Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

[BNDx]

I'm a new Christian. I was raised Christian and I've always believed in God, but I've just started to accept Jesus and really try. I'm finding it easier to turn away from sin and my views and opinions are changing.

I want to live a life where I put God first and I'm trying.

I had a pretty bad childhood. I won't go into specifics. Around the time I was 14, things got pretty dark for me. I am now 19. Since then, I've struggled with depression, anxiety, and OCD.

I've seen a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with all three, as well as social anxiety disorder. I've been on medication since then. It helps some, but I'm always so worried. I can't be around people because I always feel as though I'm being judged, I feel like people are making fun of me in their minds. I'm always so worried about what people think. That's the social anxiety disorder. Because of this, I've dropped out of college and I feel like a complete failure. I can't even go to the store without feeling so out of place. The OCD is the absolute worst. I'm always doubting my salvation. I never feel close to God. I overanalyze everything. I feel like if I was really saved, I would not be worried. Is this a mental illness or Satan controlling me? Does God want me to take the medication? I pray about it. I've prayed for years. I've been trying to read and study the Bible to find the answers I desperately need. I obsess over the end of the world. What if it ends tomorrow and I go to Hell? I live my life in crippling fear 100% of the time. It's awful. I just wish I could find peace.

I'm not really seeking advice, although it's welcome. I just wanted to vent some. Does anyone else ever deal with this?

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

I'm a new Christian. I was raised Christian and I've always believed in God, but I've just started to accept Jesus and really try. I'm finding it easier to turn away from sin and my views and opinions are changing.

I want to live a life where I put God first and I'm trying.

I had a pretty bad childhood. I won't go into specifics. Around the time I was 14, things got pretty dark for me. I am now 19. Since then, I've struggled with depression, anxiety, and OCD.

I've seen a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with all three, as well as social anxiety disorder. I've been on medication since then. It helps some, but I'm always so worried. I can't be around people because I always feel as though I'm being judged, I feel like people are making fun of me in their minds. I'm always so worried about what people think. That's the social anxiety disorder. Because of this, I've dropped out of college and I feel like a complete failure. I can't even go to the store without feeling so out of place. The OCD is the absolute worst. I'm always doubting my salvation. I never feel close to God. I overanalyze everything. I feel like if I was really saved, I would not be worried. Is this a mental illness or Satan controlling me? Does God want me to take the medication? I pray about it. I've prayed for years. I've been trying to read and study the Bible to find the answers I desperately need. I obsess over the end of the world. What if it ends tomorrow and I go to Hell? I live my life in crippling fear 100% of the time. It's awful. I just wish I could find peace.

I'm not really seeking advice, although it's welcome. I just wanted to vent some. Does anyone else ever deal with this?

i'd say every Christian does.

at the core of being reborn in Christ is believing what God has said more than any and all other reports. the devil through the lost and confused folks in the world is constantly barraging us all with reports that go against God's word. in order to maintain your belief that you have been reborn in Christ, you must strive to do two things in your thinking:

-shut down as much of the devil's reports as possible, and
-focus on God's promises to you instead.

(2 Corinthians 10:3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(2 Corinthians 10:4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;
(2 Corinthians 10:5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
(2 Corinthians 10:6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

(Romans 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(Romans 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

like everyone, you've been trained to think like the world thinks - based on what you perceive through your 5 senses, and by what you reason in your mind. but if you diligently focus on God's word and seek His wisdom, through fellowship with Him, about what it He is saying in His word, you will gradually renew your thinking process to match His - this is a lifelong process - we never arrive at perfection in this, but we can always leave where we are. as you renew your mind with God's revealed word, you will be more able to tap into His power to change the negative things in your life to match the positive things He has promised you in His word.


God says that you are a new creature in Christ, and old things have passed away (2Cor 5:17); but when you look at your life, nothing seems to have changed at all - who's report will you focus on?

God says that by the stripes of Jess you were healed (1Pet 2:24); but your body and your doctors say your condition hasn't changed - who's report will you focus on?

now i'm NOT saying that you should throw your medicine away and stop going to doctors - i'm saying that you should shift your focus to what God has said to you in His word, and seek His wisdom through fellowship with Him while you continue to take your medicine and go to the doctors. Eventually, God will lead you out of this and into good health if you don't quit trying to focus on and understand His word through fellowship with Him; and you'll know when the time is right - until then, keep gong to the doctors and taking the medicine!

(Isaiah 26:3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

[Pal Handy]

I'm a new Christian. I was raised Christian and I've always believed in God, but I've just started to accept Jesus and really try. I'm finding it easier to turn away from sin and my views and opinions are changing.

I want to live a life where I put God first and I'm trying.

I had a pretty bad childhood. I won't go into specifics. Around the time I was 14, things got pretty dark for me. I am now 19. Since then, I've struggled with depression, anxiety, and OCD.

I've seen a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with all three, as well as social anxiety disorder. I've been on medication since then. It helps some, but I'm always so worried. I can't be around people because I always feel as though I'm being judged, I feel like people are making fun of me in their minds. I'm always so worried about what people think. That's the social anxiety disorder. Because of this, I've dropped out of college and I feel like a complete failure. I can't even go to the store without feeling so out of place. The OCD is the absolute worst. I'm always doubting my salvation. I never feel close to God. I overanalyze everything. I feel like if I was really saved, I would not be worried. Is this a mental illness or Satan controlling me? Does God want me to take the medication? I pray about it. I've prayed for years. I've been trying to read and study the Bible to find the answers I desperately need. I obsess over the end of the world. What if it ends tomorrow and I go to Hell? I live my life in crippling fear 100% of the time. It's awful. I just wish I could find peace.

I'm not really seeking advice, although it's welcome. I just wanted to vent some. Does anyone else ever deal with this?

Jesus is the healer so daily go to Him and ask Him to bless you and
heal you and make you a person that can be free from those things that
keep you from serving others and the Lord.

Whenever you have obsessive thoughts, invite Christ to come in
and give you His thoughts and to take away any thoughts that are
not of Him or that are abnormal or destructive.

All things are possible with God.

As you continue to surrender your problems to the Lord, He can bless you and cause you to improve.

This next bit of information is critical to your ability to receive God's healing in your life...
Before your pray, take time to forgive ALL those who have harmed you and abused
you so that God can release you from your harmful and destructive past.

The prayer you pray would be something like this...

Father in Jesus name I come to You and I repent from my sins and
I repent from holding others in their sins because as You have forgiven me,
You ask me to forgive all others who sin against me so that You can forgive Me.
Father I forgive all those in my past who have sinned against me.

Father forgive me now as I forgive all others who have sinned against me.

I release them all and let them go as I no longer insist on their punishment but
instead I ask You to bless them and to bring them to Yourself and save their souls
from eternal separation from You.

Bring them Father into the truth of Your Son Jesus Christ and save their souls.
In Jesus name I pray

As long as we hold on to our past hurts and refuse to forgive those who
have harmed us, we are in a prison of our own making that will cause
all kinds of harm and mental anguish to continue into our lives as the devil
will constantly use your past to cripple and imprison you in a past
you cannot change and carry hate in your heart toward others.

Your healing will be directly tied to your willingness to forgive others who have used and abused you.

Forgive others as God in Christ has forgiven you.

As you forgive others you destroy the work of the devil to hold
you in the prison of your past as you bless those who need God in their lives
and loose the hand of God in your own life for healing and blessing as well as those who
need God's help to escape the lies of the devil that incites them to act in an evil manner.

A couple of good books for you to read is Beauty for Ashes by Joyce Meyers
and Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyers...

Hope this helps.

 

[HEsTiLLALiVe]

Don't trust your feelings, trust HIM. Feelings change, HE doesn't (Heb. 13:8). I'm sure you'll be fine ,as long as you trust HIM, even when you don't see or feel HIM working. HE's always doing good for all, but especially those that are HIS. Be blessed and Shalom.

 

[Ryukil]

I am also 19 and have diagnosed OCD, SAD, and GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). Social anxiety disorder really sucks in that it has been keeping me from getting a girlfriend. I'm lonely. OCD sucks too, but only when I have a flare up.
Let me tell you this about OCD. Do not think too hard about it! Don't think too hard about verses and salvation and all as relating to OCD. Treat OCD as a mental illness, because that's what it is! I personally believe that God understands that OCD is a mental illness. So if you were to have some sort of inappropriate thought and be like, "Oh crap, I'm sinning!" it wouldn't technically be a sin because God understands it is being perpetuated by your OCD (which is beyond your control). To people without OCD reading this, you have to have OCD to understand what I'm saying. Haha.
But the thing is, don't think too hard about it, okay? That's the whole problem with OCD in the first place. Message me if you want.

 

[seeingeyes]

I'm a new Christian. I was raised Christian and I've always believed in God, but I've just started to accept Jesus and really try. I'm finding it easier to turn away from sin and my views and opinions are changing.

I want to live a life where I put God first and I'm trying.

I had a pretty bad childhood. I won't go into specifics. Around the time I was 14, things got pretty dark for me. I am now 19. Since then, I've struggled with depression, anxiety, and OCD.

I've seen a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with all three, as well as social anxiety disorder. I've been on medication since then. It helps some, but I'm always so worried. I can't be around people because I always feel as though I'm being judged, I feel like people are making fun of me in their minds. I'm always so worried about what people think. That's the social anxiety disorder. Because of this, I've dropped out of college and I feel like a complete failure. I can't even go to the store without feeling so out of place. The OCD is the absolute worst. I'm always doubting my salvation. I never feel close to God. I overanalyze everything. I feel like if I was really saved, I would not be worried. Is this a mental illness or Satan controlling me? Does God want me to take the medication? I pray about it. I've prayed for years. I've been trying to read and study the Bible to find the answers I desperately need. I obsess over the end of the world. What if it ends tomorrow and I go to Hell? I live my life in crippling fear 100% of the time. It's awful. I just wish I could find peace.

I'm not really seeking advice, although it's welcome. I just wanted to vent some. Does anyone else ever deal with this?

You are not saved by your brain, sister, you are saved by Christ.

And Jesus said:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6)

Of course, that's easier said than done. Stepping out in faith takes practice. The truth is that it doesn't matter if people are judging you...you are a child of the living God. But actually absorbing this new truth and living it out is quite a big change from what we have always 'known'.

When you feel afraid, tell your Father. Ask him to take care of you even if your 'thoughts' aren't right. And He will. Because, remember, it is Christ who brings us to the Father, not our own brains.

There is a board here for folks with OCD: christianforums.com/f598/
They might be able to offer more specific strategies for living with compulsive thoughts.

You should keep working with your doctor, and keep taking your medication.

When Timothy wasn't feeling well, Paul told him, "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses." (1 Timothy 5)

And when the woman who was 'subject to bleeding' touched Jesus' cloak and was healed, Jesus didn't tell her 'you shouldn't have gone to all those doctors for the last 12 years'. No, he said, "Your faith has healed you, go in peace." (Mark 5:25-34)

God bless you and keep you, sister.

 

[George Peppard]

I can relate to the first post. Though not because of some shrink's diagnosis, but because it matches my experience. I often feel doubtful and never good enough. The church/religion do a wonderful job of beating down any sense of pride, self esteem or accomplishment you may have, at least in my experience. I will say one thing though, as long as you see yourself as obsessive compulsive, you will never find freedom. We become what we think about and what we see ourselves as.

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

I'm a new Christian. I was raised Christian and I've always believed in God, but I've just started to accept Jesus and really try. I'm finding it easier to turn away from sin and my views and opinions are changing.

I want to live a life where I put God first and I'm trying.

I had a pretty bad childhood. I won't go into specifics. Around the time I was 14, things got pretty dark for me. I am now 19. Since then, I've struggled with depression, anxiety, and OCD.

I've seen a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with all three, as well as social anxiety disorder. I've been on medication since then. It helps some, but I'm always so worried. I can't be around people because I always feel as though I'm being judged, I feel like people are making fun of me in their minds. I'm always so worried about what people think. That's the social anxiety disorder. Because of this, I've dropped out of college and I feel like a complete failure. I can't even go to the store without feeling so out of place. The OCD is the absolute worst. I'm always doubting my salvation. I never feel close to God. I overanalyze everything. I feel like if I was really saved, I would not be worried. Is this a mental illness or Satan controlling me? Does God want me to take the medication? I pray about it. I've prayed for years. I've been trying to read and study the Bible to find the answers I desperately need. I obsess over the end of the world. What if it ends tomorrow and I go to Hell? I live my life in crippling fear 100% of the time. It's awful. I just wish I could find peace.

I'm not really seeking advice, although it's welcome. I just wanted to vent some. Does anyone else ever deal with this?

Here is the answer in short : To TOTALLY trust yourself to the hands of Christ and release your desire to control things which you were never meant to do. To surrender your entire Being to his care, desires for your life, and allow him to guide you by HIS power instead of YOUR trying . Depending on what a person has experienced in life...particularly when growing up....it could be a real difficult thing to give Christ complete Lordship of your life. It will require an experienced mature Christian Psychologist who can uncover your hurts which has affected your Soul and then to work with you in getting Gods power firmly implanted in your life. It wont be easy work and its going to demand you deal with perhaps some unfinished business from the past . No doubt they are spiritual problems now . , and a hinderance to your spiritual life.

I teter on OCD and have to constantly be aware of it surfacing . I use to be a bigger control freak than now, but with the grace and power of God, he has changed me into relying more on him and less on myself. I desire the same for you too.

A good resource for overcoming this is : www.newlife.com

 

[restore]

God will heal u someday, sister, it takes time....if u read testimonies u will see many miracles.....
God will also speak to u dearly during the path and in dark nights, and till that day in the morning u will smile..