SSA

[AndrewF1995]

This is really hard for me to talk about because I have never told anyone about it.
I am 15 years old and starting about 2 or 3 years ago I have had problems with SSA.

I started about 6 months ago (or maybe earlier I don’t remember) praying a lot more for it to go away. It goes away sometimes and comes right back. I’m not sure if this is just puberty and if I am making everything worse because I have bad anxiety, and I haven’t been sleeping a lot or If this is really how it will be for the rest of my life. I just want to be normal like my friends

What should I do to help this? or even get arid of it?

 

[VetA]

This is really hard for me to talk about because I have never told anyone about it.
I am 15 years old and starting about 2 or 3 years ago I have had problems with SSA.

I started about 6 months ago (or maybe earlier I don’t remember) praying a lot more for it to go away. It goes away sometimes and comes right back. I’m not sure if this is just puberty and if I am making everything worse because I have bad anxiety, and I haven’t been sleeping a lot or If this is really how it will be for the rest of my life. I just want to be normal like my friends

What should I do to help this? or even get arid of it?

I am assuming by SSA you mean same sex attraction, if indeed that is what you mean, then as long as you dont act on the homosexual attractions you are not in sin, but still have a very heavy cross to bear in this life. being young myself (i dont have SSA btw) i dont know if it is possible to “get rid” of SSA but it is definatly possible to live a celebate life, you just have to pray about it and believe God will help you carry this cross, if it is any help maybe your dioces has a COURAGE group, idk if youd be too young to be in COURAGE, but the worst thing they can tell you is no you have to wait until your older. If that happens try asking a priest for help or maybe even the leader of the COURAGE group.

Andrew, we all have our crosses to bear in life, some are light, some are heavy, you my friend have indeed been given a heavy cross to bear, but at this point if your SSA does not go away, you have two choices: you can go God’s path and use this cross as a tool to make you more holy by denying your attractions for the sake of God, or you can listen to satan and go act on your attractions. Now i will warn you my friend the second road will be easier (or more accuratly it will seem easier) because you wont have to pray or deny yourself, but the road is wide and easy that leads to hell and eternal damnation, but the path that leads to heaven is narrow and steep, which path do you want to take?

i will be praying for you my friend

 

[Prodigal_Son]

Attraction is not sin, my brother. I too have struggled with SSA, and dealing with it has been a large part of my journey. Personally, I have found it very important to have people with whom you can talk to face-to-face about your struggles. Don’t be afraid of temptation, but don’t think you can do this without God’s help.

God loves you! He’s got good things for His kids, and you’re one of His precious kids. Be honest with God, too, and express all your frustrations to Him. Don’t think that sinning will solve any problems; after the sin is over, they are ten times worse.

You’re very young. In time, you will make important decisions, and you are planting the seeds of these decisions right now. Right now, immerse yourself in God’s mercy and God’s word. Remember Jesus, who was tempted in all the ways that we are, but did not sin.

As for myself, today I am married with three small kiddoes. I’m not free from SSA entirely – I don’t think it works that way, and I don’t think it’s a disease – but I am free to follow Christ and flee from sin.

Keep your head up, Andrew, and let me know if there’s any other questions you have.

Blessings,
Daniel

 

[Joe_5859]

If you’re looking for help in dealing with this, you might try contacting the Courage apostolate. They are a solidly Catholic support group for those with SSA (as well as their family members)

Another group to check into might be NARTH (National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality). I know some people are skeptical that SSA is something that can be “fixed”, but Dr. Nicolosi has had much success through counseling, so I think it is at least worth checking out if you think it might help.

I will keep you in my prayers!

 

[TempleofTheSoul]

First of all God bless you Andrew… I can only imagine the inner turmoil that you feel inside but know that many here at CAF will give you our unending support. As others have posted, it is not sinful to feel the attraction, what is sinful is to act on them.

I also recommend contacting ¨Courage¨ as others have and to remain close to Our Lord. Alot of the times the crosses we have to bear remain throughout our life (I have suffered with severe depression my whole life) but God calls us to offer up our sufferings to Him so that he can lighten our burdens.

Lastly, I have a great devotion to the “Divine Mercy Chaplet”…I pray it everyday as Our Lord asks at 3pm and asks the Lord for His mercy. Try and do the same…imagine as you are praying the Chaplet that the Lord is enveloping you in His infinite ocean of mercy.

God bless you dear one

 

[Apollos]

This is really hard for me to talk about because I have never told anyone about it.
I am 15 years old and starting about 2 or 3 years ago I have had problems with SSA.

I started about 6 months ago (or maybe earlier I don’t remember) praying a lot more for it to go away. It goes away sometimes and comes right back. I’m not sure if this is just puberty and if I am making everything worse because I have bad anxiety, and I haven’t been sleeping a lot or If this is really how it will be for the rest of my life. I just want to be normal like my friends

What should I do to help this? or even get arid of it?

The fact that everyone is directing you to Courage and NARTH is a sign. I’m going to direct you that way also. If you want to see a therapist, I recommend someone who does what is called “Reparative Therapy”. There aren’t too many of them out there, so ask NARTH to give you contact info for someone in your area.

Don’t wait.

 

[AndrewF1995]

Everyone thank you for all your helpful responses. It made me feel a lot better and It would be really nice if everyone could pray really hard for me because its been bothering me a lot lately. Thank you!

 

[AndrewF1995]

Attraction is not sin, my brother. I too have struggled with SSA, and dealing with it has been a large part of my journey. Personally, I have found it very important to have people with whom you can talk to face-to-face about your struggles. Don’t be afraid of temptation, but don’t think you can do this without God’s help.

God loves you! He’s got good things for His kids, and you’re one of His precious kids. Be honest with God, too, and express all your frustrations to Him. Don’t think that sinning will solve any problems; after the sin is over, they are ten times worse.

You’re very young. In time, you will make important decisions, and you are planting the seeds of these decisions right now. Right now, immerse yourself in God’s mercy and God’s word. Remember Jesus, who was tempted in all the ways that we are, but did not sin.

As for myself, today I am married with three small kiddoes. I’m not free from SSA entirely – I don’t think it works that way, and I don’t think it’s a disease – but I am free to follow Christ and flee from sin.

Keep your head up, Andrew, and let me know if there’s any other questions you have.

Blessings,
Daniel

I hope one day I will be able to get married and have kids as well. Thank you for your post and If have any questions I will definatly ask!

 

[Luke_K]

This is really hard for me to talk about because I have never told anyone about it.
I am 15 years old and starting about 2 or 3 years ago I have had problems with SSA.

I started about 6 months ago (or maybe earlier I don’t remember) praying a lot more for it to go away. It goes away sometimes and comes right back. I’m not sure if this is just puberty and if I am making everything worse because I have bad anxiety, and I haven’t been sleeping a lot or If this is really how it will be for the rest of my life. I just want to be normal like my friends

What should I do to help this? or even get arid of it?

Make sure you never start thinking that you ‘are’ gay, as much as society will try and tell you. Your body and person are intrinsically heterosexual and made for a life-giving communion of persons. Whenever you see another person and feel a sexual attraction, remember that God made that person to live chastely, and that person deep-down longs for chastity and pure love just like you.

That being said, sexual temptations can be a beast to overcome. Even though I do not struggle with SSA, I do struggle with lustful attraction to the opposite sex. It’s MUCH better and easier than it used to be, though. My advice to you is to just read up on what the Church teaches on sexuality, pray the rosary, go to adoration, and frequent the sacraments.

Most of all, be joyful that Jesus is unsurpassed in his faithfulness and love for you in your struggle. There is truly never a reason to lose hope! You are part of the body of Christ, striving to rise above your imperfections along with the rest of us!

 

[AndrewF1995]

Make sure you never start thinking that you ‘are’ gay, as much as society will try and tell you. Your body and person are intrinsically heterosexual and made for a life-giving communion of persons. Whenever you see another person and feel a sexual attraction, remember that God made that person to live chastely, and that person deep-down longs for chastity and pure love just like you.

That being said, sexual temptations can be a beast to overcome. Even though I do not struggle with SSA, I do struggle with lustful attraction to the opposite sex. It’s MUCH better and easier than it used to be, though. My advice to you is to just read up on what the Church teaches on sexuality, pray the rosary, go to adoration, and frequent the sacraments.

Most of all, be joyful that Jesus is unsurpassed in his faithfulness and love for you in your struggle. There is truly never a reason to lose hope! You are part of the body of Christ, striving to rise above your imperfections along with the rest of us!

Thank you for this post, and I have hope that things will get better soon.