What happens if "scruples" isn't treated?

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hausofferni

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What happens if the person suffering from scruples never gets proper help for their condition? What is the negative effect of it? Scruples or just overly sensitive to sin??
 
The negative effect is complete confusion. Never feeling peace from your relationship with the Lord. Always doubting. Scruples is like a playground for the devil. He can keep you guessing…never trusting in God, always doubting.
It’s a pretty miserable life.
That’s why it’s so frustrating when people who post with scruples just don’t see how damaging it is to their spirituality. In a way, they just can’t. They think something is wrong with them. No matter how hard they appear to try to make sense of their faith. something holds it out of their reach. Really awful stuff. Pray hard for those who suffer from scruples.
They’re caught up in something very troubling.
Peace.
 
hausofferni said:
What happens if the person suffering from scruples never gets proper help for their condition? What is the negative effect of it? Scruples or just overly sensitive to sin??
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If someone is already suffering from scruples, as you indicated, not getting help for the condition is only going to cause it to continually worsen. It’s good to be sensitive to sin, but one must also remember God’s infinite mercy and the fact that his grace is not easily dislodged from the soul. That said, if someone is already suffering from scruples and does not get help, he or she can end up with a terrible psychological condition that prevents him or her from developing intimacy with God.
 
Also, They might tempted to give up their faith. I used to have a severe case of scruples and I thought that if I wasn’t Catholic any longer I would feel much better. I left the church for six months and attended Pentecostal services. This did not work. The people were lovely but I sorely missed the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, Confession and the Mass. That is what I needed most. I also needed prescribed medication because there are biological causes to this. I learned you take yourself wherever your go.
Scruples is a severe anxiety disorder, a form of OCD that requires treatment from a good psychiatrist and obedience to a holy spiritual director. Otherwise, it will greatly stop one from functioning fully and enjoying life including spiritual life.
 
Yes, it seems to me they would become more and more disengaged, closed off from others and reality in a kind of hell where every thought and action is potentially a sin. That said (and that was pretty heavy!), never despair that the healing grace of God can reach anyone, and it can come in all sorts of ways. There is always hope, for the scrupulous, and for all of us!
 
I will re-post another older post of mine (general information regarding scrupulosity)

A person struggles with scruples - what ought they do?

A person with scrupulosity --ought to have a* “regular confessor” who can direct them --and even give them some general principles* to follow -to apply (principles for them due to their particular scruples -they are usually not for those with a normal conscience).

Thus with their direction they can “dismiss scruples” (in the older language despise them) - “act against them” (agere contra).

Scruples are to be dismissed ~ not argued with.

To borrow and image from a Carthusian from centuries ago: Scruples *are like a barking dog or a hissing goose -one does not stop to argue with a barking dog or a hissing goose does one? * No one keeps walking.

Such ‘obedience’ to a regular confessor who knows of ones scruples (except in what is manifest sin - such as if he told them it was ok to murder someone or something certain like that) is key. Such is the age old practice.

Also counseling -(especially if one also has OCD) could be helpful depending on the case -but one would want to look for a counselor who can assist one in following the Churches Teachings - not go contrary to them (I have heard CA staff mention catholictherapists.com/)

Here was a not too long ago post from Jimmy Akin of CA that I saw in the Register and saved for those who struggle with such.

ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/6-tools-for-the-scrupulous
 
What a very scrupulous question! No help with scruples means you’ll carry your cross without a Simon of Cyrene. Not fun, and in this case not necessary.

But here you are trying to get help. Try reading St. Francis de Sales. I recommend “Thy Will be Done,” a collection of his letters. “Introduction to the Devout Life” is also of course wonderful.
 
e_c said:
But here you are trying to get help. Try reading St. Francis de Sales. I recommend “Thy Will be Done,” a collection of his letters. “Introduction to the Devout Life” is also of course wonderful.
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I would say “belay that order” - such could rather create some scruples for some readers who have this struggle (at least the second…have not read the first). Rather they ought to discuss such with their confessor they can advise them if such would be something for them to read in their case.
 
hausofferni said:
What happens if the person suffering from scruples never gets proper help for their condition? What is the negative effect of it? Scruples or just overly sensitive to sin??
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Then they’ll continue to be scrupulous.

If you’d like to read something that, IMHO, is the best short article ever written on scrupulosity, then read this: catholicpamphlets.net/pamphlets/Are%20You%20Scrupulous.pdf

One choice quote regarding the “overly sensitive to sin” part of your question:
'Now, he continued, 'let’s get this perfectly clear: A delicate conscience and a scrupulous conscience are not the same thing at all. A person with a delicate conscience knows exactly what sin is and shrinks from the slightest approach to sin. The man with a delicate conscience is exactly honest and honourable. The woman with a delicate conscience has a lovely modesty and a purity that make her draw back from even the slightest contact with sin. Such persons know the various kinds of sins and can see clearly the precise distinction between a mortal and a venial sin. When they come to Confession their confession will be marvellously exact. They know what sins they have committed; they confess those sins; they are sorry; but they are untroubled.
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'A delicate conscience is a beautiful thing and must never be destroyed. It Is right and accurate and correct and is often the sign of high sanity.
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'A scrupulous person on the other hand does not really know what sin is, at least in his own case. He is always uncertain. He Is troubled with incessant doubt. He cannot be sure whether or not this particular act is a sin. Or, if he knows that the act is a sin, he cannot be sure whether or not he was guilty of it. He thinks that he was guilty, but he isn’t positive. He runs to Confession; he makes a confession that is filled with the retailing of sins he is not certain he has committed; and he steps out of the confessional dissatisfied, uncertain in an agony of fear that his confession has been bad and that his sins are unforgiven.
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'That state of horrible uncertainty within the soul is pitiful. And that, I take it, is what you are talking about.
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The Redemptorists publish Scrupoulous Annoymous literature to help people.
 
I see I see thank you all very much…but how does one get a spiritual director? What if your too scared to tell your confessor that you have scruples?
 
hausofferni said:
I see I see thank you all very much…but how does one get a spiritual director? What if your too scared to tell your confessor that you have scruples?
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If you have already a regular confessor - just bring up the topic - do you think that I struggle with scruples?

Do not fear such - he actually needs to know …and can help you determine if you do. And then what principles to follow in your case (or not follow). or he can recommend you to another Priest.
 
Bookcat said:
I will re-post another older post of mine (general information regarding scrupulosity)

A person struggles with scruples - what ought they do?

A person with scrupulosity --ought to have a* “regular confessor” who can direct them --and even give them some general principles* to follow -to apply (principles for them due to their particular scruples -they are usually not for those with a normal conscience).

Thus with their direction they can “dismiss scruples” (in the older language despise them) - “act against them” (agere contra).

Scruples are to be dismissed ~ not argued with.

To borrow and image from a Carthusian from centuries ago: Scruples *are like a barking dog or a hissing goose -one does not stop to argue with a barking dog or a hissing goose does one? * No one keeps walking.

Such ‘obedience’ to a regular confessor who knows of ones scruples (except in what is manifest sin - such as if he told them it was ok to murder someone or something certain like that) is key. Such is the age old practice.

Also counseling -(especially if one also has OCD) could be helpful depending on the case -but one would want to look for a counselor who can assist one in following the Churches Teachings - not go contrary to them (I have heard CA staff mention catholictherapists.com/)

Here was a not too long ago post from Jimmy Akin of CA that I saw in the Register and saved for those who struggle with such.

ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/6-tools-for-the-scrupulous
Click to expand...
 
hausofferni said:
I see I see thank you all very much…but how does one get a spiritual director? What if your too scared to tell your confessor that you have scruples?
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Just ask any priest, or someone at a monastery or retreat center.
Your Diocese should also have a list of certified SD’s.
 
A person with scruples does not need a “spiritual director” per se. They need a regular confessor who can know them and direct them in confession.
 
hausofferni said:
I see I see thank you all very much…but how does one get a spiritual director? What if your too scared to tell your confessor that you have scruples?
Click to expand...
I have seven uncles who are priests. They have heard everything under the sun, so they say. I don’t know what it is because they would NEVER break the seal of the confessional. Don’t be afraid to tell a priest ANYTHING.
 
Could I maybe message one of you in private to ask if one of my sins is severe or venial, it’s really bothering me, and I would really appreciate it, thank you.
 
What if your too scared to tell your confessor that you have scruples?
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A very thorough and experienced confessor will not even need you to tell him, he will know it by the way you confess.

But, don’t be afraid to tell him. First, it’s not a sin to be scrupulous, just a temptation (mainly to doubt, despair, and pride). Second, it’s helpful for him, so he can direct you better in the confessional. Third, it’s a very normal thing to bring up, even outside the confessional.
 
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