015 — How to Differentiate Faith from Obsessive Thoughts

Written By David Harris
 

Dave Harris sits down with Lennon Jones, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety, to tackle one of the most confusing intersections of mental health and religion: Scrupulosity.

Have you ever found yourself paralyzed, wondering if a thought was a prompting from the Spirit or just an intrusive, obsessive doubt? This conversation dives deep into how Religious OCD manifests as an extreme intolerance of uncertainty, often turning faith into a cycle of fear rather than a source of peace.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Why OCD is less about perfectionism and more about a relentless cycle of intrusive thoughts and temporary relief through compulsions.

  • Scrupulosity: How members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints might struggle with black-and-white thinking regarding commandments and repentance.

  • Spirit vs. OCD: Learning to distinguish between the calm, encouraging nature of the Spirit and the negative, relentless, obsessive thoughts that come from some other source.

  • The Reassurance Trap: Why telling someone to "just stop worrying" doesn't work and why seeking constant reassurance can actually feed the OCD cycle.

  • Tools for Recovery: An introduction to Exposure Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as paths to reclaiming your mental and spiritual well-being.

Living with OCD can feel like trying to have a meaningful conversation while a smoke alarm is blaring in the background. Join us as we discuss how to turn down the noise and find genuine peace.

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Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional healthcare or therapy.

David Harris
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014 -- My Breakthrough