If you struggle with scrupulosity, you’re not alone. Scrupulosity is a psychological disorder that causes a person to become overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and shame. It’s an intense form of religious or moral anxiety that can make it difficult to live a normal life. Scrupulosity affects many people, but it is often overlooked or misunderstood. Fortunately, there is help available. At Purple Sky Counseling in Salt Lake City, Utah, we specialize in treating scrupulosity and helping individuals learn to live a life of peace and joy.
What is Scrupulosity?
Scrupulosity is an obsessive-compulsive disorder that causes a person to become consumed with anxiety related to moral or religious beliefs. Sufferers experience extreme guilt and fear that they are not living up to their own moral or religious standards. This can lead to feelings of shame and an inability to engage in activities that they believe are wrong. People with scrupulosity may also have difficulty making decisions and may have an excessive fear of making a mistake.
The disorder can be caused by a variety of factors, including religious or moral upbringing, past trauma, and other psychological issues. However, it is important to note that scrupulosity is not caused by religious or moral beliefs themselves. Instead, it is caused by a false belief system that has developed in response to those beliefs.
Symptoms of Scrupulosity
Scrupulosity often causes individuals to become overly preoccupied with religious or moral guilt and fear. Some common symptoms of scrupulosity include:
• An intense fear of making mistakes or offending God
• Difficulty making decisions
• Excessive worry about the consequences of one’s actions
• An inability to accept imperfection
• An excessive need for reassurance
• Difficulty trusting one’s own judgement
• An excessive need to confess and repent
• An inability to forgive oneself
• An obsessive need to perform religious or moral acts
How to Overcome Scrupulosity
If you or a loved one is struggling with scrupulosity, it’s important to seek help. At Purple Sky Counseling in Salt Lake City, Utah, we specialize in treating scrupulosity and helping individuals learn to live a life of peace and joy. Our experienced counselors will work with you to identify the underlying causes of your scrupulosity and help you develop healthier ways of thinking and responding to your thoughts and feelings.
The first step in overcoming scrupulosity is to identify and challenge your irrational beliefs. People with scrupulosity often have false beliefs about morality or religion that lead to intense guilt and fear. By identifying these false beliefs and challenging them, you can begin to develop a healthier and more balanced view of morality and religion.
The second step is to practice self-acceptance and self-compassion. People with scrupulosity often have difficulty accepting themselves and their mistakes. It’s important to practice self-compassion and remind yourself that mistakes are a normal part of life.
The third step is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and being aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can help you to recognize and accept your thoughts and feelings without getting lost in them.
Finally, it’s important to practice healthy self-care. Self-care is any activity that helps you relax and recharge. This can include activities like yoga, meditation, exercise, or simply taking time for yourself.
Alongside these steps, research points to one treatment above the rest. The International OCD Foundation describes exposure and response prevention (ERP), a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, as a first-line, evidence-based treatment for OCD. In ERP, you and your therapist slowly face the doubts and fears that set off the guilt, while practicing not doing the compulsions that usually follow, like repeated confession, reassurance seeking, or redoing a prayer until it feels right. Over time, the fear loses its grip. Good ERP for scrupulosity also respects your faith and values rather than asking you to give them up.
At Purple Sky Counseling in Salt Lake City, Utah, we understand how difficult it can be to live with scrupulosity. Our experienced counselors will work with you to help you identify and challenge your irrational beliefs, practice self-acceptance and compassion, practice mindfulness, and develop healthy self-care strategies. With the right help and support, you can learn to live a life of peace and joy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scrupulosity
Is scrupulosity a form of OCD?
Yes. Scrupulosity is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) centered on religious or moral fears. People with scrupulosity get stuck on intrusive doubts about sin, morality, or doing the right thing, then try to calm that fear with compulsions like confessing, praying again, or asking for reassurance.
What is the most effective treatment for scrupulosity?
Exposure and response prevention (ERP), a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, is considered a first-line treatment for OCD, including scrupulosity. It helps you face uncertainty without falling back on compulsions, and it can be done in a way that respects your faith.
Do I have to give up my faith to treat scrupulosity?
No. The goal of treatment is not to change what you believe. It is to loosen OCD’s hold so you can practice your faith, or explore your relationship with it, from a place of choice instead of fear.
Where can I get help for scrupulosity in Utah?
Purple Sky Counseling offers therapy in person at offices across Utah and online statewide. Our therapists also support people navigating religious trauma and faith transitions, and our intake team can help you find a therapist who fits what you need. Reach out to our team to get started.