OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a medical diagnosis that gets thrown around a lot in colloquial speech, especially around Pesach time. We take Hilchos Pesach seriously, and rightfully so! OCD is not the same as being careful in Halacha, and it’s crucial to distinguish between the two. Because the term is so misused and misunderstood, it can be helpful and important to distinguish between what is and isn’t OCD. Many people will say things like “I’m so OCD” when referring to being hyper-organized or particular about the way they do things. (You line up your clothes in your closet in order of color? You’re so OCD!) This is not OCD and can be both invalidating to people who are truly struggling and just generally misinform the public about what to be aware of.

Someone experiencing OCD will experience repetitive, intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress. The individual will try to control or suppress the thought, or neutralize it with some kind of thought or action, which is a compulsion. The compulsion will give temporary relief, which is what makes our brains want to repeat this behavior and then the cycle gets continued.

Obsessions take the form of fear inducing “what if” questions, and can be about almost any topic in life. Some categories, such as those that have to do with germs, contamination or “checking” are more well known, thus leading to the common stereotypes mentioned above. Other common forms of OCD like Harm OCD or Magical Thinking OCD are lesser known. Obsessions may sound like “What if I push this person onto the train tracks”, or “what if I just caused my sister to get cancer by thinking about it?” And compulsions can look like things such as refusing to stand near train tracks, or trying to think of a “positive” thought for every “negative” thought.

Religious OCD, sometimes referred to as Scrupulosity, refers to obsessions and compulsions revolving around violating religious ethics, beliefs and laws. What if I didn’t wash Negel Vasser properly and contaminated everything in my house? What if I didn’t clean myself properly before davening? Because OCD will often show up in the areas of life that we care about most deeply, this is a common place of OCD for frum people.

It’s really important to distinguish between what is religious OCD and what is being stringent or careful in halachos. Some helpful points to consider are: is the focus of my thoughts on a narrow area of halacha? (I repeat words of davening over and over for fear I did not pronounce correctly but am not overly stringent in Hilchos Shabbos). Are my thoughts unwanted, and do they cause anxiety or discomfort? Due to my fears, am I doing things that are out of the norm for my religious group or community? And ultimately, is this causing some level of dysfunction or impairment in my life?

If someone believes that they may be struggling with OCD, it is so important to know that treatment is available and accessible. Treatment for OCD can include both medication and therapy, most notably, ERP or Exposure and Response Prevention. This involves gradually exposing individuals to situations that trigger their obsessions and compulsions while preventing them from engaging in their usual compulsive behaviors, thus breaking the cycle of anxiety and compulsion.

The push towards “overcorrection”, or going in the opposite extreme of the usual compulsion is similar to the Rambam’s concept of reaching the shvil hazahav in middos by pushing oneself far the other way. Of course, this can be a complicated concept to implement when it comes to religious OCD, which is why it is important to speak to a Rav who can understand how to answer shailos involving OCD in a way that doesn’t reinforce reassurance seeking behaviors – a compulsion in itself.

Pesach is in a couple of days and it is normal to experience elevated stress, but if you feel that you may be experiencing religious OCD (or any other type) then don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for help. Getting help for your OCD will only help your religious observance, as compulsions done out of anxiety and fear are not strengthening your Avodas Hashem. OCD may present as a tzaddik, but the veil can be lifted if we know how to look out for the facade.

May we all be zoche to experience Pesach with Menuchas Hanfesh and Simcha and may this year bring the Geula Sheleima!

Chayi Hanfling is a licensed clinical social worker who is experienced and passionate in helping individuals, families, and couples. She specializes in couples counseling, EFT, women’s health, anxiety management, OCD, trauma, and other mental health challenges.

She can be reached at www.chaicounseling.org or [email protected]

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