The Hijacked Conscience: An Informed and Compassionate Response to Religious Scrupulosity

Debi's book is a breath of fresh air in a time when we need it. Anyone who is in pastoral care, counseling or just wants to understand those who struggle living the Christian life need to read this book. For those who are struggling with trying to live up to the "standards of the Faith," you may find help in the book as well.

This book described the first fifty years of my life to a “T”. This is a book of sacred healing, written by a soul you can absolutely trust!

Debra Peck has journeyed from a hijacked conscience to becoming a spiritual sage. Scrupulosity is a topic common to Catholics and LDS, but is under-addressed in Protestant circles. As a pastor and writer who struggles with anxiety and OCD, this book helped me take new steps to wholeness and empowers me care for others in a new way.

OCD is so misunderstood. There are many who think they understand what OCD is like, but it's one of those things you can't possibly understand unless you have experienced it. It is terrifying and debilitating. It is not easy to explain to someone who doesn't have it. But it's mental torture. OCD latches on to the things you care about most. The theme will often change. An OCD theme can last days, weeks, months or years. Even though you know the thoughts are irrational, OCD makes them feel real. This can lead to intense feelings of hopelessness and despair.I am now 47 years old. I started experiencing intrusive thoughts when I was 8 years old. But I had no idea it was OCD. I was not diagnosed until I was 45. I assumed everyone struggled the way I did. Most people only know OCD as washing your hands alot and liking things neat and organized. But i never had either of those compulsions. But the reality is there are over 300 ways OCD can manifest. One them that has plagued me for many years is Scrupulosity. I wish I had read this book in my early 20s. I could have saved myself so much misery.The first part of this book was incredibly painful to read. The story sounded all too familiar. I was crying by the time I reached page 10. The more I read, the harder I cried. I almost never cry over books. But this one definitely hit a nerve. Even though I have completed treatment for my OCD, I still have good days and bad days. I have been set free from some of my compulsions from Scrupulosity. But reading the Bible and prayer are still a struggle. I am still afraid of dying and going to hell. I have made progress, but I have a long way to go. But that is okay.Many Christians are so judgemental towards people who struggle with mental illness. I have been told that I must have unconfessed sin in my life, don't have enough faith in God and that I am possessed by a demon. Words like those are incredibly hurtful towards to someone who is already struggling with a truckload of guilt, shame, self loathing, and pain. Its also incredibly hurtful to say things like "I'm so OCD" and "Everyone is a little OCD" OCD is not a joke, a character trait, or a personality quirk. It is serious disorder that causes intense suffering.OCD is kind of like a vine. You deal with it in one area, and it shows itself in another. It can be hard to recognize where your OCD is showing up. Especially if it's a theme you have struggled with for many years. It can show up in a ways that are very subtle and hard to recognize. But once you know how OCD operates, the theme doesn't matter as much. This book helped me recognize places where my OCD has been hiding. It has helped me recognize the way Scrupulosity is still showing up and impacting my faith and life.As Debra explains so well, recovery from OCD isn't a destination. It's a journey. Often, a painful, slow, and lonely journey. 2 steps forward, one step back. You will stumble and fall along the way. But there is hope. Recovery is possible. Debra's story illustrates this so beautifully.Talking about OCD is not easy. So I applaud Debra for having the courage to be raw, honest, and vulnerable. I hope someday God will help me tell my own story.If you think you might have Scrupulosity or know someone who does, you need to read this book. It truly is a gift. Having a counselor that understands OCD is vitally important. I suggest finding one through NOCD.Thank you, Debra.

This book is fantastic. It's the kind of book I have been hoping for. Thank you, to the author, for sharing your life example for others to learn and find hope! I highly reccomend for pastors and famly to read. Scrupulosity OCD is one of the worst and so hard for those who do not suffer to understand how to help. This book is a tremendous help. If you know someone with Scrupulosity, or you have scrupe OCD read this book.

I enjoyed reading this book for several reasons. Some things I could relate to in my own life . Often as a child wondered about the people who just could not seem to commit their life and just get instep with God and follow him. I now understand how they were trying but probably haven’t come to terms with “rules” they could not agree with. I myself have heard things that have been recently told young people of the church that turned them off to the “conservative church “ and how it affected them . Thankfully they were able to see through it and still keep a relationship with God. Debi thanks for being open and ripping the layers off as painful as it was.

I'm quite a slow reader, but I read this book in 48 hours because I found it so interesting — partly because it's so full of insight into the Religious Scrupulosity form of OCD, but also because it's engagingly written. Debra Peck draws generously on her own story, so full of courage and struggle, to make real for the reader how this kind of OCD works.The writer is non-judgemental and gracious in her attitudes, but the narrative makes clear that while part of the problems encountered come from psychological tendency in the person, the tendency is activated, inflamed and exacerbated by rigid forms of religion.It is a wonderful thing that Debra Peck's brave determination allowed her to hold fast to a living faith at the same time as deconstructing and moving on from the claustrophobic constriction of unhelpful forms of religion.This book will be an eye-opener to many, give courage and hope to people struggling, and should be on the bookshelves of all pastors and counsellors. It does a wonderful job at bringing together the separate but related worlds of therapy and faith community.A brilliant resource, and an immensely helpful contribution to the body of pastoral and therapeutic work.

You will be engaged from the first sentence! What an amazingly vulnerable and informing book! hope that ministry leaders will read The Hijacked Conscience and add the wisdom shared in these pages to their trauma-responsive practices. A hallmark of trauma-responsive churches is the honor given to the sacred stories of those who suffered and were often misjudged by those who lacked understanding. Let Debra’s story, courage, and wisdom be your guide in alleviating the pain of those who suffer. -Janyne McConnaughey, Author, Trauma in the Pews: The Impact on Faith and Spiritual Practices

It always amazes me to see how God works in and through the lives of broken people. Thank you for sharing your brokenness and your path toward healing. I know that many will find their path to healing as they read this incredible book. Pastors will find this a valuable resource for helping people. God bless you.Rev. David Bostick