Religious obsessions are uncontrollable obsessions with beliefs to which a person is sensitive.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder that involves recurrent and unwanted obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions cause serious distress when they are not acted upon, even though the person knows that they represent exaggerated fears that are unlikely to occur. OCD is a neurological and behavioral disorder.
Such obsessions are often related to everyday life and go beyond anxiety. The person feels that these compulsions are necessary in response to the obsessions. The compulsions are necessarily imposed to reduce anxiety or to prevent the outcome that the person fears. Patients with OCD try to reassure themselves in many ways to reduce anxiety and guilt
Religion is also thought to play a role in some cases of OCD. Religious thoughts can be upsetting and exhausting for OCD sufferers. Such thoughts can range from obligatory prayers, worries about sinning, cleansing rituals, etc.
How Religious Obsessions Go Away
Religious obsessions are one of the most challenging obsessions that plague people. This is because religious obsessions are based on a person's belief and betrayal or failure to comply with what they believe in. In case of non-compliance, the person experiences pain and suffering both psychologically and conscientiously. In advanced cases, people with such obsessions blaspheme against sacred values and even against God. In doing so, they suffer physically and mentally. This puts the person in a difficult situation both in their daily life and in their spiritual life. A person in this situation always acts with fear and anxiety and this becomes difficult for the person in every subject over time.
In the treatment of this type of disorder, cognitive behavioral therapies are applied as in other OCD disorders. In some cases, therapy is combined with medication. These treatments involve patients facing what they fear, that is, uncertainty.
In addition to psychologist treatments for obsessions, support can be obtained in cooperation with clergy or members of the religious community. Religious leaders can help with treatment by providing guidance on which rituals are excessive and which are appropriate. For religious obsessions, it is useful to consult with specialist physicians who are experts in this field.
Religious Obsessions and Treatment
Treatment for religious obsessions is considered as OCD treatment. As the name suggests, this is an obsession and falls under OCD. The treatment of religious obsessions is done in the presence of a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Sometimes it is enough to proceed with a psychologist and continue treatment with psychotherapies, while sometimes medication and therapies should be done at the same time. The psychiatrist decides how to treat religious obsessions and implements a personalized treatment plan. Religious obsessions are a disorder that can be significantly improved with treatment.
What are Religious Obsessions?
The characteristics of people with religious obsessions may vary. But there are some common symptoms. For example
- Restarting the prayer if distracted while praying,
- Repeating the prayer compulsively and repetitively when it is felt that there is not the right concentration on the prayer or its meaning,
- Asking others if they are being treated correctly or constantly analyzing behavior throughout the day to make sure that the right thing is being done or that they are being treated appropriately,
- Excessive and repetitive reading of religious books, writings and texts,
- Apologizing profusely to God and seeking forgiveness for behavior,
- Excessive fear of sinning and excessive moral behavior,
Studies suggest that an average of 30 percent of patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorders have religious obsessions. This rate is even higher in societies where religiosity is stricter.
As NPISTANBUL Hospital, we offer the most accurate treatments for all Obsessive Compulsive Disorders. Our specialist doctors are always with you and your loved ones, whether it is religious obsessions or other types of OCD. We walk this path with you for a quality life.
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