Postponing Confession

[Two_of_Clubs]

Hello,

I struggle with OCD and scrupulosity. Currently I am stuck in a rut of repeating the same confession. I go confess my sins, and then some time after, I get the overwhelming feeling my confession was invalid. So, I go and resay the same confession. (I usually use the list of sins I took, but even if I don’t have a list, I just try to recall the previous confession.)

In any case, I know this behavior is unhealthy, and I’ve tried addressing the problem myself. However, it’s come to the point where I have to face facts: I should seek professional help. I am striving toward that goal, but I am at a loss for what to do in the meantime.

One the one hand, I could just keep repeating this cycle until I can talk to a professional. That doesn’t seem like a good idea for my mental (and spiritual) health, though.

On the other hand, I could postpone going to confession, but that would mean going a long time without the sacrament. (I don’t have health care at the moment.)

So, I’m unsure what course of action to take. Any thoughts would be great.

 

[porthos11]

The thing about OCD people and scrupulosity is that the scrupulous actually KNOW when they’re in sin.

So here’s really what you should do.

First of all, seek out a trusted priest-confessor to whom you can disclose your scrupulosity. You must obey him unconditionally, despite “overwhelming” feelings.

In the meantime, you stay away from Confession, except in cases where you KNOW you need it. You may find it odd, but when you actually HAVE a sin to confess, your scrupulosity will in fact not flare up. Then you know it’s “safe” to confess. But if it’s the “overwhelming urge”, you actually need to keep far from the confessional.

And again, this is just general stuff. A trusted confessor’s advice trumps anything that is said here.