Episode Details

1. Summary: In this episode, we explore the conventional secular and the traditional spiritual ways of understanding scrupulosity, bringing in the experts to define scrupulosity, tells us the signs of being scrupulous, speculate on the causes of the trouble, discuss that standard remedies in the secular and spiritual realms.  Then I share with you my views on it, looking at scrupulosity through an Internal Family Systems lens, grounded in a Catholic worldview.   We discuss how parts have different God images and the role of shame and anger in the experience of scrupulosity.   
2. Description of Scrupulosity
    
   1. Suddenly my stomach tightens up, there’s a choking in my throat, and my torture begins. The bad thoughts come. . . . I want to drive them out, but they keep coming back. . . . It is terrible to be in a struggle like this! To have a head that goes around and around without my being able to stop it; to be a madman and still quite rational, for all that. . . . I am double. . . . at the very time that I am trying to plan what I want to do, another unwanted thought is in my mind. . . . Distracting me and always hindering me from doing what I want to do. 
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--  Quoted in Albert Barbaste, “Scrupulosity and the Present Data of Psychiatry,” Theology

Digest, 1.3 (Autumn 1953) 182.

1. Fr. William Doyle: Around 1900  “My confessions were bad. My confessor does not understand me, he is mistaken in me, not believing that I could be so wicked. I have never had contrition. I am constantly committing sins against faith, against purity. I blaspheme interiorly. I rashly judge, even priests. The oftener I receive Holy Communion, the worse I become,”  Around 1900
2. My story just turned 19 -- terrible bout of scrupulosity.  
   1. Around sexuality
   2. Just started dating the first woman I might consider marrying
   3. Physical touching -- romantic contact How far was too far?
       
      1. Thoughts of sex with her -- plagued me.  
   4. 
      
      1. Do I break up with her?  How do I handle this?
   5.  
      1. What was sinful, what was not?  Was I on the road to hell?  Was I putting her on the road to hell?
   6.  
      1. I thought I was going crazy.  
   7. 
      
3. Review: I encourage you to review the last episode, number 86 -- Obsessions, Compulsions, OCD and IFS
    
   1. That episode went deep into obsessions and compulsions and  serves as a basis for today's episode.  
4. 
   
   1. Today's episode, number 87 is entitled Scrupulosity:  When OCD Gets Religion and it's released on December 6, 2021, St. Nick's Day. 
5. 
   
   1. I am Dr. Peter Malinoski, clinical psychologist and passionate Catholic and together, we are taking on the tough topics that matter to you.  
   2. We bring the best of psychology and human formation and harmonize it with the perennial truths of the Catholic Faith.   
   3. Interior Integration for Catholics is part of our broader outreach, Souls and Hearts bringing the best of psychology grounded in a Catholic worldview to you and the rest of the world through our website soulsandhearts.com
   4. Overview
       
      1. Start out with definitions of scrupulosity both from spiritual and secular sources, really want to wrap our minds around what scrupulosity is and the different types of scrupulosity. We will discuss the connection between scrupulosity and OCD -- discussion of OCD
   5.  
      1. We will then move to the signs of scrupulosity -- how can you tell when there is scrupulosity?
   6.  
      1. Then we will get into the internal experience of scrupulosity.  What is it like to experience intense scruples?  Had a taste in the intro, but we will get much more into that.  
   7. 
      
      1. We will discuss what religious and secular experts have to say about the causes of scrupulosity