OCD Is Not Idolatry

I get why some Christian websites have articles on why OCD is a form of idolatry. But as someone who suffers from OCD tendencies, here's why that's not the case. Someone with OCD or at least the tendencies likely loves God with all their heart. Deep down, they know that they aren't perfect. Deep down, they know they haven't committed a sin and offended God.  But OCD is called "the doubting disease." And people who suffer  from OCD or its tendencies don't trust their own conscience. Catholic teaching states that a person's conscience can and should be trusted. And the OCD doesn't care what the person knows deep down. The doubt and anxiety must be eradicated immediately. And so the person with OCD or its tendencies ends up playing Whack-a-Mole with OCD. 

Futhermore, describing the cycle of OCD as idolatry will only exacerbate moral OCD. As for other forms of OCD...

A person knows deep down that they won't harm themselves, even though the obsessions suggest they will.

A person knows deep down that they won't rape someone, even though the obsessions suggest they will.

So OCD isn't about an excessive trust in self. On the contrary, it's about a lack of trust in oneself. 

The thoughts and anxiety do not come from the person. They come from the disorder. It is true that idolatry is a sin of the heart. And it is true that the human heart is an idol factory. But to describe OCD or its tendencies as an idol when we have unwanted anxiety and thoughts that are so strong and try to relieve the anxiety is not helpful. A psychological disorder or its tendencies is emotionally blackmailing us. And we're idolaters every time we give into the cycle of OCD just because we want anxiety to go away? That's not fair and I don't think the Lord would appreciate Christians telling other Christians that a neurological disorder is a form of idolatry. 

Let me give a scenario. Imagine you're experiencing some severe anxiety and you journal about it. It relieves some of the anxiety so you keep up the habit of journaling when anxiety arises.

Is that idolatry? 

No!