Federico Ferrarese Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

07/12/2025

✨ How Culture Shapes OCD: Faith, Family & Identity Unpacked ✨

I am pleased to share my latest YouTube video, “OCD Through Culture: Faith, Family, Identity Explained.”
In this discussion, I explore how cultural backgrounds influence the understanding and experience of OCD, including the impact of faith traditions, family expectations, and personal identity.

▶️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/pdAXf_E_7jI

I would greatly appreciate your time in viewing the content and sharing your reflections.
If you find it insightful, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing — your engagement truly supports the growth of this work.

Thank you for your continued interest and support.

✨ How Culture Shapes OCD | Faith, Family & Identity ExplainedOCD affects people worldwide — but it neve...

05/12/2025

Religious OCD: Breaking the 'I'm Going to Hell' Spiral

Ever been in prayer or worship and suddenly a disturbing thought hits you out of nowhere? Your heart sinks, and panic whispers: “Does this mean something about me? Am I doomed?”

If that sounds familiar, you are far from alone.
Religious OCD — also known as scrupulosity — is a real, treatable condition that turns faith into fear, devotion into dread, and spirituality into a battlefield.

It doesn’t mean you lack faith.
It doesn’t mean God is displeased with you.
It means your anxiety has latched onto what matters most to you.

The good news?
You can break free — without abandoning your beliefs or compromising your spirituality.

In this powerful article, therapist Federico Ferrarese explores:
✨ Why intrusive “blasphemous” thoughts feel so real
✨ How OCD twists faith into guilt
✨ What recovery looks like — with proven therapy and spiritual support
✨ How faith and healing can coexist

If your faith has become a source of torment instead of peace, this is for you.
There is hope.

➡️ Learn more here: https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/04/religious-ocd/

Learn strategies to combat Religious OCD and escape the ‘I’m Going to Hell’ spiral with professional online therapy.

05/12/2025

✨ Do you ever feel torn between loving your partner and doubting your relationship — even when nothing is actually wrong?

If so, you’re not crazy, broken, or alone.
You might be experiencing Relationship OCD (ROCD) — an anxiety pattern that hijacks love and turns uncertainty into obsession.

💬 In my newest video, we unpack:

✔ Why doubts sometimes appear from nowhere
✔ Why reassurance never feels enough
✔ How ROCD mimics real relationship problems
✔ What patterns reveal the true source of the confusion
✔ The mindset shift that brings peace and clarity

If you’ve walked through endless “what if?” loops, felt paralysed by decision-making, or questioned feelings you KNOW you have… this one is for you. ❤️‍🩹

👉 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/KcKnItLSAxU

Let’s start normalising these conversations — because love shouldn’t feel like a battlefield with your own mind.

Comment below if this resonates, share it with someone who might need it, and don’t forget to subscribe for more insights like this!
Your clarity journey starts right here.

Welcome to a space dedicated to emotional clarity, mental wellbeing, and navigating the comp...

04/12/2025

✨ Inviting You to Watch My New Short Video on Religious Scrupulosity ✨

Have you ever wrestled with intrusive religious thoughts, guilt, or fear that you might be “going to hell” because of what pops into your mind?
You’re not alone — and you don’t have to struggle silently.

I’ve just uploaded a short, calming, educational video on Religious OCD (Scrupulosity) — what it is, why it feels so powerful, and how people can reclaim peace without abandoning their faith.

If your spiritual life has ever felt more like anxiety than comfort, this might be the perspective you need today.

🙏 Watch it here:
📌 https://youtu.be/c-iJCqzSzoA

Feel free to like, share, or comment — someone you know may need this message today.
You are not alone, and there is hope. 🌿

Do intrusive religious thoughts leave you anxious, guilty, or afraid you’re “going to h...

03/12/2025

Do you replay memories you’re unsure even happened?
False Memory OCD tricks your brain into believing intrusive thoughts are evidence of something real.
The doubt feels unbearable—and the loop seems impossible to escape.

But there is a way out.
You don’t need to solve every thought to reclaim peace.

Swipe through to learn how false memory OCD works, why it feels so real, and what actually helps you break the cycle.
👉 Tap the link in my bio to read the full article and learn more:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/03/false-memory-ocd/

You’re not alone in this. Healing is possible

03/12/2025

False Memory OCD: The Truth About Your Past Memories

Have you ever been hit by a sudden wave of doubt about something you might have done in the past—only to realise you can’t tell if it really happened or if your mind is playing tricks on you?

False Memory OCD can feel like being trapped in your own head—questioning your past, replaying scenarios, and desperately seeking certainty that never comes. It affects far more people than you think, and its impact can be overwhelming.

If you’ve ever found yourself spiralling over a memory you’re not even sure is real, you are not alone—and you’re not broken.
There is a way out.

In my latest article, I break down:

✨ What false memory OCD actually is
✨ Why these memories feel so real
✨ The difference between false memory OCD and normal forgetfulness
✨ Evidence-based treatments that truly work
✨ Practical strategies for daily coping

Recovery is absolutely possible—and it begins with understanding what you’re facing.

➡️ Learn more here: https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/03/false-memory-ocd/

If this resonates with you, give it a read—and feel free to share it with someone who might need it. 💬

Discover expert insights on False Memory OCD with an Italian CBT therapist in Edinburgh. Online therapy available in English and Italian.

01/12/2025

Struggling to figure out whether your doubts are real… or if your mind is playing tricks on you?
You’re not alone — and you’re not losing your mind.

Relationship OCD (ROCD) can make even the healthiest partnerships feel uncertain.
One minute you feel connected… the next, you’re spiralling into “What if I don’t actually love them?” or “What if this is wrong?”

This 7-question checklist helps you finally understand what’s ROCD and what’s a real relationship issue — so you can stop overthinking and start breathing again.

If these questions hit close to home, the full detailed guide is waiting for you.
You deserve clarity, not fear.
You deserve support, not shame.
You deserve relationships grounded in reality, not anxiety.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/01/rocd-vs-real-relationship-problems/

01/12/2025

ROCD vs Real Relationship Problems: 7-Question Checklist
Ever found yourself wondering whether your relationship doubts are real… or if your mind is playing tricks on you?

You’re not alone — and you’re definitely not “broken.”

Relationship OCD (ROCD) can make even the strongest partnerships feel shaky. One moment you feel connected, the next you’re spiralling into “What if I don’t really love them?” or “What if this isn’t right?”

But here’s the thing:
ROCD and genuine relationship issues look similar on the surface — but they come from very different places.

I’ve put together a powerful, therapist-designed 7-question checklist to help you understand what’s really going on beneath those doubts, intrusive thoughts, and endless reassurance-seeking.

If your mind feels stuck in loops…
If confusion shows up more than real unhappiness…
If your anxiety spikes when you’re alone…

…this guide was written for you.

✨ Want clarity instead of confusion?
Dive into the full article here:
👉 https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/01/rocd-vs-real-relationship-problems/

You deserve to understand your mind — and your relationship — with compassion, not fear. 💬

ROCD vs Real Relationship Problems: Explore my 7-question checklist to differentiate ROCD from real relationship issues

29/11/2025

OCD doesn’t exist in isolation — it grows from the soil of our culture, faith, family, and identity.
From religious scrupulosity to family-reinforced rituals to culturally shaped fears, OCD looks different around the world. The core disorder may be universal, but its expression is deeply personal.

If you or someone you care about feels misunderstood by one-size-fits-all explanations of OCD, you’re not alone. Understanding the cultural layer is often the missing piece — and a powerful step toward the right kind of support.

👉 Explore the full article here:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/11/29/how-culture-shapes-ocd/

🌍 Culturally sensitive therapy can make all the difference.

29/11/2025

🧠 OCD in Different Cultures: How Faith, Family & Identity Shape Obsessions

Have you ever wondered why OCD looks so different from person to person — even when the ‘core’ symptoms are the same? 🤔
In many cultures, obsessions and compulsions don’t just come out of nowhere. They often carry the weight of faith, family expectations, identity, and deep-rooted beliefs.

I recently explored this in depth: how religious rituals can turn into compulsive patterns, how family dynamics and cultural identity shape what becomes a source of anxiety, and why standard treatments sometimes don’t fit. Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all — especially when culture, religion or social context plays a role.

Curious to see what happens to OCD across different cultures — from purity rituals to order and control — and why understanding culture matters more than ever?

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/11/29/how-culture-shapes-ocd/

If you recognise aspects of your own experience in this, know you’re not alone.

Explore How Culture Shapes OCD, and learn about online therapy options. Italian And English

23/11/2025

Do you ever feel responsible for everything — other people’s feelings, unlikely dangers, tiny mistakes, or outcomes you couldn’t possibly control?

You’re not “too sensitive.”
You’re not “overthinking.”
And you’re definitely not a bad person.

This could be hyper-responsibility OCD or moral scrupulosity — two forms of OCD that make caring people feel overwhelmed by guilt, fear, and self-doubt.

Understanding the difference between genuine moral responsibility and responsibility-themed OCD can be life-changing.
And it’s a crucial first step toward recovery.

If this resonates, you’re not alone — and there is a clear, evidence-based path forward.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/11/23/hyper-responsibility-ocd/

23/11/2025

Hyper-Responsibility OCD vs Moral Responsibility Explained

Have you ever apologised over and over because you might have said something wrong…
Checked an email 10 times before sending…
Or felt responsible for things completely outside your control?

You’re not alone—and it might not be “being a good person.”
It could be hyper-responsibility OCD masquerading as moral responsibility.

In my Edinburgh clinic, I meet so many caring, conscientious people who believe their anxiety is simply a sign of strong ethics. In reality, they’re carrying a level of responsibility no human could ever manage—and it’s exhausting.

Here’s the truth:
✨ Normal moral responsibility is flexible, proportionate, and rooted in real-life context.
⚡ Hyper-responsibility OCD is driven by fear, inflated control, and constant self-doubt.

Understanding the difference isn’t just helpful—it’s life-changing.
And it’s one of the biggest reasons people avoid or resist treatment.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your guilt, checking, or fear of causing harm might be OCD rather than morality… this article will bring a lot of clarity.

👉 Learn more here:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/11/23/hyper-responsibility-ocd/

Discover the key differences between Hyper-Responsibility OCD and moral responsibility in this clear CBT guide by a qualified therapist.