Confession for OCD/False Memories

[almostfound]

Hello, I’m going to try and keep this short. I suffer from OCD/Scrupulosity. I am aware that I should get help for this but at the moment I do not have the money, nor does my insurance cover it.
That being said, how does one with OCD go to confession if they have false memories? False memories are a real memories that becomes twisted with some inaccuracies and fears thrown in. I know that some things are real (I was at this place with these people, etc.) but I don’t know if I actually said or did something. Also, this “memory” of me doing something bad: happened several years ago, was never a memory or fear I had before in all of those seven years, and happened to coincide with what someone did on a television show and I thought “what if I did something like that to someone” and this “memory” popped into my head (that’s what I get for watching stupid television shows). So as you can see, I am aware that I’m not 100% sure of this memory and I know that OCD people shouldn’t confess what they don’t know to be 100% true. But if I don’t say it I feel like I will have omitted something when I leave. I am also worried the priest will think I’m wasting his time with things that I don’t know if they happened or not.

Also, I had an Anointing of the Sick done for me a while back. The priest didn’t have me confess and I think he actually absolved me later without a confession (believe it or not I was worse then than I am now). Anyway, should I confess the sins I haven’t said before or does the anointing act as the Sacrament for Reconciliation for people who are mentally ill? I just feel the need to re-confess things (which I also know I’m not supposed to do either).

Also, how in the world am I supposed to confess everything that I need to in less then a minute (or however short so that I don’t take up other people’s time)? I feel as if my list will take so much of the priest’s time.

Essentially, how do I go about confessing things I am not sure of, re-confessing things, and not wasting the priests or other people’s time?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[Vico]

…
Also, I had an Anointing of the Sick done for me a while back. The priest didn’t have me confess and I think he actually absolved me later without a confession (believe it or not I was worse then than I am now). Anyway, should I confess the sins I haven’t said before or does the anointing act as the Sacrament for Reconciliation for people who are mentally ill? …

Also, how in the world am I supposed to confess everything that I need to in less then a minute (or however short so that I don’t take up other people’s time)? …

If you were not in the state of grace when the Annointing of the Sick occurred and were capable of individual confession, then it would not be received. The Anointing of the Sick is as a sacrament of the living because it should be received in a state of grace, sometimes it operates as a sacrament of the dead.

The time will not be long even with a long list: say number and kind without elaboration. You do not need to include venial sins unless you have only venial to confess.

 

[edward_george1]

It would probably be wise for you to schedule an appointment with a priest to discuss this, being as it’s a sensitive situation. Depending upon what the priest advises, you may end up coming in for confession by appointment, outside of regularly scheduled times.

That said, when confessing, less is more. It’s better to just say “I did X this number of times” in the case of mortal sin and “I did Y many times/frequently.” Detail isn’t necessary, the entire frame of mind you were in isn’t necessary, you must simply state what you did. That might help curb the impulse to go on longer.

You may PM me for further assistance if you’d like.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[DeepDeepTrouble3]

You can preface your confession with, “…and Father, a few of these things might have been in very vivid dreams (etc…).”