Help!

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mattheus09

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I need help. I have impure thoughts…and I’m afraid that I’m sinning mortally. When they get into my head I try to get them out. I’m afraid that I am so how willing them. I went to confession today and my priest said that they are temptations. But it brings this feeling of dread that I am seriously offending God. Is this normal? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you.
 
Hey Mattheus09,
Yes they are normal because we are sexual beings with a drive that is their for a purpose, but we are also fallen beings and so can turn to disordered desires. When do impure thoughts become sins? When you start desiring them and manipulating them because you want to feel some sort of physical or emotional pleasure from them. If you do it briefly, then it would be a venial sin and if for a longer period of time (like really fantasizing them out) then it would be more mortal (as long as it fits the three criteria of mortal sins). Your case sounds like a normal person who has temptations (even St. Paul had them, “thorn in the flesh as he called them.”) and you aren’t actively trying to fantasize about them for pleasure. What helps me is having a uick form of prayer on hand that is short; like “Jesus, save me from lustful desires.” Then i just pray seperately on my own for purity of heart when not experiencing temptation. frequenting the sacraments, holy books, reading the bible, the rosary and others are all good things too. Also, avoid a lot of idle time doing nothing. Then the devil can enter easily because the “line” (as in your mind) isn’t busy with better pursuits. Hope that helps.
In Christ,
Tom
 
Some points to remember in this kind of situation. First place absolute trust in you confessor. Second if your mind is full of trash, it got in there through what you watch, read, talk about. Check out your intake and move into some good literature, forget most TV and Movies. Third read some lives of the Saints and Pray your Rosary daily if possible. Finally keep busy with sports, work, charitable acts, etc. It is indeed true that idle hands leads to an idle mind which is the devils workshop. thumbsup:
 
If you’re having trouble getting impure thoughts our of your mind, try prayer. My favorite technique is to recite a few Hail Marys to really fill my mind with a deep sense of purity. To be honest though, anything that requires a lot of attention is a great way to stop an impure thought in its tracks.

If you really get in the habit of diverting your attention away from what might lead into sin, then you may well find that the thoughts stop at a simple and completely natural attraction. And yeah, it does take time so have patience and pray for help!
 
An impure thought can be compared to someone knocking at your door. You can’t stop the knocking. But you don’t have to invite the stranger in and serve him coffee and entertain him. Keep the door locked. Don’t let it in. Go do something else.
 
You can not control what thoughts come into your head. You can control what happens once you realize they are there.
----KCT
 
KCT said:
You can not control what thoughts come into your head. You can control what happens once you realize they are there.
----KCT
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I agree.
When bad or impure thoughts pop into my head I repeat several times Holy Name of Jesus save me and the thoughts go away.
 
mattheus09 said:
I need help. I have impure thoughts…and I’m afraid that I’m sinning mortally. When they get into my head I try to get them out. I’m afraid that I am so how willing them. I went to confession today and my priest said that they are temptations. But it brings this feeling of dread that I am seriously offending God. Is this normal? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you.
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I think you have what I have. I have what is called “Scrupulosity OCD”. However I have a different case of Scrupulosity where I am have been doubting my faith, I’ve been tortures by these thoughts for a month now.

But, I am pretty sure that you have Scrupulosity OCD, here’s some information about it…

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrupulosity

geocities.com/rinkjustice1/ocd.htm

Also pray the full 15 decade Rosary as much as possible, I also suggest that you visit Bro. Ignatius Mary’s site saint-mike.org/spcdc/bbs/default.asp

you can send me a private message for more info.
 
100% normal!

i, too, deal with unwanted thoughts (and i also have a diagnosis of OCD, though i imagine we nutcases are not the only people who have some demons in our heads…). the coping method my therapist taught me has three steps:
  1. notice the unwanted thought and label it as a thought.
  2. can you snap your fingers? if so, snap right next to your ear. this inturrupts the thought.
  3. replace the thought with something peaceful and affirming. i use the beautiful line from julian of norwich: “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” aaahhhhh… aves would work, too, or a poem, or a memory of something beautiful or ___ ?
most of all, forgive yourself, and know that jesus forgives you, too. it helps if you can approach this with gentleness and compassion for yourself.
 
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