Is waswas and OCD the same thing?

Question

or are they two completely different issues?

Waswas - is the whispering of Shaytan ( for example doing repeated acts of wuduh becuase you think you haven't done it right, when infact you have done it right ).

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder - where individuals feel excessive amount of Worries, doubts, and superstitious beliefs.

Can OCD be treated through an Islamic approach like waswas?

The question is not based upon myself.

Answer 1

no

separate medical/psychological sources with spiritual sources of behaviour traits

Answer 2

The waswas of shaytan is not OCD. OCD is an illness and in Arabic it is called "waswas qahri" which is different from the waswas of shaytan. If you do your wudu 10 times out of doubt that you may have nulled it then this maybe OCD, but if you do something because you heard that little voice in your head to do this bad deed then this is out of shaytan and not an illness. Islamic approach can help with OCD but may not cure it. I had one friend who had OCD while he was a very good religious person. He is now much better because of psychiatric treatment (includes taking some medicine).

Answer 3

I know a lot about OCD. I can tell you that the 'O' part of OCD is the obsessive thoughts. Compulsive is the 'C' and that means that people are FORCED to act on their compulsions. They don't WANT to act on their obsessions but are forced by their thought processes. And you can say it is SIMILAR to waswas, but OCD is a disorder. It is treated through cognitive behaviour therapy.

Answer 4

Sidi Ahmad Zarruq stated in his Nasiha that waswasa is due to one of three things: mental illness, ignorance of the Sunna or arrogance. So for modern Muslim doctors - untrained in classical understandings of medicine or the psyche - to claim that waswasa is superstition, they are apparently completley unaware of the understanding that knowledge-based Sufism has regarding the nafs, as Laughing Lion has already said. Indeed, as many in our times have said, `ilm al-nafs translated into modern terminology would be "psychology" proper. And as Kayta indicated, some people also clearly suffer from hallucinations that are diagnosed as schizophrenia in the West - which cannot be cured by Western paradigms (medication is only used to suppress symptoms), but has been proven to be curable in the East by those who are capable.

Many people with anxiety disorders benefit from joining a self-help or support group and sharing their problems and achievements with others. Internet chat rooms can also be useful in this regard, but any advice received over the Internet should be used with caution, as Internet acquaintances have usually never seen each other and false identities are common. Talking with a trusted friend or member of the clergy can also provide support, but it is not a substitute for care from a mental health professional.

Stress management techniques and meditation can help people with anxiety disorders calm themselves and may enhance the effects of therapy. There is preliminary evidence that aerobic exercise may have a calming effect. Since caffeine, certain illicit drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold medications can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorders, they should be avoided. Check with your physician or pharmacist before taking any additional medications.

A type of behavioral therapy called exposure and response prevention is generally the first line of treatment for OCD.  In this treatment, you are repeatedly exposed to the source of your obsession. Then you are prevented from engaging in whatever compulsive ritual you use to reduce the anxiety brought about by your obsession. For example, if you are a compulsive hand washer, you might be asked to touch the door handle in a public restroom and then be prevented from washing up. As you sit with the anxiety, the urge to wash your hands will gradually begin to go away on its own. In this way, you learn that you don’t need the ritual to get rid of your anxiety.

Answer 5

Waswas is normal to humans whereas OCD is a disorder. May be excessive waswas is OCD but not normal.

Answer 6

Waswas is a habit..... we can change it by concentrating on what we are doing....

Salaam

Answer 7

Someone I knew had OCD she was in a total state, I got advised to tell her to be punctual in Salaah even if that mean praying 2 out of 5 or whatever she could to recite recite the 4 Kuls, morning/evening/before sleeping du'a/making supplication to Allah and reading books which will lift her her up and were inspirational.

However bearing in mind when one is complete stressed etc it may be difficulty for them to comprehend why they need to pray and make dua, All I can say is with the right support that person can Insha'Allah get better as I have witnessed this.