Ever found yourself thinking:


“Did I just commit a mortal sin… because I thought about dessert during prayer?”


Or maybe you (or your child) go to confession every week, not for mortal sins, but because of an unshakable fear that maybe something was sinful?

 

Welcome to scrupulosity, my friend. And this full episode of Marriage Unhindered is a must-listen if that sounds even remotely familiar.

 

 

💡 What Even Is Scrupulosity?

 

OCD expert and therapist Dr. Johann D’Souza breaks it down like this:

 

Not all guilt is bad. A sensitive conscience is actually a gift; saints have it! It's when you deeply love God and want to do right, even in small things.

 

But when it crosses into irrational fear: the kind where you keep doubting whether you sinned, keep confessing the same things, and you never feel at peace. That’sclinical scrupulosity, a form of OCD.

 

This isn't a matter of poor moral formation or not knowing Church teaching. This is a mental health disorder that attacks the very thing you care most about: your relationship with God.

 

 

🚨 Common Red Flags of Catholic OCD

 

Here’s what it might look like:

 

-Obsessively checking if you lied or sinned in a conversation 🗣️

 

-Feeling the need to go to confession every week… or even daily 🙏

 

-Repeating penances or moral examinations over and over 📜

 

-Being plagued by "What if?" thoughts, like:

 

"Was that a mortal sin?"

 

"What if I offended God and didn’t realize it?"

 

👉 Sound familiar? You're not alone.

 

 

The Twist: Scrupulosity Isn't About God

 

An important moment from Dr. D’Souza:

 

“It’s not about loving God more... it’s about reducing fear.”

 

That reassurance you keep seeking? That confession loop you’re stuck in?
It’s not drawing you closer to Christ. It’s feeding anxiety, not love.

 

This hit hard. But it also offers freedom. Because...

 

 

✝️ The Catholic Cure: Exposure & Trust

 

🧠 Treatment isn’t about achieving certainty; it’s about building trust in God amid uncertainty.


💪 The gold standard therapy is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)... not running from fear, but facing it without giving in.

 

For example:

 

-Not checking Google after every intrusive thought.

 

-Delaying confession and sitting with the discomfort.

 

-Working with a Catholic therapist who knows the difference between mortal sin and mental compulsion.

 

And yes, Dr. D’Souza makes this clear:

 

OCD treatment works. Not an instant cure, but a sustainable, grace-filled path forward.

 

 

🙌 Final Takeaway: Fear ≠ Faith

 

If you or your child is struggling with this kind of fear, know this:

 

-You are not crazy. You are not alone.


-You are not offending God by having a brain that needs healing.

 

This episode is packed with wisdom, hope, and deep respect for Catholic teaching, while also gently challenging false guilt.

 

So, if you’ve ever whispered, “I think I’m a bad Catholic,” because of OCD...


💚 Jesus is not mad at you. He’s calling you to freedom.

 

 

 

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Ever found yourself thinking:
 &ldquo;Did I just commit a mortal sin&hellip; because I thought about dessert during prayer?&rdquo;
 Or maybe you (or your child) go to confession every week, not for mortal sins, but because of an unshakable fear that maybe something was sinful?
&nbsp;
Welcome to scrupulosity, my friend. And<a href="https://relevantradio.com/2025/06/overcoming-scrupulosity-and-anxiety/"> this full episode of&nbsp;Marriage Unhindered</a> is a must-listen if that sounds even remotely familiar.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="537" data-end="540">
&nbsp;
💡 What Even&nbsp;Is Scrupulosity?
&nbsp;
OCD expert and therapist Dr. Johann D&rsquo;Souza breaks it down like this:
&nbsp;
Not all guilt is bad. A sensitive conscience is actually a gift; saints have it! It's when you deeply love God and want to do right, even in small things.
&nbsp;
But when it crosses into irrational fear: the kind where you keep doubting whether you sinned, keep confessing the same things, and you never feel at peace. That&rsquo;s clinical scrupulosity, a form of OCD.
&nbsp;
This isn't a matter of poor moral formation or not knowing Church teaching. This is a mental health disorder that attacks the very thing you care most about: your relationship with God.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1195" data-end="1198">
&nbsp;
🚨 Common Red Flags of Catholic OCD
&nbsp;
Here&rsquo;s what it might look like:
&nbsp;
-Obsessively checking if you lied or sinned in a conversation 🗣️
&nbsp;
-Feeling the need to go to confession every week&hellip; or even daily 🙏
&nbsp;
-Repeating penances or moral examinations over and over 📜
&nbsp;
-Being plagued by "What if?" thoughts, like:
&nbsp;
"Was that a mortal sin?"
&nbsp;
"What if I offended God and didn&rsquo;t realize it?"
&nbsp;
👉 Sound familiar? You're not alone.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1643" data-end="1646">
&nbsp;
The Twist: Scrupulosity Isn't About God
&nbsp;
An important moment from Dr. D&rsquo;Souza:
&nbsp;
<blockquote data-start="1734" data-end="1794">
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not about loving God more... it&rsquo;s about reducing fear.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
</blockquote>
That reassurance you keep seeking? That confession loop you&rsquo;re stuck in? It&rsquo;s not drawing you closer to Christ. It&rsquo;s feeding anxiety, not love.
&nbsp;
This hit hard. But it also offers freedom. Because...
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2006" data-end="2009">
&nbsp;
✝️ The Catholic Cure: Exposure &amp; Trust
&nbsp;
🧠 Treatment isn&rsquo;t about achieving certainty; it&rsquo;s about building trust in God amid uncertainty.
 💪 The gold standard therapy is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)... not running from fear, but facing it without giving in.
&nbsp;
For example:
&nbsp;
-Not checking Google after every intrusive thought.
&nbsp;
-Delaying confession and sitting with the discomfort.
&nbsp;
-Working with a Catholic therapist who knows the difference between mortal sin and mental compulsion.
&nbsp;
And yes, Dr. D&rsquo;Souza makes this clear:
&nbsp;
<blockquote data-start="2567" data-end="2660">
OCD treatment works. Not an instant cure, but a sustainable, grace-filled path forward.
&nbsp;
</blockquote>
<hr data-start="2662" data-end="2665">
&nbsp;
🙌 Final Takeaway: Fear &ne; Faith
&nbsp;
If you or your child is struggling with this kind of fear, know this:
&nbsp;
-You are not crazy. You are not alone.
 -You are not offending God by having a brain that needs healing.
&nbsp;
This episode is packed with wisdom, hope, and deep respect for Catholic teaching, while also gently challenging false guilt.
&nbsp;
So, if you&rsquo;ve ever whispered, &ldquo;I think I&rsquo;m a bad Catholic,&rdquo; because of OCD...
 💚 Jesus is not mad at you. He&rsquo;s calling you to freedom.
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

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