OCD Subtypes You Might be Overlooking: Scrupulosity OCD

Many of us have reflected on the question, “Am I a good person?” People with scrupulosity OCD, however, may be plagued by this question to a debilitating degree. Scrupulosity OCD is centered around religious or moral obsessions and compulsions and the uncertainty of one’s character being “good or bad.” 

Some common symptoms may include: obsessions with being honest or morally perfect, thought spirals replaying potential sacrilegious or morally wrong statements, compulsive need to confess or tell, feelings of guilt and shame, excessive concern with moral or religious rules or tenets, excessive prayer, neutralizing “bad” thoughts with “good” thoughts, self-punishment, and more. The internal checking to assuage one’s fears about being “good” can be particularly distressing when coupled with OCD’s high levels of self-doubt. 

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) continues to be the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Treating scrupulosity OCD does not mean exposing a client to immoral acts or content. The goal is to increase one’s ability to tolerate uncertainty. Scrupulosity OCD begs for infallible proof that “I’m a good person,” but the key to living a full, embodied life is making peace with all parts of yourself and with the unknown. 

If you or a loved one may be suffering from Scrupulosity or another form of OCD, reach out to us for a free consultation call here, or learn more about our offerings here.