Ever found yourself thinking:
“Did I just commit a mortal sin… because I thought about dessert during prayer?”
Or maybe you (or your child) go to confession every week, not for mortal sins, but because of an unshakable fear that maybe something was sinful? Welcome to scrupulosity, my friend. And this full episode of Marriage Unhindered is a must-listen if that sounds even remotely familiar.
💡 What Even Is Scrupulosity?
OCD expert and therapist Dr. Johann D’Souza breaks it down like this:
Not all guilt is bad. A sensitive conscience is actually a gift; saints have it! It’s when you deeply love God and want to do right, even in small things.But when it crosses into irrational fear: the kind where you keep doubting whether you sinned, keep confessing the same things, and you never feel at peace. That’s clinical scrupulosity, a form of OCD.
This isn’t a matter of poor moral formation or not knowing Church teaching. This is a mental health disorder that attacks the very thing you care most about: your relationship with God.
🚨 Common Red Flags of Catholic OCD
Here’s what it might look like:
-Obsessively checking if you lied or sinned in a conversation 🗣️
-Feeling the need to go to confession every week… or even daily 🙏
-Repeating penances or moral examinations over and over 📜
-Being plagued by “What if?” thoughts, like:
“Was that a mortal sin?”
“What if I offended God and didn’t realize it?”
👉 Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
The Twist: Scrupulosity Isn’t About God
An important moment from Dr. D’Souza:
“It’s not about loving God more… it’s about reducing fear.”
That reassurance you keep seeking? That confession loop you’re stuck in?
It’s not drawing you closer to Christ. It’s feeding anxiety, not love.
This hit hard. But it also offers freedom. Because…
✝️ The Catholic Cure: Exposure & Trust
🧠 Treatment isn’t about achieving certainty; it’s about building trust in God amid uncertainty.
💪 The gold standard therapy is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)… not running from fear, but facing it without giving in.
For example:
-Not checking Google after every intrusive thought.
-Delaying confession and sitting with the discomfort.
-Working with a Catholic therapist who knows the difference between mortal sin and mental compulsion.
And yes, Dr. D’Souza makes this clear: OCD treatment works. Not an instant cure, but a sustainable, grace-filled path forward.
🙌 Final Takeaway: Fear ≠ Faith
If you or your child is struggling with this kind of fear, know this:
-You are not crazy. You are not alone.
-You are not offending God by having a brain that needs healing.
This episode is packed with wisdom, hope, and deep respect for Catholic teaching, while also gently challenging false guilt.
So, if you’ve ever whispered, “I think I’m a bad Catholic,” because of OCD…
💚 Jesus is not mad at you. He’s calling you to freedom.
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