Michael R. Emlet

Scrupulosity:When Doubts Devour

Intrusive (spontaneous, unwanted) and obsessive (persistent, recurring) thoughts and doubts about moral-spiritual issues, which produce distressing levels of anxiety and the quest to rid oneself of that anxiety, usually by engaging in compulsive behaviors or mental rituals or by avoiding trigger situations

What is scrupulosity?

Trigger situation Distorted views of God, self, and the Christian life

TemperamentalpredispositionOther?

Intrusive thought

Evaluation of the thought

Appraisal of the thought as important or dangerous

Anxiety

Compulsive behavior or mental ritual

Decreased anxietyIncreased perceived control

• Distorted views of God, self, Scripture, and the Christian life

• Brain-based dysfunction• Relational influences• Societal-cultural and situational

influences

Components of the struggle

• Begin with suffering• Understand the contours of the struggle

(especially the nature of intrusive thoughts)• Doubt your doubts• Learn to live with ambiguity/uncertainty• “Look up”• “Look out”• Do the opposite• The role of medications

Helping the scrupulous person