Help with intrusive thoughts?

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veryworried6277

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I have been having so many intrusive (name removed by moderator)ure thoughts. Some are blasphemous and quite strong. As soon as these come I say a Hail Mary, but what’s the best way to stop them from the start? My mind seems to want to make impure thoughts out of everything I look at. Also I’m always quite concerned that I give consent. How can I reassure myself that I haven’t? I mean, I usually know that I haven’t because I pray or try to distract myself, but the stronger the thoughts are and the longer they take to go away, the more doubt I have that I may have consented to them and committed a mortal sin.
 
veryworried6277 said:
I have been having so many intrusive (name removed by moderator)ure thoughts. Some are blasphemous and quite strong. As soon as these come I say a Hail Mary, but what’s the best way to stop them from the start? My mind seems to want to make impure thoughts out of everything I look at. Also I’m always quite concerned that I give consent. How can I reassure myself that I haven’t? I mean, I usually know that I haven’t because I pray or try to distract myself, but the stronger the thoughts are and the longer they take to go away, the more doubt I have that I may have consented to them and committed a mortal sin.
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They are the result of anxiety. Maybe try some more meditative or contemplative prayer. Try something that will make you focus your mind. Try to focus on what you are doing, and try to avoid day dreaming or fantasizing. Anxiety is the result of thoughts. The clearer your mind is, the less intrusive thoughts will come.
 
Do not fear that you have committed a mortal sin and do not know it. If you committed a mortal sin, I have no doubt that someone with as much faith as you obviously have would be convicted in your soul. You would also have no doubt that it was God convicting you.

satan is allowed to plant thoughts in your mind. If you do not verbalize those thoughts as being true or at the least agree with them then you are not consenting.

Any time you have these thoughts remember Archangel Michael sends angels whenever you ask him or the Lord or the the Blessed Mother. They will put an end to the thoughts and Satan will return at a more opportune time.

It is NOT a lack of faith that allows satan to plant thoughts in someones mind and/or talk through them. If it can happen to St. Peter it can happen to any of us.

EDIT: It IS a lack of faith that allows it. What I am trying to say is that none of us have enough faith to stop it.
 
(from previous posts of mine)

Regarding unwanted thoughts

While Jesus makes it clear that one can sin in ones thoughts…just cause some lustful thought or other like thought happens does not mean that one has sinned…

What should we do with* unwanted* sexual thoughts or other “bad thoughts”…thoughts against God etc? Those pesky temptations that can come …even though we are not seeking them etc…

Are they mortal sins?

For a mortal sin one needs a grave matter …full knowledge AND deliberate consent!!!

A. If you do not want the thought…it the thought displeases you: it can be a sign actually that you did not give any consent or do not give full consent.

B. Even if you felt a temptation for the thought – and were drawn to it involuntarily —but rejected it and maybe even turned right to God : again a sign not full consent (if there was any).

C. But what if one has a tempting thought --say of a sexual nature and even hesitated for a moment…but then rejected it for one did not want to sin?: it can be partial consent perhaps (and thus a venial sin)-- or it may be no sin at all but rather a strong temptation that drew you but then you saw what was happening and turned away.

D. A temptation can even be very strong or the thoughts very often – but this does NOT mean one has consented!

Remember --for it to be mortal there must be that deliberate consent!

What to do? on the spiritual side–relax first of all and remember the above.

Next – know that the more one fears the thoughts the more likely they are to come… or said another way --the more a person stress about seeking to avoid the thoughts the more likely he will have a problem with them.

for example: for the next 10 seconds try NOT to think of an apple.

tick tock …

tick tock…

Ok what did you think of?

Most likely an apple.

So it is best to ignore them and just not consent and then turn your attention to some other good thing…for instance whatever you are doing.
Simply do not consent and move on…

Another point – thoughts can just happen --they are the stuff with which we think…it is up to us to consent and take them further or not. And just because they are REAL VIVID and almost “think themselves” does not mean per se that one has given ANY consent.

They can be annoying…but need cause no actual harm …

One can speak of this with ones confessor.

(Now difficulties with thoughts can happen to anyone…and has for centuries…nothing new!..but I will note too that “some” have a condition known as OCD (I knew someone with this once…it was a painful experience)…and thus should seek further professional help to work at overcoming it and to live a more peaceful life…)

(And we can not give “psychological or medical things” in the forum forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=134056. What I noted is more from the theological and practical-spiritual side…but discuss it with those who are directly involved in assisting you…some have more “medical reasons” for such difficulties…OCD and what not …which we can not get into here.)

(also some suffer from scrupulosity and ought to have a* regular confessor*)
There is a story from the desert of the early Centuries of the Church where a younger hermit when to an older one with the problems of thoughts happening to him all the time…the older hermit told him to go outside open his cloak and catch the wind.

The younger hermit said such is not possible…

the older hermit replied --neither is it possible to stop all the thoughts that can come to you…your choice… is to consent or not…
 
Get a regular confessor and a mental health professional trained in anxiety issues.
 
veryworried6277 said:
I have been having so many intrusive (name removed by moderator)ure thoughts. Some are blasphemous and quite strong. As soon as these come I say a Hail Mary, but what’s the best way to stop them from the start? My mind seems to want to make impure thoughts out of everything I look at. Also I’m always quite concerned that I give consent. How can I reassure myself that I haven’t? I mean, I usually know that I haven’t because I pray or try to distract myself, but the stronger the thoughts are and the longer they take to go away, the more doubt I have that I may have consented to them and committed a mortal sin.
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I have similar problems, but I’ve been able to pretty much overcome it now. Anxiety runs in my family. Sounds like you have it too.

The best way to think of it is, it’s just a thought, nothing more. And unless you know that you are embracing it with your will, it’s not sinful.

Sometimes it can be hard to know if you willed it or not, but the fact that you’re worrying about it shows that you didn’t want to have the thought, right?

If you were to dream something impure in your sleep, would it be a sin? Of course not. You are not responsible for what happens in your dreaming states. There is no will involved. It’s just your imagination.

Your imagination can work similarly in waking states too. Weird, crazy thoughts and images can enter our minds randomly and we have no control over it. It’s part of our humanity. What matters is what you do with those thoughts. We have the will to either embrace them and entertain them, or just let them pass right through our minds.

I would advice you to try not to think about bad things and that you’re sinning because the more you worry, the more you’ll think about it. And don’t get too caught up on trying to intentionally stop them because that can make it worse. The more you try not to think about it, the more you do. You can’t completely control the thoughts that pass through your mind. For instance, for the next 30 seconds, try not to visualize a banana…
…
…
…

Hard isn’t it? usually you visualize it whether you mean to or not. Even when you try not to, you do! It’s the same thing with bad thoughts.

So don’t stress about it, it’s part of being human. It may take a while, but you’ll get through it.

Another helpful tool: If you are suddenly overwhelmed by some terrible thoughts and you don’t know what to do, visualize yourself releasing it in some way to God and ask Him to take care of it because you can’t.

Take care, and God Bless you!

Don’t give up sweetie!
 
Bookcat said:
(from previous posts of mine)

Regarding unwanted thoughts

While Jesus makes it clear that one can sin in ones thoughts…just cause some lustful thought or other like thought happens does not mean that one has sinned…

What should we do with* unwanted* sexual thoughts or other “bad thoughts”…thoughts against God etc? Those pesky temptations that can come …even though we are not seeking them etc…

Are they mortal sins?

For a mortal sin one needs a grave matter …full knowledge AND deliberate consent!!!

A. If you do not want the thought…it the thought displeases you: it can be a sign actually that you did not give any consent or do not give full consent.

B. Even if you felt a temptation for the thought – and were drawn to it involuntarily —but rejected it and maybe even turned right to God : again a sign not full consent (if there was any).

C. But what if one has a tempting thought --say of a sexual nature and even hesitated for a moment…but then rejected it for one did not want to sin?: it can be partial consent perhaps (and thus a venial sin)-- or it may be no sin at all but rather a strong temptation that drew you but then you saw what was happening and turned away.

D. A temptation can even be very strong or the thoughts very often – but this does NOT mean one has consented!

Remember --for it to be mortal there must be that deliberate consent!

What to do? on the spiritual side–relax first of all and remember the above.

Next – know that the more one fears the thoughts the more likely they are to come… or said another way --the more a person stress about seeking to avoid the thoughts the more likely he will have a problem with them.

for example: for the next 10 seconds try NOT to think of an apple.

tick tock …

tick tock…

Ok what did you think of?

Most likely an apple.

So it is best to ignore them and just not consent and then turn your attention to some other good thing…for instance whatever you are doing.
Simply do not consent and move on…

Another point – thoughts can just happen --they are the stuff with which we think…it is up to us to consent and take them further or not. And just because they are REAL VIVID and almost “think themselves” does not mean per se that one has given ANY consent.

They can be annoying…but need cause no actual harm …

One can speak of this with ones confessor.

(Now difficulties with thoughts can happen to anyone…and has for centuries…nothing new!..but I will note too that “some” have a condition known as OCD (I knew someone with this once…it was a painful experience)…and thus should seek further professional help to work at overcoming it and to live a more peaceful life…)

(And we can not give “psychological or medical things” in the forum forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=134056. What I noted is more from the theological and practical-spiritual side…but discuss it with those who are directly involved in assisting you…some have more “medical reasons” for such difficulties…OCD and what not …which we can not get into here.)

(also some suffer from scrupulosity and ought to have a* regular confessor*)
There is a story from the desert of the early Centuries of the Church where a younger hermit when to an older one with the problems of thoughts happening to him all the time…the older hermit told him to go outside open his cloak and catch the wind.

The younger hermit said such is not possible…

the older hermit replied --neither is it possible to stop all the thoughts that can come to you…your choice… is to consent or not…
Click to expand...
Wow that is so weird, I posted like the same thing you did! 🙂
 
Bookcat said:
(from previous posts of mine)

Regarding unwanted thoughts

While Jesus makes it clear that one can sin in ones thoughts…just cause some lustful thought or other like thought happens does not mean that one has sinned…

What should we do with* unwanted* sexual thoughts or other “bad thoughts”…thoughts against God etc? Those pesky temptations that can come …even though we are not seeking them etc…

Are they mortal sins?

For a mortal sin one needs a grave matter …full knowledge AND deliberate consent!!!

A. If you do not want the thought…it the thought displeases you: it can be a sign actually that you did not give any consent or do not give full consent.

B. Even if you felt a temptation for the thought – and were drawn to it involuntarily —but rejected it and maybe even turned right to God : again a sign not full consent (if there was any).

C. But what if one has a tempting thought --say of a sexual nature and even hesitated for a moment…but then rejected it for one did not want to sin?: it can be partial consent perhaps (and thus a venial sin)-- or it may be no sin at all but rather a strong temptation that drew you but then you saw what was happening and turned away.

D. A temptation can even be very strong or the thoughts very often – but this does NOT mean one has consented!

Remember --for it to be mortal there must be that deliberate consent!

What to do? on the spiritual side–relax first of all and remember the above.

Next – know that the more one fears the thoughts the more likely they are to come… or said another way --the more a person stress about seeking to avoid the thoughts the more likely he will have a problem with them.

for example: for the next 10 seconds try NOT to think of an apple.

tick tock …

tick tock…

Ok what did you think of?

Most likely an apple.

So it is best to ignore them and just not consent and then turn your attention to some other good thing…for instance whatever you are doing.
Simply do not consent and move on…

Another point – thoughts can just happen --they are the stuff with which we think…it is up to us to consent and take them further or not. And just because they are REAL VIVID and almost “think themselves” does not mean per se that one has given ANY consent.

They can be annoying…but need cause no actual harm …

One can speak of this with ones confessor.

(Now difficulties with thoughts can happen to anyone…and has for centuries…nothing new!..but I will note too that “some” have a condition known as OCD (I knew someone with this once…it was a painful experience)…and thus should seek further professional help to work at overcoming it and to live a more peaceful life…)

(And we can not give “psychological or medical things” in the forum forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=134056. What I noted is more from the theological and practical-spiritual side…but discuss it with those who are directly involved in assisting you…some have more “medical reasons” for such difficulties…OCD and what not …which we can not get into here.)

(also some suffer from scrupulosity and ought to have a* regular confessor*)
There is a story from the desert of the early Centuries of the Church where a younger hermit when to an older one with the problems of thoughts happening to him all the time…the older hermit told him to go outside open his cloak and catch the wind.

The younger hermit said such is not possible…

the older hermit replied --neither is it possible to stop all the thoughts that can come to you…your choice… is to consent or not…
Click to expand...
That is so weird, I posted like the same thing you did! creepy…🙂
I think I read your post about the apple before. It really helped me understand the human thought process better. Thank you! 👍
 
I went through a time of really bad blasphemous thoughts not to long ago, but finally they went away. When you have the thought just put your trust in God. I think it’s also good to be really patient and humble.

The Intimation Of Christ:
Many people try to escape temptations, only to fall more deeply. We cannot conquer simply by fleeing, but by patience and true humility we become stronger than all our enemies. The man who only shuns temptations outwardly and does not uproot them will make little progress; indeed they will quickly return, more violent than before.
Click to expand...
 
I’m always praying as soon as these thoughts come, but sometimes praying makes me think more about it. 😦
 
veryworried6277 said:
I have been having so many intrusive (name removed by moderator)ure thoughts. Some are blasphemous and quite strong. As soon as these come I say a Hail Mary, but what’s the best way to stop them from the start? My mind seems to want to make impure thoughts out of everything I look at. Also I’m always quite concerned that I give consent. How can I reassure myself that I haven’t? I mean, I usually know that I haven’t because I pray or try to distract myself, but the stronger the thoughts are and the longer they take to go away, the more doubt I have that I may have consented to them and committed a mortal sin.
Click to expand...
As a former sufferer of OCD (sans compulsive, just intrusive thoughts) I can say it’s a horrible place to be. However you must treat it like you treat an unruly child. Trying to ignore or shun the thoughts will only beget more. You must accept the thoughts as they are and the fact that they make you feel uncomfortable. You accept them not ignore them and you reason your thoughts out. Now you may struggle and it’s a frightening place to be but accepting them can be a good way of tempering the unruly mind.

Also ensure that your caffeine intake is low, and you are cool. I have always found that I have problems, when I have a prolonged high-intake of caffeine or if its above 73 degrees indoors.
 
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