Jealousy and OCD

[TowMater]

I've just been recently "diagnosed" with OCD (aka: realizing that I had it). Since finding out I have it, I've been doing well and haven't had too many bad days.

One thing I've always struggled with was severe jealousy, and I'm wondering if that can be included in the span of OCD, and if so, if anyone else suffers with this? My jealousy has always been to a ridiculous level and I could never shake off the jealous thoughts easily. Today has been one of the rougher days that I've had in awhile. I seem to harp on jealous thoughts and can't get rid of them.

 

[followJesus1811]

how are you fighting these thoughts? it is hard to fight thoughts and we all know it.
are you speaking truth to yourself?
are you satisfied in being in Christ Jesus and redeemed and loved?
it is so easy to forget the gospel (i do it all the time)
but we really need to keep that in focus!
Christ has paid the penalty! We are free! We are reconciled and we have eternal life. no more condemnation!

 

[redblue22]

what is the jealousy like? is ti the kind where you feel threaten in a relationship or is it the kind where you want something someone else has? I have bumped into readings abiout mental illness and jealousy. I don't remember what the connection is to ocd.

 

[TowMater]

how are you fighting these thoughts? it is hard to fight thoughts and we all know it.
are you speaking truth to yourself?
are you satisfied in being in Christ Jesus and redeemed and loved?
it is so easy to forget the gospel (i do it all the time)
but we really need to keep that in focus!
Christ has paid the penalty! We are free! We are reconciled and we have eternal life. no more condemnation!

I've been praying to God that He would help me to fight them off. I've talked to my husband, since my recent jealousy episode involved him (nothing about our relationship, he's just going to be a groomsman in one of our friend's wedding). He's suggesting I make a list of verses from Scripture and categorize them by how they can apply to different things I struggle with. Then, I will be memorizing them. Part of my OCD is struggling with the idea that I am truly forgiven and loved.

Thank you for your post and speaking truth to help me with my battles.

 

[TowMater]

what is the jealousy like? is ti the kind where you feel threaten in a relationship or is it the kind where you want something someone else has? I have bumped into readings abiout mental illness and jealousy. I don't remember what the connection is to ocd.

It's not really feeling threatened in a relationship, but more wanting what others have. It happens quite frequently (about every month or so), and I'm so petrified that I'm going to drive my husband crazy (he is so supportive and understanding, though, so I don't think it would), because I'm getting jealous in circumstances where I should be happy for him. Then I feel guilty that I am not happy for him and feel like he deserves a better wife than me. I feel worthless. Then add a trigger that makes me feel jealous and angry again and repeat cycle. It literally makes me feel sick.

 

[BeccaLynn]

I too have had and do have struggles with jealousy and a tremendous amount of anger toward certain people. I'm not really bothered much thinking jealous thoughts about my relationship with my husband as far as other women go, or don't think I'm really jealous as far as what most people would define jealousy. However, I've severely battled jealous thoughts about what I've viewed as my husband's overly emotional dependence upon his parents. Also, my son's relationship with them as well. There have definitely been reasons for me to feel jealous and angry (we lived right beside of them for years and my husband is an only child and my son the only grandchild), but I think the ocd has led me to take it to an extreme level where I would think about it excessively. I would fixate on the reasons I was feeling jealous and wronged and would get angrier and angrier. In fact, often my husband would come home and I was already so mad at him and he had no idea why. It really consumed me for years. I do think that ocd plays a big role in not feeling as if we can genuinely release jealousy. As fallen humans, it's normal to have feelings of jealousy, etc., but as people who deal with ocd, anything we struggle with and know isn't pleasing to God can be latched onto and obsessed on pretty easily I think.