel like im before God and im really answering it to Him (like a roleplay, its weird i know lol)

It helps..me at least.

Also we can doubt everything at times, i find it if im obsessing over it i write it off as OCD and thats it..

-Heavenheart81

 

[runningman]

I'm still uncertain which it is that is causing me to feel this way...it's such a terrible feeling.

 

[kaykay637]

I'm still uncertain which it is that is causing me to feel this way...it's such a terrible feeling.

If you are a Christian who struggles with OCD, I think it's fairly common that you will also struggle with intellectual doubts. OCD is often referred to as "the doubting disease." Just sounds like one manifestation of classic OCD to me. The more you can ignore thoughts that deal with doubt and not argue them out, so to speak, often the better off you will be in your walk with Christ. That's been my experience anyway, because if you truly have OCD, often if you are able to "resolve" one doubt, another crops up to replace it. That's why it is best IMO to use 2 Corinthians 10:5 exhorts us "Casting down imaginations, and very high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,..." KJV

 

[kaykay637]

I'm still uncertain which it is that is causing me to feel this way...it's such a terrible feeling.

If you are a Christian who struggles with OCD, I think it's fairly common that you will also struggle with intellectual doubts. OCD is often referred to as "the doubting disease." Just sounds like one manifestation of classic OCD to me. The more you can ignore thoughts that deal with doubt and not argue them out, so to speak, often the better off you will be in your walk with Christ. That's been my experience anyway, because if you truly have OCD, often if you are able to "resolve" one doubt, another crops up to replace it. That's why it is best IMO to use 2 Corinthians 10:5 exhorts us "Casting down imaginations, and very high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,..." KJV

 

[kaykay637]

I'm still uncertain which it is that is causing me to feel this way...it's such a terrible feeling.

Let me also add this-
It you don't have OCD, and you are just dealing with some intellectual doubts, you can get a good book which deals with Christian apologetics. The obsessive nature of what you have described, however, strikes me as OCD, classic.

 

[runningman]

thanx for the replies,hopefully I'll get through these thoughts one day,they've been goin on too long and have destroyed my life.It's like any time I think of spiritual things,the opposite of what I want to think comes into my head

 

[gracealone]

How can I tell if what I am going through is OCD,or unbelief?It's like thoughts come through my mind trying to tell me Jesus wasn't real,or the Bible is not true.Also it's almost like there's a block on my mind that I always try to picture God in the sky and I can't anymore...I've been depressed over this stuff for about 6 months.It concerns me so much that I think about it ALL the time and I can almost FEEL my brain thinking...it's almost painful at times.I still try to pray but it's so hard and I feel sometimes like it's not "working".Is this OCD,or unbelief?Sometimes I feel like I'm hopeless,I've lost a girlfriend over this because she didn't understand what was going on with me.My life has been miserable for about 6 months now.I want to believe this is OCD,but I dont' want to be lying to myself.Any help is appreciated.

HI Runningman,
I think that you are on the right track in thinking this is most probably OCD. The very best thing to do is to see a Dr. and open up about the thoughts, the distress they cause you the impact they have had on your day to day life etc. This can help to confirm your suspicions as well as get you started on working toward recovery.
Some questions to ask yourself are:
1. Are the thoughts unwanted and intrusive? Do they shove they're way in even though you don't want them there?
2. When you try to fight against them, solve them or seek reassurance about them do they intensify in their frequency as well as in the emotional distress they cause you? Do they get more stuck in your head?
3. Are they in your head day and night often being the very first thing your mind goes to in the a.m?
4. Are they accompanied by intense feelings of anxiety and or guilt?
5. Do they define your true/rational beliefs about God? or...
6. Are they the exact opposite to what your rational self, (not your emotional self), believes about God?
If the answers to 1-4 are yes, 5. No and 6. yes, then there is a very strong possibility that you have a form of OCD called religious OCD of the pure "O" variety.

I am not a Dr. so you shouldn't depend on me or any one else on the forum to diagnose you but you should get to a Dr. as soon as possible to get a diagnosis.
Praying for you.
Mitzi

 

[runningman]

thanks Mitzi.My answers did indeed match up to what you said.My number one desire is to love God,but like you said,when I wake up everyday this sadness comes over me and its like an everyday struggle which consumes most if not all of my day.