Priest's Comments In Confession

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Wretched_sinner

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Here is the situation: I went to confession, confessed my sins, told Father I suffer from OCD. He asked me if I take all of my medication. I said no, I am prescribed one that I do not take. He told me, before giving me penance and absolution, to take all of my meds as prescribed because with OCD, you must get the chemistry right and to discuss any side effects with my doctor. I said ok. However, I failed to make clear the med I do not take is not for OCD, it is an add on for depression/panic disorder. I have never taken it for than a month because of side effects. My doctor doesn’t know this because I’m afraid to offend him… So, trying today to be obedient, I took the med and it has made me sick. Am I committing a sin by not taking this drug? Thank you in advance.
 
Wretched_sinner said:
Here is the situation: I went to confession, confessed my sins, told Father I suffer from OCD. He asked me if I take all of my medication. I said no, I am prescribed one that I do not take. He told me, before giving me penance and absolution, to take all of my meds as prescribed because with OCD, you must get the chemistry right and to discuss any side effects with my doctor. I said ok. However, I failed to make clear the med I do not take is not for OCD, it is an add on for depression/panic disorder. I have never taken it for than a month because of side effects. My doctor doesn’t know this because I’m afraid to offend him… So, trying today to be obedient, I took the med and it has made me sick. Am I committing a sin by not taking this drug? Thank you in advance.
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You will not “offend” your doctor by telling him of the side effects of a drug he prescribed. It’s his JOB to help you and he can’t do that if you withhold information.

It isn’t “sinful” to not take the medicine, this falls under prudential judgment, but it is foolish (and possibly has serious consequences to you and others) to go untreated and to do so because you won’t tell your doctor the truth.
 
Be completely honest and open with your doctors. That is the only way that they can help you. Don’t worry about “offending” them. The only possible wrong I can see here is not seeking the best possible medical treatment available.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
Be completely honest and open with your doctors. That is the only way that they can help you. Don’t worry about “offending” them. The only possible wrong I can see here is not seeking the best possible medical treatment available.
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Agree.
 
Don’t worry about offending your doctor. Let your doctor know that it is making you sick, and he/she will look into another medication to prescribe you that hopefully won’t make you sick.
 
You pay your doctor. He works for you, but he is not a mind reader and won’t know if there is a problem with your medication unless you tell him. He will not be offended; he will discontinue that prescription and try something else that will be more effective. You need all the tools available to get well, sometimes that means trial and error with medication; it’s just part of the process.
 
Wretched_sinner said:
So, trying today to be obedient, I took the med and it has made me sick. Am I committing a sin by not taking this drug? Thank you in advance.
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I would wish to reassure you that it is not a sin to not take a drug which makes you sick. Let your doctor know how it affects you.
 
Catholic1954 said:
You pay your doctor. He works for you, but he is not a mind reader and won’t know if there is a problem with your medication unless you tell him. He will not be offended; he will discontinue that prescription and try something else that will be more effective. You need all the tools available to get well, sometimes that means trial and error with medication; it’s just part of the process.
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Well said, I hope the OP will check back with the Dr.

Mary.
 
Thank all of you for your answers. I most certainly will speak to my doctor at my next appointment - I realize that I should do that… I should clarify my question: Am I committing a sin of disobedience (to the priest in the confessional) by not taking this medication (which makes me sick) until my next scheduled appointment, where hopefully my doctor can change it to something else?
 
What disobedience? Your priest told you to consult with your doctor regarding dosage and side effects.
 
My thanks to all of you for answering again.

And may our Lord bless you for taking part in these forums, these forums that help so many people, including myself. Thank you for bearing with me. Please pray for me, brothers and sisters, that I may be given the grace to bear with others as you have with me… With my particular condition, it is easy to forget others. OCD/Depression/Anxiety is a very cruel affliction, it steals away natural hope. Supernatural Hope remains, as God keeps Faith with me, and Loves me, else I would not be here.

Even harder is it for me to surrender all to Christ, knowing that if I offer these sufferings up, so many other souls, not just my own, may be helped. Pray for me that I am able to do so in the future.

With Love, In Christ.
 
Wretched_sinner said:
Thank all of you for your answers. I most certainly will speak to my doctor at my next appointment - I realize that I should do that… I should clarify my question: Am I committing a sin of disobedience (to the priest in the confessional) by not taking this medication (which makes me sick) until my next scheduled appointment, where hopefully my doctor can change it to something else?
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No, not at all. Your priest did not have all the facts. Certainly, if he had all the facts he would not have advised you to take something that makes you sick when you haven’t spoken to your doctor about it. Like your doctor, the priest is also not a mind reader. He merely wanted to make sure that you are consulting with your doctor and following your doctor’s instructions.
 
Anxiety and depression meds often require a lot of trial and error before you find the right medication and dose that works for you. Definitely speak to your doctor. Any good doctor worth his salt will not be offended, and it’s important you work together to find what works to you.

If it’s truly making you sick, I don’t think you’re sinning by not taking your meds. You may wish to speak to your priest or another one again if you’re concerned about your penance. I do think he’d give you a big thumbs up if you advised you would continue working with your doctor, though
 
Why aren’t you being monitored for side effects by a qualified mental health professional, like a psychiatrist? You need to tell your Drs the truth regarding the medications you are taking and any side effects they give you. This is part of getting good medical care and especially important for mental health issues. They can adjust the dosage or choose a different medication and make the the professional educated decision if you should continue taking it or not. You should call and make an appointment ASAP.
 
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