Killing thoughts

[Christ_Conquers]

Hi Everyone,
For a while I’ve been having thoughts of killing or hurting people. There not caused from dislike or anger, I get them toward people i love. One time i had one during Mass against a priest. There’s no danger of me doing any of these things, but i realize how evil and dangerous the thoughts are. I think they’re connected to my scrupulosity. I’m worried that i may have given full consent today, i didn’t completely dwell on them, but i didn’t reject them right away either, and they felt kind of intentional. I’ve been talking to a priest in confession about them, but the advice has been a little limited.

Does anyone have any info about these kind of thoughts and how to get rid of them?

Thanks!

 

[Trishie]

If I had such thoughts I think I’d feel I should find a good counselor to help me figure why I might have such impulses and how to overcome whatever causes them…if I had no idea where the temptation originates.

However if I have a traceable cause:
I’d be sure not to play computer games with killing in them, as this could cause or amplify the impulses to kill if I were susceptible to suggestion, and I’d also avoid gruesome murder movies and television if these were part of my viewing diet.
We can become what we focus on if we are sensitive or susceptible.

And regarding the tendency that has built up as a pathway…I’d make a conscious effort to ask God to ‘bless and protect’ the person who was my current object of killing temptation, and deliberately wish them happiness in my mind. We can create unwelcome pathways in out thoughts, so we have to create new pathways, in this case, of generous, loving thoughts towards others.

You don’t actually wish harm to others. And full consent would involve deliberate intent, planning, attempt to kill.

May God fill and surround you with His love

 

[Seira]

Hi Everyone,
For a while I’ve been having thoughts of killing or hurting people. There not caused from dislike or anger, I get them toward people i love. One time i had one during Mass against a priest. There’s no danger of me doing any of these things, but i realize how evil and dangerous the thoughts are. I think they’re connected to my scrupulosity. I’m worried that i may have given full consent today, i didn’t completely dwell on them, but i didn’t reject them right away either, and they felt kind of intentional. I’ve been talking to a priest in confession about them, but the advice has been a little limited.

Does anyone have any info about these kind of thoughts and how to get rid of them?

Thanks!

I think it’s definately your OCD/Scruples. Thoughts are just thoughts. The praying/blessing of whomever you thought of hurting is a good suggestion. I would discuss this w/ your spiritual advisor or counselor. You should definately have a counselor if you’re dealing w/ OCD/Scruples.

 

[JRKH]

If I had such thoughts I think I’d feel I should find a good counselor to help me figure why I might have such impulses and how to overcome whatever causes them…if I had no idea where the temptation originates.

However if I have a traceable cause:
I’d be sure not to play computer games with killing in them, as this could cause or amplify the impulses to kill if I were susceptible to suggestion, and I’d also avoid gruesome murder movies and television if these were part of my viewing diet.
We can become what we focus on if we are sensitive or susceptible.

And regarding the tendency that has built up as a pathway…I’d make a conscious effort to ask God to ‘bless and protect’ the person who was my current object of killing temptation, and deliberately wish them happiness in my mind. We can create unwelcome pathways in out thoughts, so we have to create new pathways, in this case, of generous, loving thoughts towards others.

You don’t actually wish harm to others. And full consent would involve deliberate intent, planning, attempt to kill.

May God fill and surround you with His love

THIS…

Especially where it says, “We can become what we focus on”.

Peace
James

 

[Catholic80]

Hi Everyone,
For a while I’ve been having thoughts of killing or hurting people. There not caused from dislike or anger, I get them toward people i love. One time i had one during Mass against a priest. There’s no danger of me doing any of these things, but i realize how evil and dangerous the thoughts are. I think they’re connected to my scrupulosity. I’m worried that i may have given full consent today, i didn’t completely dwell on them, but i didn’t reject them right away either, and they felt kind of intentional. I’ve been talking to a priest in confession about them, but the advice has been a little limited.

Does anyone have any info about these kind of thoughts and how to get rid of them?

Thanks!

What you are describing sounds like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (note: I am NOT diagnosing by any means!) Disturbing thoughts like these are often stemmed from anxiety. There’s a root problem that needs to be addressed. Are you seeing a counselor?

 

[Christ_Conquers]

Thanks for all the replies!

I can diffidently see how it comes from anxiety, earlier this year i had a ton of stress and anxiety from other really evil thoughts. I haven’t been getting getting any counseling except from the priests in confession. I do want a spiritual director, maybe i will try to get one soon.

 

[Kathrin]

Intrusive thoughts coming from OCD - if that is what you are describing here - actually are thoughts you do absolutely NOT want to have, and that is WHY they keep coming back - like trying not to think of a pink elephant, to bring this old example again.

OCD is mean in that it strikes where somebody is most sensitive… I think people who have such intrusive thoughts of violence are actually people who are in reality peace-loving and HATE violence and would NEVER want to hurt anybody?

 

[domNoah]

Hi Everyone,
For a while I’ve been having thoughts of killing or hurting people. There not caused from dislike or anger, I get them toward people i love. One time i had one during Mass against a priest. There’s no danger of me doing any of these things, but i realize how evil and dangerous the thoughts are. I think they’re connected to my scrupulosity. I’m worried that i may have given full consent today, i didn’t completely dwell on them, but i didn’t reject them right away either, and they felt kind of intentional. I’ve been talking to a priest in confession about them, but the advice has been a little limited.

Does anyone have any info about these kind of thoughts and how to get rid of them?

Thanks!

I believe frequent meditation on the Passion of Jesus Christ would help you. Every time you have these thoughts consider the Pains and Agony that our Saviour went through. Also when you have those thoughts say this “I will not yield to evil!” or something to that effect. That way you are making an act of the will against them and thus they are a temptation and not a sin.

By the way you might consider reading the classic Spiritual Combat (which is where the statement of “I will not yeild” from.

 

[Kathrin]

Best to try to find a confessor who has experience with scrupulosity and intrusive thoughts (you can probably tell by his reaction when you tell him you feel you might suffer from that) and talk to him. On a public message board you might get conflicting advice.

Have also a look at this:
fatherdoyle.files.wordpress.c…-treatment.pdf
especially the chapter “A Favourite Stratagem of the Evil One”, page 15!