Advice for weird problem

[jjdjrwildcat]

A few weeks ago, my sister and I were in a Kroger and there was a display for Oreos that featured all the members of the band One Direction on them. As we passed by, I made a sarcastic comment to my sister about how feminine the band members looked, and she agreed. She then made a comment wondering whether or not they were homosexual. Immediately, a little voice in my head said “You said they looked feminine, therefore you are gay.” I pushed it to the back of my mind. However in the weeks since, I keep having what would almost qualify as panic attacks because this voice keeps telling me that I am gay. I know for a fact however, that I am not gay. I have been sexually attracted to girls my whole life, including many struggles with pornography, and never once have I been tempted or attracted by any male featuring pornography. Also in my personal relationships, I have have had many female crushes. So while my logical mind says that I cannot be gay, this voice (devil or demon, I’m guessing?) keeps telling me I am. I looked this up on the Internet, and apparently something called HOCD exists. Homosexual Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, in which a straight person is constantly tormented by thoughts that he is gay, despite no evidence to suggest this is actually the case. All the symptoms listed seem to correlate with what has been happening to me. Basically what I’m asking is this: what prayers can be prayed, what saints intercession can be utilized, ANYTHING to get these thoughts out of my head. They are becoming a permanent distraction.

Additional details: when these thoughts enter my head, they are occasionally coupled with images of men. However, my mind always reacts to these images with disgust, so much disgust I have actually almost physically vomited. When this first started happening, to convince myself that I was still “straight,” I looked at pornography featuring only women. (I realize in retrospect this was horrible and a mortal sin, and I will confess accordingly) however, I was still attracted to the women, and not once during this act did men enter my head.

 

[1ke]

You need to seek professional advice. We cannot give mental health advice here. For spiritual counsel relatd to OCD, scrupulocity, compulsive thoughts, intrusive thoughts, etc, make an appointment with your pastor.

 

[Trishie]

God grant that you will continue to pray for a pure heart and mind, and that you will find peace of mind and soul, but also for the grace not to idly judge or criticize others.

Their faces have been around one of our Australian supermarket chains for weeks due to some ticket competition.
Those boys are young, and I’ve never had the impression they’re feminine, just very young. They’re trying to look appealing to the youth, so the hair!, looking cute, and the faces of youths sometimes are softer than those of older men. It isn’t a gay indicator…and why categorize them as gay or straight anyway? Not our business.

So may God also grant us the discipline to avoid idle thoughts. Better to pray for the young men that all the adulation and publicity doesn’t go to their head, and that they keep a balance, living good lives.

We’re called to love God and to love others. Jesus sums up the Commandments with those two linked commands, so our task is to put our useless introspections aside and concentrate each day in some time for God, and in doing what kind and helpful things, however large, however small, for the family and for others in our lives…along with living out our normal responsibilities and requirements for spiritual and temporal well-being.

God grant you peace and a joyful, blessed life.

 

[Captain_America]

Pardon me, but based on what you’ve shared, it just sounds to me like you’re thinking too much.

Let it go. You’re fine.

Keep in mind that it’s reasonable for a person to see another person and think of him and her as being handsome/cute/pretty/beautiful etc. . . . just speaking objectively and looking at the facts of the situation.

 

[jjdjrwildcat]

Pardon me, but based on what you’ve shared, it just sounds to me like you’re thinking too much.

Let it go. You’re fine.

Keep in mind that it’s reasonable for a person to see another person and think of him and her as being handsome/cute/pretty/beautiful etc. . . . just speaking objectively and looking at the facts of the situation.

Thinking too much… Yes I do do that. I’d still like to know a prayer or a saint I can turn to when these thoughts are in my head, however.

 

[jjdjrwildcat]

God grant that you will continue to pray for a pure heart and mind, and that you will find peace of mind and soul, but also for the grace not to idly judge or criticize others.

Their faces have been around one of our Australian supermarket chains for weeks due to some ticket competition.
Those boys are young, and I’ve never had the impression they’re feminine, just very young. They’re trying to look appealing to the youth, so the hair!, looking cute, and the faces of youths sometimes are softer than those of older men. It isn’t a gay indicator…and why categorize them as gay or straight anyway? Not our business.

So may God also grant us the discipline to avoid idle thoughts. Better to pray for the young men that all the adulation and publicity doesn’t go to their head, and that they keep a balance, living good lives.

We’re called to love God and to love others. Jesus sums up the Commandments with those two linked commands, so our task is to put our useless introspections aside and concentrate each day in some time for God, and in doing what kind and helpful things, however large, however small, for the family and for others in our lives…along with living out our normal responsibilities and requirements for spiritual and temporal well-being.

God grant you peace and a joyful, blessed life.

I think you are misunderstanding my post. I’m not really concerned about that band at all. That was just the tip of the Iceberg, what happened next was my concern.

 

[ffg]

Thinking too much… Yes I do do that. I’d still like to know a prayer or a saint I can turn to when these thoughts are in my head, however.

St. Michael Prayer

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

 

[Allegra]

Since this has only been going on for a few weeks, I would hold off on the self diagnosis. You might consider devoting an hour of your evening to meditation of some kind and see if that helps. I haven’t had this problem in a while, but when my life was especially stressful, I used to obsess when I was away form home about leaving the oven on and forgetting to lock my doors. Calming your mind down before bed, might go a long way. Also, try to avoid eating a very late dinner as it can effect your sleep, which then can trigger the obsessive thoughts. Obviously, if the obsessive thoughts get worse or continue for a whole lot longer, you should seek more professional help.

 

[Allegra]

God grant that you will continue to pray for a pure heart and mind, and that you will find peace of mind and soul, but also for the grace not to idly judge or criticize others.

Their faces have been around one of our Australian supermarket chains for weeks due to some ticket competition.
Those boys are young, and I’ve never had the impression they’re feminine, just very young. They’re trying to look appealing to the youth, so the hair!, looking cute, and the faces of youths sometimes are softer than those of older men. It isn’t a gay indicator…and why categorize them as gay or straight anyway? Not our business.

So may God also grant us the discipline to avoid idle thoughts. Better to pray for the young men that all the adulation and publicity doesn’t go to their head, and that they keep a balance, living good lives.

We’re called to love God and to love others. Jesus sums up the Commandments with those two linked commands, so our task is to put our useless introspections aside and concentrate each day in some time for God, and in doing what kind and helpful things, however large, however small, for the family and for others in our lives…along with living out our normal responsibilities and requirements for spiritual and temporal well-being.

God grant you peace and a joyful, blessed life.

I don’t get the impression that the OP has any objection to this boy band or has any intention of accusing them of being homosexual. Obviously, you are a fan of them, but I don’t think it is unreasonable for someone to find a certain style or look as effeminate. That’s not the same as accusing them of being gay. People have different tastes in clothing and hairdos that that’s okay.

 

[Deus_tecum]

It frankly sounds like oppression by a demon of perversion. Look up the Scriptures about faith, steel your faith, and cast the despicable thing away from you with a request to your guardian angel to help keep it away. Then if you happen to have that thought enter again, just disregard it, since you have cast the author of it away. May God bless and strengthen you, in Jesus Holy Name. Oh and since it started when you passed judgment on the singing group, even though you were just kidding, you probably shouldn’t do that anymore. You are going to be ok.

 

[jjdjrwildcat]

Since this has only been going on for a few weeks, I would hold off on the self diagnosis. You might consider devoting an hour of your evening to meditation of some kind and see if that helps. I haven’t had this problem in a while, but when my life was especially stressful, I used to obsess when I was away form home about leaving the oven on and forgetting to lock my doors. Calming your mind down before bed, might go a long way. Also, try to avoid eating a very late dinner as it can effect your sleep, which then can trigger the obsessive thoughts. Obviously, if the obsessive thoughts get worse or continue for a whole lot longer, you should seek more professional help.

Yes I have obsessed about other things before. Hopefully this too shall pass.

 

[RoseMary131]

Immediately, a little voice in my head said “You said they looked feminine, therefore you are gay.” …I keep having what would almost qualify as panic attacks because this voice keeps telling me that I am gay.

ANYTHING to get these thoughts out of my head. They are becoming a permanent distraction.

I looked at pornography featuring only women. (I realize in retrospect this was horrible and a mortal sin, and I will confess accordingly)

First, I am glad to see you are ready to confess the mortal sin of looking at pornography.

Please do this asap.

You can not invite evil into your mind, eyes, heart… for any purpose.

When you confess this, please tell Father that you did this because your thoughts in your head told you that you are gay.

While this may not be OCD / scrupulosity today, if you don’t get it under control - it may be OCD. Do you obsess about other things? Do you have the same patterns of thoughts over and over?

Pay attention to other repetitive thoughts. If they continue, ask your parents about speaking with a counselor who can help you with OCD and speak with your priest about it as well.

 

[RoseMary131]

Is there a Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM or CYO) at your parish?

Sometimes groups like this help teens in discerning how to follow Christ’s teachings without getting caught up in the “ways of the world”.

Maybe all the news on Same Sex Unions has troubled you and your tendencies towards obsessing is weighing heavy on you.

Having a place to discuss God’s plan for our sexuality may help you with this sudden fear that you are gay.

 

[jjdjrwildcat]

Is there a Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM or CYO) at your parish?

Sometimes groups like this help teens in discerning how to follow Christ’s teachings without getting caught up in the “ways of the world”.

Maybe all the news on Same Sex Unions has troubled you and your tendencies towards obsessing is weighing heavy on you.

Having a place to discuss God’s plan for our sexuality may help you with this sudden fear that you are gay.

I had the same thought, that all the stuff in the news lately had triggered something.

 

[jjdjrwildcat]

It frankly sounds like oppression by a demon of perversion. Look up the Scriptures about faith, steel your faith, and cast the despicable thing away from you with a request to your guardian angel to help keep it away. Then if you happen to have that thought enter again, just disregard it, since you have cast the author of it away. May God bless and strengthen you, in Jesus Holy Name. Oh and since it started when you passed judgment on the singing group, even though you were just kidding, you probably shouldn’t do that anymore. You are going to be ok.

Thank you, I will try that.

 

[Trishie]

I don’t get the impression that the OP has any objection to this boy band or has any intention of accusing them of being homosexual. Obviously, you are a fan of them, but I don’t think it is unreasonable for someone to find a certain style or look as effeminate. That’s not the same as accusing them of being gay. People have different tastes in clothing and hairdos that that’s okay.

A false presumption. I’m definitely not a fan of these kids, just an observer.

As for different hairdos and styles, of course I appreciate that everyone has different tastes and I don’t personally have any issue with that despite the presumption that I do in your feeling you needed to point that out in your last line in response to my post.
Nor was I indicating he has objection to them.

I was a speaking objectively not subjectively.I just try to help others when they ask for help, which he did.

Clearly, the issue is in his thoughts, as he himself indicates.

Just trying to direct him away from being so concerned with these issues that are disturbing him, towards a healthy spirituality and life. That was my only aim in replying.

God bless you.

Sorry you missed the point of my post.

 

[Becky4906]

It frankly sounds like oppression by a demon of perversion. Look up the Scriptures about faith, steel your faith, and cast the despicable thing away from you with a request to your guardian angel to help keep it away. Then if you happen to have that thought enter again, just disregard it, since you have cast the author of it away. May God bless and strengthen you, in Jesus Holy Name. Oh and since it started when you passed judgment on the singing group, even though you were just kidding, you probably shouldn’t do that anymore. You are going to be ok.

My first thought as well. Asking for help from your guardian angel is a great idea - that’s his job, to help you fight your spiritual battles - as is reciting the prayer to St. Michael asking that he help you fight this battle. A Hail Mary is always a good idea as well - your Mother will pray for you and it will refocus your mind on the things of God. Finally - remember the words of Jesus himself when he was tempted: “Behind me Satan!”.

In addition to this “arrows in your quiver” for quick use- frequent confession and Mass attendance and Eucharist will keep you strong and fill you with the word of God.

May God bless you give you strength!

 

[3DOCTORS]

Guilt over past sins can lead to anxiety, anxiety can lead to OCD/scrupulosity and other forms of OCD. Just sayin’. Not diagnosing - I do recommend you talk to a Catholic mental health pro - nipping these things in the bud can save you a lot of unnecessary suffering and stress.

 

[jjdjrwildcat]

My first thought as well. Asking for help from your guardian angel is a great idea - that’s his job, to help you fight your spiritual battles - as is reciting the prayer to St. Michael asking that he help you fight this battle. A Hail Mary is always a good idea as well - your Mother will pray for you and it will refocus your mind on the things of God. Finally - remember the words of Jesus himself when he was tempted: “Behind me Satan!”.

In addition to this “arrows in your quiver” for quick use- frequent confession and Mass attendance and Eucharist will keep you strong and fill you with the word of God.

May God bless you give you strength!

My gaurdian angel seems to be on break then

 

[Meemai]

Never take a diagnosis from yourself or a from anyone else also not in the internet. Just go to a psychologist however I do want to let you know that you better wait it out a bit. It’s only been going on for a little while.