Human beings are wired to get rid of uncomfortable experiences. If we’re cold, we turn up the heat or put on a sweater. If we’re hungry, we eat. Those are straightforward ways to alter and alleviate external discomfort. As humanity developed, we started to apply this same approach to unwanted inner experiences—thoughts, emotions, sensations. But this is a trap. While we can easily change what’s happening outside of ourselves, our thoughts and emotions are always with us. We cannot escape our emotions, just as we cannot escape our right arm or our beating heart. Trying desperately to get rid of what we don’t want ultimately demonizes fear and anxiety as something we’re not supposed to have—an abnormal state of being.
The ultimate goal—for those with and without a diagnosed anxiety disorder—is learning how to accept fear, to give up trying to make it go away. By letting go of the struggle to eliminate anxiety, we can direct our attention away from fighting an unwinnable battle. Instead, we can direct our efforts toward gently carrying difficult thoughts and feelings as they appear on our path, leading us to a valued, meaningful life.
We need not be alone on this journey. We can invite God to walk with us. Our priests, deacons, and spiritual directors can help. How do we integrate God into recovery from an anxiety disorder or OCD?
The first step is to invite our faith leaders into the therapy room. This is particularly important for those with OCD. People whose intrusive thoughts attack their love for the Church often fear pursuing psychological treatment, perhaps falsely believing their intrusive thoughts are a spiritual issue, that they fear therapy will cause them to sin, or that therapy offends God. Concerned, empathetic care requires teamwork.
We are not doomed to be bound by the ties of overwhelming distress and disturbing, intrusive thoughts. Trust that God wishes for your recovery. Trust the gifts he has given to those providing psychological care. By surrendering ourselves to the Holy Spirit and letting go of our need for total control of anxiety, we can open ourselves to deeper faith, hope, and love; we can live the life and experience the joy that God desires for us.
From “Anxiety and OCD: Integrating Treatment and Faith” by Caitlin Claggett Woods, PhD (C2403A). To order, visit Liguori.org or call 800-325-9521.