Spiritually 'Germaphobic'

[roseproject]

Last time I went to Confession (and at least a couple times before that) , I left feeling very uneasy and paranoid because I was afraid, almost anticiating the next time I sin. Last night, I went to a Confession sevice, and I was a nervous wreck to the point of getting light headed and sick to my stomach. I never confessed that night. It’s not that I did anything mortally wrong or anything, it’s almost as if I’m afraid of all my sins being wiped away…thus, starting with a clean slate…then, the paranoia.
I do have OCD which may be partly to blame, thus some problems with scrupulousness.

Anyone have some advice?

Thanks

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Last time I went to Confession (and at least a couple times before that) , I left feeling very uneasy and paranoid because I was afraid, almost anticiating the next time I sin. Last night, I went to a Confession sevice, and I was a nervous wreck to the point of getting light headed and sick to my stomach. I never confessed that night. It’s not that I did anything mortally wrong or anything, it’s almost as if I’m afraid of all my sins being wiped away…thus, starting with a clean slate…then, the paranoia.
I do have OCD which may be partly to blame, thus some problems with scrupulousness.

Anyone have some advice?

Thanks

Yes, you need to re-think your theology from top to bottom.
Otherwise, you will never leave the cage where you are. Open the door and free your self.
Do you want detailed advice from me ?
Then, tell me what you think about

• sin
• grace
• hell
• heaven
• God is just or Kind? Morre Kind than Just or more Just than Kind or 50/50?

these are the first questions.
I hope you find, not necessarily with me, the freedom of the children of God.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

I’ve sort of been there. I have had “ocd” issues and scrupulosity.

Best thing to do? Get one of those examination of conscience cards before you go to confession. Read over it and check off what you have to confess, how many times, etc. JUST DO IT. Force yourself. Then after you’re done at the confessional, burn it, rip it up(preferably at home) , etc. Then just be diligent.

I also suggest that you try to confess your sins every week or every two weeks. That way it doesn’t pile up, you have a routine, and it’s less buildup of apprehension.

Write it on the calendar or whatever, just keep to it. That way, you don’t have to worry as much about how much cleaner you are if you don’t have as much to clean up. : )

Everyone sins, and it’s hard for those of us who are plagued with irrational scrupulosity, but you just have to “buck up” and go, so to speak.

Pray to St. Alphonsus Liguori, a great moral theologian who suffered from scruples himself and is now the patron saint of the scrupulous.

 

[Julia_Mae]

I do have OCD which may be partly to blame, thus some problems with scrupulousness.

Anyone have some advice?

Thanks

I would say the problem is more OCD related than anything else and talking to your doctor is probably going to be more useful than talking to people here.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Yes, you need to re-think your theology from top to bottom.
Otherwise, you will never leave the cage where you are. Open the door and free your self.
Do you want detailed advice from me ?
Then, tell me what you think about

• sin
• grace
• hell
• heaven
• God is just or Kind? Morre Kind than Just or more Just than Kind or 50/50?

these are the first questions.
I hope you find, not necessarily with me, the freedom of the children of God.

Agree. This would be a good place to start, other than treating it as an ocd issue.

Alan