Struggling with impure thoughts.

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Hi everyone. I’ve been going to confession regulary now and the Lord has given me a lot of grace and healing in this area of sins against purity/chastity. And I rarely watch tv now either!!!

But I still have images in my mind though from the stuff I used to watch onilne.

How can I get ride of all those images in my mind?
 
I don’t know if you can just “get rid of them,” but don’t dwell on them when they come into your mind. Just let them pass through as you would any other tempting thought- it seems that the more we “fight” these images, the stronger they become.
 
jason3477 said:
Hi everyone. I’ve been going to confession regulary now and the Lord has given me a lot of grace and healing in this area of sins against purity/chastity. And I rarely watch tv now either!!!

But I still have images in my mind though from the stuff I used to watch onilne.

How can I get ride of all those images in my mind?
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You cannot get rid of female thoughts.
There was a muslim cleric who wanted to shut women’s eyes in burkha for they gave him “bad thoughts”. He forgot that even with burkha the thoughts are there.

And are healthy. It means that you are alive and that you want to make photocopies of yourself.
 
I have struggled with some obsessive thoughts and ocd. The best advice I can give is not to give the thoughts/images any power. As mommyof4 said, the harder you try to fight them off, the stronger they can get. Give it no power to disturb you and you might even “laugh it off” (say “I’m SO over that now,” “those thoughts again - whatever”). Downplay them and they will have less effect and occurence. Go easy on youself. It will get better as you give the thoughts less power to bother you.
 
The more you look at pictures of naked women, the more they will be in your mind.

The more you think about other stuff the less you will think about naked women.

I always play loud music in my car when it is just me, I would do this on the way to Mass too (20 minute drive) but during Mass there was an annoying tune going round and round my head. Now I do not play music on the way to Mass and no longer have any noise in my head when I am there.

We all have thoughts but it will become easier to reject them and think about something else instead.

It just doesn’t happen overnight that’s all.

:cool:
 
Thank God for the thoughts and the gift of sexuality.

Pray for the person.

Say the confitero.

Pray to Mary.

Put a Rosary ring on and grab a hold of it when the thoughts come to mind and focus on a mystery.

Get your mind occupied with something like work, cleaning house, going for a vigorous run, etc.

Read Psalm 139 usccb.org/bible/psalms/139/

Read Psalm 9 usccb.org/bible/psalms/9/

Controversial one - Snap a Rubber Band on your wrist

Finally, think about getting involved with a SSA group, they are like AA but deal with sex addiction/thoughts/etc.

It is a daily struggle. Posting here for help is a great step. Never keep it in but get it out right away. Letting it build up will lead to failure.

Good luck

Mike
 
What has helped me is fleeing to Mother Mary for help. She has helped me, although I have had to do it a few times. It seems to work for quite awhile but then the thoughts start up again (after several months).

Impure thoughts, IMO, are the hardest thoughts to get out of our brains. I know that God knows this. With me it was a real problem because I am celibate out of choice. I actually tried slapping myself hard across the face. It didn’t help.

Maybe picking up a bible and reading it would help? Somehow it must be possible to replace those thoughts with more appropriate ones. Perhaps it would help if you immediately began reading a funny article or book or put on a movie - anything that would override those impure thoughts.

I hope this helps. I really feel for you. I know how intrusive those thoughts can be.
 
These images will be with you one way or another for the rest of your life. This is why the church forbids viewing pornography in the first place.

Sin isn’t simply sinful because it angers God. Sin harms oneself physically and emotionally. With time, these impure images can fade, as one fills himself with love of the Lord.

Accept that by repenting, you are halting the continued flooding of your psyche with these images. Realize that the damage takes time to heal, but that your repentance is what is pleasing to God.
 
I battle impure thoughts and fail more often when I have nothing to do. I think the old adage is “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop”, and it rings true for me. If I am busy, I have less failures. Do not think you will achieve this victory on your own, prayer is a major weapon in this battle.

Keep fighting the good fight and offering prayers!
 
  1. Pray and ask for help
  2. Take deep breaths to fill up your entire diaphragm (it’s relaxing)
  3. Give your mind another task to focus on
 
For me, impure thoughts were closely related to my libido. After taking Paxil for depression and anxiety, my libido decreased and the impure thoughts stopped. (A doctor can prescribe Paxil for the libido)

Getting rid of impure thoughts will increase your spirituality greatly. Controlling impure thoughts is a sign of spiritual maturity.
 
Dont worry my friend, I’d like to think it is a phase and is something pretty common for young adult male catholics… chastitiy takes time and effort before it matures, it doesnt just happen overnight. Trust me… Coming from a guy thats been there and done that (everything from porn, masturbation and escorts)… Just keep praying, always invoke the help of St Michael and Our Lady… I just pray that you dont learn the hard way as I did… lust can destroy your life. I will keep you in my prayers as I say my rosary in a few…
 
Thanks for the advice…

I think I’m going to make a general confession of my teen/young adult years sins against chastity/purtiy…

Becasue either it’s the Holy Spirit reminding me to confess these sins of my past, or it could be the devil trying to put those images back in my mind…

What do you all think???
 
If you have unconfessed sins against purity, you should definitely confess them. I suppose a general confession may help you as well, even if you have already confessed these sins. Don’t get scrupulous, though. If you’ve confessed them, they are not yours any longer. However, the graces given through confession are irreplacable for fighting sin. Go regularly, weekly if you can!

I agree with most of what has been said, especially the advice against idleness. Get active! Occupy things that use energy and get your heart pumping. Although I am a woman, I struggle with this issue as well and I find the battle the hardest when I am idle. If you get the thoughts while praying, don’t stop praying, but get up and move around. Maybe take a walk while you’re praying. I actually think pacing while you pray is very helpful for focusing.
 
When I struggle with impure thoughts, I picture the Holy Mother and say the Hail Mary until I have enough strength not to dwell or act upon them. I also do my best to avoid temptation (like turn the channel, fast forward the movie, avert my eyes, etc.)
 
Armyvet007 said:
When I struggle with impure thoughts, I picture the Holy Mother and say the Hail Mary until I have enough strength not to dwell or act upon them. I also do my best to avoid temptation (like turn the channel, fast forward the movie, avert my eyes, etc.)
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👍

The rosary is a powerful tool against sin! It is really difficult to sin when you are praying the Hail Mary!!!
 
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