What is Religious OCD?

Religious OCD, also called scrupulosity, is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder centered around religious or moral fears.

Someone experiencing religious OCD may constantly worry about:

• sinning
• offending God
• being spiritually unworthy
• having immoral or intrusive thoughts
• not being obedient or faithful enough

These fears often create cycles of anxiety, compulsive prayer, reassurance-seeking, confession, mental checking, or repeated repentance.
Religious OCD is not a sign of weak faith or spiritual failure. It is an anxiety disorder that attaches intense fear and meaning to religious or moral concerns.