I suffer from OCD

[Guest Moneen]

Salaam I suffer from ocd whenever I read namaz or dua I keep repeating sometimes I break salaah coz I feel I said it wrong..and I fear reading namaz om time coz I feel will take one hour to read as I keep repeating ..I am rired of these neagtive thoughts about fear of loosing a loved one if I don read salaah or duas properly..please need urgent help

[Noor Taleb]

7 hours ago, Guest Moneen said:

Salaam I suffer from ocd whenever I read namaz or dua I keep repeating sometimes I break salaah coz I feel I said it wrong..and I fear reading namaz om time coz I feel will take one hour to read as I keep repeating ..I am rired of these neagtive thoughts about fear of loosing a loved one if I don read salaah or duas properly..please need urgent help

been there done that 

DON'T LOSE HOPE

[Noor Taleb]

18 hours ago, Guest Moneen said:

Salaam I suffer from ocd whenever I read namaz or dua I keep repeating sometimes I break salaah coz I feel I said it wrong..and I fear reading namaz om time coz I feel will take one hour to read as I keep repeating ..I am rired of these neagtive thoughts about fear of loosing a loved one if I don read salaah or duas properly..please need urgent help

My case began here and worsened over time to the point I stopped praying and isolated myself from my whole family living by myself alone in a dark room most of the time. What you’ve described was just the beginning for my case 

[Quran313]

Salaam Alaykum,

Look, I had same issue, but I could solve it to a large extent. I'm still suffering a bit, but I'm getting much much better.

Your only solution. Take it easy. Relax and be comfortable. You do it exactly right. No worry. I was repeating some parts of Salah to make sure it is correct. One time I said I don’t want to repeat it, and if it was wrong, it's only one Salah. I have so many other Salahs in future. It worked and now I'm sure I'm doing it right. Just relax. Don't be strict

[Mortadakerim]

Salam,

I had this too. So:

Ignore these thoughts. Trust me. I would always overthink if I made mistakes, which did not make the situation better. Allah is Rahim and won’t punish you for forgetting. Nor do you have to pray over. 

Please ignore these thoughts. After 1/2 weeks you’ll be praying salah like the first time you prayed.

And if you doubt anything else just IGNORE.  Ignore all bad thoughts. But you can, of course refer to your Marja’ for ruling.

Wasalam

[aaaz1618]

Are you able to access a cognitive behavioural therapist where you live? OCD isn't just something you should ignore, it is a serious condition that if mistreated will make you really feel unwell. 

I don't have OCD, I have a condition related to it, but I know exactly how hard it must be for you. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy could really help you, also there are medications you could try, SSRIs for starters and failing that, a TCA like Clomipramine.

May Allah grant you peace of mind and strength in your health.

[Guest face]

What helps A LOT is to to take the plunge and intentionally screw up with apathy and arrogance. A woman who was obsessed with hygiene overcame her disorder by doing disgusting things like brushing her teeth with toilet water (you don't have to go that far), not washing her hands, touching dirty things. Of course it did cause anxiety but most importantly, it convinced her that it's all in her head. Sometimes I'll be praying, and I'll randomly think "Oh no, did I accidentally skip this step? Did I say the wrong thing just there?" Then I think "I don't care, not my problem. I don't care even if I accidentally aren't facing Qibla". Or I'll do wudhu and think "Oh no, did I just touch my neck? Did I touch my scalp? Did I touch my arm with my thumb or four fingers just there?". Then I think "Not my problem, this is going to be my wudhu whether it's right or not. Not. My. Problem". That gets my qareen seething, that weasel wishes he wasn't born when I play his games. At the end of the day, all this is is just him convincing you that there's a problem that doesn't exist, and then overwhelming you with it. If you just flip the table in his face and run straight at this imaginary train that's coming towards you, you'll feel an incredible sense of relief as it passes right through you. With every prayer you'll care less and less, until you're over it.

[Noor Taleb]

50 minutes ago, aaaz1618 said:

Are you able to access a cognitive behavioural therapist where you live? OCD isn't just something you should ignore, it is a serious condition that if mistreated will make you really feel unwell. 

I don't have OCD, I have a condition related to it, but I know exactly how hard it must be for you. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy could really help you, also there are medications you could try, SSRIs for starters and failing that, a TCA like Clomipramine.

May Allah grant you peace of mind and strength in your health.

Are you a doctor ? 

You talk exactly like one 

[aaaz1618]

1 hour ago, Noor Taleb said:

Are you a doctor ? 

You talk exactly like one 

I have studied mental health, have living experience and have worked within the psychiatric healthcare setting, but I'm not a doctor. 

[Noor Taleb]

7 minutes ago, aaaz1618 said:

I have studied mental health, have living experience and have worked within the psychiatric healthcare setting, but I'm not a doctor. 

WOW !!!! 

[3wliya_maryam]

On 7/31/2019 at 8:33 AM, Guest Moneen said:

Salaam I suffer from ocd whenever I read namaz or dua I keep repeating sometimes I break salaah coz I feel I said it wrong..and I fear reading namaz om time coz I feel will take one hour to read as I keep repeating ..I am rired of these neagtive thoughts about fear of loosing a loved one if I don read salaah or duas properly..please need urgent help

We've all been there.

I know how it feels and I've been suffering from it ever since my childhood. But I finally knew a way to overcome it and break free of this compulsion, and hopefully it will benefit others because nobody deserves to go through it.

My OCD was much worse. It eventually led to self harm, because I felt like I was being punished by God, so I chose to punish myself. It even led to the point where I couldn't breathe, like I was being strangled. I never went to any diagnosis or had any special treatment, based on the symptoms I was having I knew that my condition was quite serious. Most of the times I had to withdraw from everything, sitting in my room and letting those bad thoughts control my mind. 

When I was around 15, thats when it became worse. Then I found a way to overcome it, but obviously it took time and it can't just possibly be cured in a day

The moment I began to pray, and my mind would start getting these thoughts, I immediately ignore it. I wouldn't repeat my prayer, I let them come, but at the same time I'd try hard to fight them and continue to focus on my prayer. Because I knew that the more I'd keep repeating my salah, the worse my OCD would become. If I had any self doubts about whether I made a mistake in my wudhu or my prayer, I wouldn't pay attention to it. I knew that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى), is merciful and doesn't make our religion complicated for us, and it is only us who complicate it. What matters is that we strive to become better, not perfect.

I would also think of it this way, all of these waswasa, or whisperings, are from the shaytan (la). Why would I want to listen to him? Who would even want to listen to him? I need to fight him, and prevent him from controlling my thoughts. I won't let him beat me and I will fight him as much as I can. This was the mindset I would have, and it helped alot.

One important thing to also consider, is to never stress. When you get these thoughts, don't ever stress, because that would only make it worse. When you get a shaytan whisper, take it easy. It's not the end of the world, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) is merciful and he forgives those who go through this, as its a common thing especially in the Muslims youth.

Hope everything gets better for you inshallah

fee amanillah

 

@Ruqaya101 @ali_fatheroforphans @Sumerian @2Timeless @Flying_Eagle

[Bakir]

Have you been diagnosed with OCD? Conductual therapy is a good way to develop strategies to bypass or live in peace with recurring thoughts that may harm your functionality.

In the other hand, check your marja's rulings in ghaflah (forgetfulness) and doubts on the acts you did during prayers (forgetting a word during salah, skipping a rukn during your prayers, forgetting the number of rak'ats performed, etc.).

[Reza]

OCD is used by laypeople in often inaccurate ways. Here’s an overview of diagnostic criteria. If you don’t meet this, you don’t have OCD.

Quote

 

To receive an OCD diagnosis, you must meet these general criteria:

You must have obsessions and compulsions

The obsessions and compulsions must significantly impact your daily life

You may or may not realize that your obsessions and compulsions are excessive or unreasonable

Your obsessions must meet specific criteria:

Intrusive, repetitive and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that cause distress

The thoughts do not just excessively focus on real problems in your life

You unsuccessfully try to suppress or ignore the disturbing thoughts, urges, or images

You may or may not know that your mind simply generates these thoughts and that they do not pose a true threat

Your compulsions must meet specific criteria:

Excessive and repetitive ritualistic behavior that you feel you must perform, or something bad will happen. Examples include hand washing, counting, silent mental rituals, checking door locks, etc.

The ritualistic compulsions take up a least one hour or more per day

You perform these physical rituals or mental acts to reduce the severe anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts.

 

 

[Flying_Eagle]

3 hours ago, 3wliya_maryam said:

We've all been there.

I know how it feels and I've been suffering from it ever since my childhood. But I finally knew a way to overcome it and break free of this compulsion, and hopefully it will benefit others because nobody deserves to go through it.

My OCD was much worse. It eventually led to self harm, because I felt like I was being punished by God, so I chose to punish myself. It even led to the point where I couldn't breathe, like I was being strangled. I never went to any diagnosis or had any special treatment, based on the symptoms I was having I knew that my condition was quite serious. Most of the times I had to withdraw from everything, sitting in my room and letting those bad thoughts control my mind. 

When I was around 15, thats when it became worse. Then I found a way to overcome it, but obviously it took time and it can't just possibly be cured in a day

The moment I began to pray, and my mind would start getting these thoughts, I immediately ignore it. I wouldn't repeat my prayer, I let them come, but at the same time I'd try hard to fight them and continue to focus on my prayer. Because I knew that the more I'd keep repeating my salah, the worse my OCD would become. If I had any self doubts about whether I made a mistake in my wudhu or my prayer, I wouldn't pay attention to it. I knew that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى), is merciful and doesn't make our religion complicated for us, and it is only us who complicate it. What matters is that we strive to become better, not perfect.

I would also think of it this way, all of these waswasa, or whisperings, are from the shaytan (la). Why would I want to listen to him? Who would even want to listen to him? I need to fight him, and prevent him from controlling my thoughts. I won't let him beat me and I will fight him as much as I can. This was the mindset I would have, and it helped alot.

One important thing to also consider, is to never stress. When you get these thoughts, don't ever stress, because that would only make it worse. When you get a shaytan whisper, take it easy. It's not the end of the world, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) is merciful and he forgives those who go through this, as its a common thing especially in the Muslims youth.

Hope everything gets better for you inshallah

fee amanillah

 

@Ruqaya101 @ali_fatheroforphans @Sumerian @2Timeless @Flying_Eagle

It is common and I get the solution you gave in recent years when I recited the verse, where Allah (عزّ وجلّ) speaks about Mother of Hazrat Maryam (عليه السلام) that the mother of Hazrat Maryam (عليه السلام) made an oath that if she get a child, she will dedicate her for the service of religion but a daughter was born so Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) says: "She said to me that Ya Rab! this is girl and I knew that it was a girl".

So, when you have made the intention and fulfilled obligation but you are getting wiswas, Allah (عزّ وجلّ) know it what was your Niyah. So, we do not have to panic in worship but always try to be attentive in prayers and if our attention is driven away and we do not know we missed or not. Just perform Sajdah-e-Sahw.

So, your way, also backed by Qur'an.

Besides, we get wiswas in the same way like non-believers get thoughts of hidayah. Muslims also struggle like non-believers, the only difference being that Non-Muslims live life contrary to Islam that is already bad and they get good thoughts about Islam every day, and we live better life due to Islam but we get bad thoughts. Prophet (PBUHHP) said: "Batlle with Nafs is greatest Jihad".

[Stitcher]

Salamun alaikum.

Losing concentration and repeating prayers is not uncommon as it happens to lot of us. But since you are obsessed with the fear of losing a loved one, I would like to tell that you need medical attention. Do you have any other symptoms? Are you already diagnosed and taking medication? If not, then please consult with a GP.  You may need drugs as well as CBT.

And NEVER take medications on your own as psychiatric drugs can sometimes exert serious side effects. Your complete history and some clinical or pathological examinations needed for proper diagnosis and determine drug of choice, dosage & duration.
And if you are already a diagnosed case of OCD & taking medications, then consult with your doctor. You need to change your drug.

Last of all, whether you have OCD or not, you need to help yourself. You need to believe that making mistakes in prayers will never result in losing someone. Allah is merciful, HE knows we are fallible human, we make mistakes and so HE loves to forgive HIS servants. HE never punishes people that way. In fact Allah would not have punished anyone if HE has not promised to punish disbelievers in Qur'an. So, never despair from HIS love & mercy. Try your best to focus on your prayers. Some activities of us (which gives us intense pleasure and excites our brain) results in decreasing our concentration, such as playing games, watching movie, using social media, having unnecessary/nasty talk with friends, looking at na-mahrams, listening to songs or even reading innocent stroy books or watching cartoons too, varies from person to person. Also difficulties & failures in life, economical or personal/familial problems etc can decrease our attention too. In that case we have to be patient and keep faith on Allah and thus keep us away from depressing thoughts. Whatever it is, you need to identify if there is anything occupying your brain by observing what type of disturbing thoughts you have during prayers. Then you must refrain from that act & overcome such thoughts. Although its not an easy task but if you try, you can make it. Thus your focus on prayer will be brought back within short time.

May Allah bless you & relieve you from your sufferings.

[Maryam.It]

On 7/31/2019 at 2:33 AM, Guest Moneen said:

Salaam I suffer from ocd whenever I read namaz or dua I keep repeating sometimes I break salaah coz I feel I said it wrong..and I fear reading namaz om time coz I feel will take one hour to read as I keep repeating ..I am rired of these neagtive thoughts about fear of loosing a loved one if I don read salaah or duas properly..please need urgent help

I soffer of OCD too...

 

[Guest Guest momin]

On 8/1/2019 at 4:12 AM, Stitcher said:

May Allah bless you & relieve you from your sufferings.

Thank you so much ..Allah bless you all

[Guest guest momin]

I pray wth full attention but its psychological...like the other day it crossed my mind I shud pray two rakat for my son I was in a rush so I prayed at night since its sunnah pray by eve he fell sick so now I blane myself..pls help

[aaaz1618]

15 hours ago, Guest guest momin said:

I pray wth full attention but its psychological...like the other day it crossed my mind I shud pray two rakat for my son I was in a rush so I prayed at night since its sunnah pray by eve he fell sick so now I blane myself..pls help

Honestly, if you can get psychological help, get it. Just to help ease your mind.

[Mzwakhe]

On 7/31/2019 at 2:33 AM, Guest Moneen said:

Salaam I suffer from ocd whenever I read namaz or dua I keep repeating sometimes I break salaah coz I feel I said it wrong..and I fear reading namaz om time coz I feel will take one hour to read as I keep repeating ..I am rired of these neagtive thoughts about fear of loosing a loved one if I don read salaah or duas properly..please need urgent help

salam alykum wrwb,

It is hard to attain a peace of mind with all these whisperings to distract you. Then there's an awe of Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) in the heart. "Hearts are @ rest through Allah((سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى))'s remembrance". Imam Jaffer(عليه السلام) is narrated to have said it to be worshipping satan(la),  he(la) is to be ignored. The repeatition of these thoughts versus the dhikr. Dhikr is the remembrance of Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) which builds a strong character that is not influenced by these things (those that convey waswas). It is a lifetime battle.

[Flying_Eagle]

On 7/31/2019 at 5:33 AM, Guest Moneen said:

Salaam I suffer from ocd whenever I read namaz or dua I keep repeating sometimes I break salaah coz I feel I said it wrong..and I fear reading namaz om time coz I feel will take one hour to read as I keep repeating ..I am rired of these neagtive thoughts about fear of loosing a loved one if I don read salaah or duas properly..please need urgent help

brother, it happens but it does not mean that you have to make it happen always. Just pray your salah once and Allah (عزّ وجلّ) knows what you have prayed ok. Do not make your salah difficult for you because of Wiswas.