OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an “anxiety” disorder characterized by recurring, un-welcomed thoughts or images (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or the urgent need to engage in certain rituals (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors or rituals (such as repetitive hand washing, house cleaning… counting or checking things repeatedly) are performed with the hope of preventing and stopping obsessive thoughts. But these “rituals” provide only temporary relief.

Thoughts come from three places:

the subconscious mind, God, and the Devil.

 

Mental health professionals are able to help OCD patients live relatively productive and fulfilling lives. But they have no cure. Treatment for OCD includes therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy) and drugs (such as Prozac, Paxil… or Zoloft). _ National Institute of Mental Health

OCD may be a result of changes in the body’s natural chemistry or brain functions. OCD may also have a genetic component.

Although mental health professionals are able to help their patients live “relatively productive and fulfilling lives,” they have no “cure” for OCD -- because they ignore (or reject) the “spiritual” aspect of the disorder.

Many OCD sufferers are in need of “deliverance” and “inner-healing.”

I once viewed a program on OCD that focused on two heartbreaking cases. In both cases, OCD had a “trigger.” And that trigger was “trauma” -- a “traumatic” event in the lives of the people. Trauma provided the opportunity (the open door) for evil spirits to invade (with the intent to destroy).

OCD is devastating, heartbreaking… and hopeless for people living in darkness. OCD is more than mental illness. It is also a spiritual disorder that cannot be cured by therapy and drugs alone. (The condition is exasperated and worsened by evil spirits that attack areas of weakness, vulnerability… and mental illness.) 

TO ADVANCE YOUR INNER HEALING:

 

1) Spend time each day in silent,

meditative prayer

(at home or before the Blessed Sacrament);

 

2) Go to Confession (at least monthly);

 

3) Attend daily Mass (as often as possible);

 

4) Pray the Rosary every day.

 

5) Pray the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

http://catholicdeliverance.blogspot.com/2013/09/rosary-of-seven-sorrows-of-mary.html

 SPIRITUAL WARFARE FOR OCD?

 

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on my mind.

I plead the Blood of Jesus 

on every thought in my mind.”

 

Only Jesus can heal the trauma within a person. And when the trauma is healed, OCD -- and the evil spirits behind it -- will disappear. BUT when OCD is the result of changes in the body’s natural chemistry or brain functions, deliverance and inner healing are not enough.

God may choose to heal the brain and the body’s natural chemistry through prayer. But God also uses medication!

Some OCD sufferers are unable to separate themselves from the condition. For these, medication is needed. As the father of an OCD sufferer once said, “Just enough (medication) to take the edge off.”

Another course of action for recovery from OCD -- or any addictive and dysfunctional behavior -- is a Christ-centered “Twelve-Step Program.” 

_______________

MANY THOUGHTS ARE SPIRITS

 

Thoughts come from three places:

the subconscious mind, God,

and the Devil.

The holy angels are messengers; they carry messages from God to us. The fallen angels (a.k.a., evil spirits, demons) are also messengers, but of evil. Messages from angels -- both holy and fallen -- come to us as “thoughts.” 

Angels and demons can put thoughts
in our minds.
Angels and demons can also project images
on our minds. 

One day while praying the Rosary, I was distracted by a sudden image in my mind; it was pornographic and disturbing. Suddenly I realized I was being attacked. It was an evil spirit projecting an evil image on my mind.

The Devil does not want us to pray to God. And the Devil is afraid of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Evil spirits will attack our minds with all kinds of distractions. They can also cause us to become drowsy and fall asleep during prayer -- especially during the Rosary. 

God’s angels and Satan’s fallen angels are engaged in “spiritual combat.” This spiritual combat takes place in the “minds” of men -- and in the “heavens” above them (Revelation 12:7-9). 

Satan assaults our minds with temptations, obsessive thoughts and evil images... These evil thoughts and/or images enter our minds through Satan’s messengers, the evil spirits. We cannot stop temptations -- but we can chase away evil, obsessive thoughts and images. We can chase away the evil spirits: 

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on my mind. 

I plead the Blood of Jesus on 

every thought in my mind.” 

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on 

every evil spirit attacking my mind 

and body.” 

Use these spiritual weapons when you are harassed by impure thoughts, attacked with strong temptation, tempted to commit sin… when thoughts distract you during Mass, interfere with your prayer life, torment you during the night, preventing a good sleep… when you are afflicted with depressive or obsessive-compulsive thoughts… when your thoughts falsely accuse you of wrongdoing… when your thoughts are overly critical of yourself… when your thoughts become confused or “out of control”… when your thoughts are not your own…

Many negative, self-defeating, self-destructive thoughts come from evil spirits. If we do not reject them, we own them -- and when they become ours, we give them life. We give them power over us. And when we give voice to these negative, self-defeating, self-destructive thoughts from evil spirits, we can curse ourselves, and others. There is power in the spoken word.

Victims of demonic attack often wonder if the thoughts filling their heads are really their own. Have you ever wondered about those witty, biting comments that suddenly “come to mind” -- and roll off your tongue -- during a heated argument? Have you ever wondered about those perfect responses that cut so deep?

Why do people say horrible things -- things they really don’t mean -- during a heated argument? How can this happen within the security of a loving home, a faithful family? How do people know what buttons to push?

Evil spirits whisper comments in our ears, and we use them to hurt one another. Evil spirits cause confusion, misunderstandings, arguments, fights, division… and war.

Evil spirits inflame passions, inspire criminal behavior, provoke violence… suggest and embolden sacrilegious acts. Behind every act of desecration is an evil spirit!

Our struggle is not with flesh and blood
(Ephesians 6:12). 

We are caught in a spiritual war --
a war for the souls of men. 

_______________