Moral OCD

Moral OCD—sometimes called Scrupulosity—is a type of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder that centers around an overwhelming fear of being immoral, unethical, or “bad.” People with this subtype often experience intrusive thoughts about whether they’ve done something wrong or hurt someone, even when there’s no real evidence of harm.

These fears can lead to intense guilt, self-doubt, and a constant need for reassurance or clarity. The mental exhaustion that comes from trying to be “100% sure” you’re a good person can take a real toll—but help is available.

These are the distressing thoughts or doubts that keep showing up:

• “What if I lied and didn’t realize it?”
• “What if I hurt someone’s feelings and that makes me a bad person?”
• “What if I’m secretly racist, sexist, or harmful in some way?”
• “What if my intentions weren’t pure?”
• Obsessive guilt about past behaviors, even small or imagined mistakes

These are the things people feel they have to do to feel “morally clean” or certain they haven’t done anything wrong:

• Excessive apologizing or confessing—even for things others wouldn’t notice
• Mentally reviewing past conversations, actions, or thoughts
• Asking others, “Do you think I’m a good person?” or “Was that wrong?”
• Avoiding situations where a moral slip-up could happen
• Over-researching ethical rules, religious texts, or moral philosophy for reassurance