Can I be Saved by God?

[Larry22]

Hello. I’m 17 years old and need help regarding a growing issue which is taking place in mind. For the last year or so I have suffered from OCD and for months I think I am having a few mental issues. It used to be fear that something bad would happen if I did something such as deciding to play a particular song on my phone. But it has now progressed into something more disturbing. I often think about religion and god and wonder whether I am living a good Christian life but a lot of the time I think of myself as a bad person and I fear the punishment that could lay ahead. I find it difficult to resist the habit of masturbating. Before I would do it and not really care about what I was doing. But now I understand that it is wrong and even though I try to resist doing it, I still do it now and again. But every time I do it I feel very guilty and I fear that I am going to hell. I pray to god and tell him i am sorry and I try not to do it again. But I find it really difficult to stop. I feel that I am really letting god down because i am not showing that I can repent and not comit this act again. I also think that when I masturbate I make myself more depressed as I fear that I am going to hell. Along with the OCD, disturbing images just come into my head, and thoughts of things that I would never do, appear. I don’t want to be a bad person but the more I try to avoid bad thoughts the more they come. I fear that my thoughts could make me a bad person in god’s eyes. Now my OCD is affecting me when I masturbate as I think that something bad will happen when I do it. My OCD has told me that I will hurt god if I masturbate and on other days has told me that something bad will happen to my familly if I do it. On one occasion the OCD told me that god would send me to hell if I did it. Now I am scared because I always think that maybe the OCD could be God speaking to me on some occasions without me realising it. I try to think realistically but there is always doubt in my mind. Whatever I try to avoid thinking, I always think of. The thought of the unforgiveable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit has recently bothered me. I want to believe in god and in Jesus. But the other day before masturbating my ocd told me that I would hurt the Holy Spirit if I commited the act of masturbation. After doing so I felt really guilty because I feel like I have rejected it and it’s existence and I don’t want to reject it. I just want to be a good person. But I am scared that somewhere in my OCD someone from religion is speaking to me and I am just ignoring them. Can I be saved? Can God help me and forgive me? Can I avoid hell and have I commited a sin that is unforgiveable? If I didn’t have the OCD these thoughts would have never come through my mind and I would never feel that I have rejected the Holy Spirit, Jesus and God. What should I do to get help, can I tell a parent or who should I speak to? I need help. I want to believe in god.

 

[CaptainPrudeman]

There’s no unforgivable sin, my friend. Go to confession and be absolved, and you should see about treatment for the OCD.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Please, seek professional help. Speak with your parents, a trusted teacher or school counselor as well as your Catholic Youth Minister and Pastor to help discern between OCD and your conscience.

 

[MeInMississippi]

If you are not seeing a psychiatrist, you really need to be. It seems you need medications. If you’re already on medications it sounds as if you need an adjustment. However, psychiatric medicines really need to come from a psychiatrist. It seems you could benefit from some professional counseling as well. You can overcome these feelings and actions. God loves you and will not forsake you.

 

[Vico]

I fear that my thoughts could make me a bad person in god’s eyes.

Sin is something which is voluntary. The thoughts themselves may be temptations, but may not be voluntary. Now culpability it based upon making an decision to sin, which is a personal choice. That is not what a compulsion is. Choosing to dwell on thoughts and do acts or omission with knowledge and reflection is when those can be avoided, is what constitutes sin.

 

[TheOldColonel]

Be strong. Focus your mind. Set goals and begin to accomplish those goals. Let no one keep you from achieving your dreams. There’s nothing you cannot accomplish with the right attitude. So have clarity of purpose. Remain steadfast in your resolve. Leave fear behind. Let your courage lead the charge. For victory is always near. That prize if for those who never give up.

 

[crenfro]

Hello.

It is difficult to be a teenager. I’m so sorry you’re going through all this torment. I once was a teenager myself and it was frequently awful, but not all of the time. And please find someone good, wise, kind, trustworthy and holy who can help you and you can talk to - someone of the same gender would be preferable. Sometimes even this can be quite a search. Then wear a path to their door. And don’t give up. Would your parents support you in finding a therapist or in speaking regularly with your priest?

How often can you get to confession? That would be very helpful to you. How about praying the Rosary every day? Do you have a Rosary that you like, that’s fun to carry around? It can just be one of those single decade rosaries or a rosary ring (be sure to have them blessed). How often can you get to Mass? Is it at all possible to go to confession right before Mass? Also, do you have a sport you play or that you’re interested in? It’d be good to start getting really proficient at it at this time. Do you like kickboxing? Boxing? Karate? (If you start now you could have a black belt by your mid-twenties!)

And remember, Jesus died on the cross to save us. He came down here to save sinners, which is everybody, pretty much, down here. He loves us more that we can fathom.

The bad one wants us to give in to discouragement and despair. Stay close to the One who offers us hope and salvation. Ask the Blessed Virgin Mary for help, too.

You are in my prayers. Please pray for me.