Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Faith issues / OCD or demonic oppression?	Scott	Friday, April 18, 2008
Question: I often struggle with faith.I'm a cradle Catholic and had a conversion of heart over a year ago.I repented and remain in a state of grace.God is good.I didn't deserve a second chance the way I lived for most of my youth. I have not commited mortal sin since my conversion.It started when I was so desperatley hopeless,I prayed a 54 day miracle rosary novena.A miracle it was,because Mary led me out of mortal sin and back to Christ. In studying spiritual warfare over the past year,I realize the long term unrepented sin patterns of my youth(unchastity, racism,occult dabbling,sacriligeous communions to name the more serious ones)probably opened doors for attacks. Mostly I am sure of God,but often I think that there may be nothing after death.I do not want to think this way.I say a daily rosary,Divine Mercy and frequent the sacraments. I think about God and spiritual warfare almost constantly.I will do everything in my power to save my soul.The other side to the obsession is what if there is no God.Even though these thoughts race back and fourth,I choose Christ not always out of faith but to be covered in case my doubts are wrong. Pascal's wager theory from your links describes how I often feel. I rarely live in the moment.I have obsessive thoughts such as...I dwell on the past.I think about why all people don't repent.I wonder why some Catholics are lukewarm when there is so much at stake.I wonder why all people don't seem worried about saving their soul.I worry if my family are in a state of grace.Even though I don't want to return to my old ways,I think I may be missing out if I don't.I have many other non religeous thoughts that are disturbing and even sick.I can't stop these thoughts.I had obsessive thoughts before my conversion,they just weren't of a holy nature. I am often depressed and anxious.I have a weight on my chest that won't lift.In your opinion,is this how everyone fights the good fight or am I up against the demonic,or could I be OCD?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Scott: I praise God for your conversion and return to Him and to His Church. What you are describing sound like OCD. That should be the first thing to investigate. I would advise seeing a psychiatrist about this. He will probably prescribe some medication to help alleviate the OCD. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a brain disorder. It involves chemical imbalances in the brain. The medication seeks to resolve those imbalances. If you have chemical imbalances in the brain, then prayers and deliverance will not necessarily help. One needs to use the right tool for the right job. The right tool for chemical imbalances in the brain that may cause OCD is the right medication. On the spiritual side of things I would recommend the following prayer: Prayer To Control Thoughts In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of His Name, I reject this thought and feeling of [list for describe thought/feeling] which is contrary to God’s will. I choose only thoughts in harmony with the Holy Spirit, and I cover my thought life with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. On a quick side when a thought you do not want pops into your head is to simply say, "Lord, I reject this thought of _______. Please cleanse me of this and all other improper thoughts." But, before exploring a spiritual cause, I think you need to check out a medical cause. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Faith issues / OCD or demonic oppression?

Scott

Friday, April 18, 2008

Question:

I often struggle with faith.I'm a cradle Catholic and had a conversion of heart over a year ago.I repented and remain in a state of grace.God is good.I didn't deserve a second chance the way I lived for most of my youth.

I have not commited mortal sin since my conversion.It started when I was so desperatley hopeless,I prayed a 54 day miracle rosary novena.A miracle it was,because Mary led me out of mortal sin and back to Christ.

In studying spiritual warfare over the past year,I realize the long term unrepented sin patterns of my youth(unchastity, racism,occult dabbling,sacriligeous communions to name the more serious ones)probably opened doors for attacks.

Mostly I am sure of God,but often I think that there may be nothing after death.I do not want to think this way.I say a daily rosary,Divine Mercy and frequent the sacraments.

I think about God and spiritual warfare almost constantly.I will do everything in my power to save my soul.The other side to the obsession is what if there is no God.Even though these thoughts race back and fourth,I choose Christ not always out of faith but to be covered in case my doubts are wrong. Pascal's wager theory from your links describes how I often feel.

I rarely live in the moment.I have obsessive thoughts such as...I dwell on the past.I think about why all people don't repent.I wonder why some Catholics are lukewarm when there is so much at stake.I wonder why all people don't seem worried about saving their soul.I worry if my family are in a state of grace.Even though I don't want to return to my old ways,I think I may be missing out if I don't.I have many other non religeous thoughts that are disturbing and even sick.I can't stop these thoughts.I had obsessive thoughts before my conversion,they just weren't of a holy nature.

I am often depressed and anxious.I have a weight on my chest that won't lift.In your opinion,is this how everyone fights the good fight or am I up against the demonic,or could I be OCD?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Scott:

I praise God for your conversion and return to Him and to His Church.

What you are describing sound like OCD. That should be the first thing to investigate. I would advise seeing a psychiatrist about this. He will probably prescribe some medication to help alleviate the OCD.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a brain disorder. It involves chemical imbalances in the brain. The medication seeks to resolve those imbalances.

If you have chemical imbalances in the brain, then prayers and deliverance will not necessarily help. One needs to use the right tool for the right job. The right tool for chemical imbalances in the brain that may cause OCD is the right medication.

On the spiritual side of things I would recommend the following prayer:

Prayer To Control Thoughts
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of His Name, I reject this thought and feeling of [list for describe thought/feeling] which is contrary to God’s will. I choose only thoughts in harmony with the Holy Spirit, and I cover my thought life with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

On a quick side when a thought you do not want pops into your head is to simply say, "Lord, I reject this thought of _______. Please cleanse me of this and all other improper thoughts."

But, before exploring a spiritual cause, I think you need to check out a medical cause.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.