#130 – Anna Gazmarian: Religious OCD and Mental Illness
Feb 21, 2024
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Anna Gazmarian shares her journey of faith, getting fired from a church, and confronting mental health issues within the church. Discussions on Religious OCD, scrupulosity, and challenging toxic purity culture. Emphasis on redefining God and sin, navigating mental health struggles in a religious context, and choosing faith amidst overwhelming negativity.
Overcoming Religious OCD and mental illness involves questioning traditional Christian views on suffering and God's will.
Finding solace in non-traditional expressions of spirituality can help redefine faith beyond conventional norms and religious structures.
Deep dives
Challenging Evangelical Upbringing
Growing up in evangelical churches, Anna faced mental health struggles, challenging her faith. She questioned the suffering she witnessed, struggled with Christian apologetics, and grappled with gender dynamics and societal expectations within the church.
Mental Health and Faith Transition
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 18, Anna confronted religious teachings on suicide and depression. She questioned beliefs around suffering and God's will, finding her faith journey intertwined with coming to terms with her mental health and the limitations of traditional Christian views.
Impact of Toxic Church Environment
Anna shared experiences of rejection and judgment in church settings after her diagnosis. She encountered stigma and harmful interpretations of mental illness within the church community. This led to a period of reevaluation and disconnection from institutionalized religion.
Finding Personal Faith and Self-Identity
Anna emerged from a toxic church environment seeking a new understanding of faith. Drawn to Jesus' teachings on inclusivity and compassion, she found solace in non-traditional expressions of spirituality. Through writing and introspection, she sought to redefine her faith beyond conventional norms and religious structures.
Anna Gazmarian shares her profound journey of doubting faith, getting fired from a church, sexual assault, and confronting her mental health diagnosis within the church. How does faith intersect with the challenges of Religious OCD, scrupulosity and mental health? Discover her path to understanding and acceptance.