How can I return when everything feels off, assalamu alaikum
Assalamu alaikum - I’m 25F and I struggle with Scrupulosity OCD, so I’m sharing this with a shaky mind. For about two years I stepped away from Islam, and since then I’ve been drowning in guilt for everything I do. The strange thing is I felt guilty like this even while I was Muslim - maybe even worse. Back then I’d beat myself up over small slip‑ups, like missing fajr because I overslept. It would eat at me and leave me feeling so unworthy. Islam did stop me from wanting to harm myself, and I’m grateful for that. But I admit I rushed into converting and didn’t study enough beforehand. Later discoveries about certain things made me feel foolish - like, “I’ve been doing this for months without knowing? How could I be so careless?” That guilt and those regrets coloured my view of Islam, and I blame myself for not learning more before taking that step. Now Islam is on my mind all the time. Did I make a mistake? Did I convert too quickly? Am I still a believer or not? I haven’t felt peace since I left and returned to questioning everything. My thoughts are noisy and I can’t think clearly. It’s also painful when people use scare tactics - telling me to convert or I’ll go to Jahannam, or reminding me I could die any moment. That just makes my anxiety worse instead of helping. I’m asking for practical, gentle advice from fellow Muslims: how do I find calm and certainty again? How do I deal with the OCD thoughts that twist every action into guilt? Any duas, simple steps, or experiences would really help. JazākAllāhu khayr.