Is it a sin to try and change things about yourself?

[ShaunH]

I ask because last summer I wanted to stunt my growth, so I drank a lot of caffeine, ate only junk food, and got as little sleep as possible. I feel guilty about doing those things. And also recently, I wanted to get my voice to sound hoarse, so I screamed into a pillow for a little bit and tried making weird noises with my throat to see if I could do it. I also feel guilty about this. And I think both of these situations in a way can be described as self-harm. I am a bit scrupulous, but I want to know - are either of these situations sins? If so, venial or mortal? Thank you.

 

[aingil]

I ask because last summer I wanted to stunt my growth, so I drank a lot of caffeine, ate only junk food, and got as little sleep as possible. I feel guilty about doing those things. And also recently, I wanted to get my voice to sound hoarse, so I screamed into a pillow for a little bit and tried making weird noises with my throat to see if I could do it. I also feel guilty about this. And I think both of these situations in a way can be described as self-harm. I am a bit scrupulous, but I want to know - are either of these situations sins? If so, venial or mortal? Thank you.

It’s not healthy to try to stunt your growth or make your voice hoarse. Maybe instead of focusing on what you don’t like about yourself, you should focus on finding out who you are. What God made you to be. Pray that you will become the person he wants. If you are worried about the sinfulness of your actions I would talk to a priest. He can help you get to the root cause of why you did those things. They seem to be symptoms of a deeper issue.

Learn to love the way that God made you, physically and otherwise. Things that you dislike or that you consider weaknesses are ways that he can work through you …without your pride getting the way. That is why the second reading a few Sunday’s ago was the reading on St Paul and how God worked through his weakness.

 

[Sr_Lorraine]

Shaun, we need to accept ourselves the way God made us. To intentionally do harm to ourselves, physically or otherwise, would be sinful. The gravity would depend on the type of harm done.
God loves us as we are, even while calling us to grow in holiness. Self-hatred of any type can prevent us from loving others too, which is why the great commandment says to love our neighbor as ourselves.
But perhaps there is something else going on in your life, and you would benefit by talking to someone who can help you with it.

 

[diggerdomer]

I ask because last summer I wanted to stunt my growth, so I drank a lot of caffeine, ate only junk food, and got as little sleep as possible. I feel guilty about doing those things. And also recently, I wanted to get my voice to sound hoarse, so I screamed into a pillow for a little bit and tried making weird noises with my throat to see if I could do it. I also feel guilty about this. And I think both of these situations in a way can be described as self-harm. I am a bit scrupulous, but I want to know - are either of these situations sins? If so, venial or mortal? Thank you.

Not sure, but sounds like you definitely need some professional help. Look at what you wrote:

“drank a lot of caffeine, ate only junk food, and got as little sleep as possible”

That sounds like a cry for help.

Best wishes.

 

[LilyM]

Why on earth would any guy try to stunt his growth?

Research consistently shows that taller men get better jobs, more pay, do better with the ladies … height is an advantage in many many ways!

And why on earth would you want a hoarse voice? Are you in your teens and your voice not broken yet or something?

I think whether or not it is a sin is a very grey issue - but it sounds like in your case probably not a grave or mortal sin.

 

[wcknight]

When I was young, I would have loved to be taller/bigger. I prayed to be taller.

EXCEPT during the Vietnam war, the draft favored folks who were small and underweight. Then it made sense to be as small and light as possible.

Be careful, it sounds like you may be approaching something called self mutilation which is seriously sinful. It may not be a mortal sin but it is seriously damaging to your health and well being.

 

[stringbeanduck]

Certainly sounds like (I need help) situation. It is a sin, sometimes grave to purposefully and knowingly take improper care of our bodies and do harm to them. Be happy with the body He has given you and use it to serve Him wisely.