What happens if "scruples" isn't treated?

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hausofferni said:
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.
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Ones Regular Confessor is the who one should look to the most regarding scruples if one has such a struggle…he can judge for you “no that is not a sin” or “yes that is grave sin” or “yes that is venial” or simply “dismiss that for such is a scruple”
 
By praying at the tomb of St. Crescentia, many have been freed from debilitating problems, including severe scruples. Her intercession is powerful.

Scrupulous individuals should know that, whenever they obey their confessor - unless the advice given is patently evil - they obey God. And an obedient soul has never been lost. It is this constant fretting and over-analysing that shifts our attention away from God, weakens our faculties, wears us down, blinds us, and deprives us of spiritual joy. Scruples may arise; the crucial thing is that we take them to God, Who is “plentiful in mercy to all” [who call upon Him].

Confidence in God precedes knowledge of God. This knowledge will eradicate our fears. We must always remember that God wants us to love Him with the simplicity of a child. We will have peace when we rest in His arms, under His merciful gaze.

“I want you in My arms with the simplicity of a babe in those of its Mother.”
  • Our Saviour to Bl. Alexandrina da Costa
 
littlestsouls2 said:
By praying at the tomb of St. Crescentia, many have been freed from debilitating problems, including severe scruples. Her intercession is powerful.

Scrupulous individuals should know that, whenever they obey their confessor - unless the advice given is patently evil - they obey God. And an obedient soul has never been lost. It is this constant fretting and over-analysing that shifts our attention away from God, weakens our faculties, wears us down, blinds us, and deprives us of spiritual joy. Scruples may arise; the crucial thing is that we take them to God, Who is “plentiful in mercy to all” [who call upon Him].

Confidence in God precedes knowledge of God. This knowledge will eradicate our fears. We must always remember that God wants us to love Him with the simplicity of a child. We will have peace when we rest in His arms, under His merciful gaze.

“I want you in My arms with the simplicity of a babe in those of its Mother.”
  • Our Saviour to Bl. Alexandrina da Costa
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This is good advice. :hey_bud:
 
I have struggled with scrupulosity for two years, and it is miserable. I really need advice for it, because I do not want to live my life lie this. Attending Mass feels painful, and I always have a fear that I cannot receive Communion. If I go to Confession, within a day, I feel as though I am in a state of mortal sin. I never fee peaceful, I am always doubtful, and restless.

Please pray for me (Pietro Contolini)
 
pietrocontolini said:
I have struggled with scrupulosity for two years, and it is miserable. I really need advice for it, because I do not want to live my life lie this. Attending Mass feels painful, and I always have a fear that I cannot receive Communion. If I go to Confession, within a day, I feel as though I am in a state of mortal sin. I never fee peaceful, I am always doubtful, and restless.

Please pray for me (Pietro Contolini)
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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
 
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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I am scrupulous too. What is the worst thing you think will happen if you tell your priest that you are scrupulous? Can it possibly be worse than the hell that goes on in the minds of people like us? But there is another way…

Are there any religious orders that are close to you? Google it and find out if you do not know. Then send a letter to the closest one. Explain that you are scrupulous and you are wondering if there is any priest in their order that can help you with your scrupulosity. If they do not answer, simply send a letter to the next closest one. This is how I got a spiritual director. He is 50 miles away but it is worth the drive. If you do not drive, maybe just talk to your priest about finding a spiritual director and maybe he can help you. Do not send a email. Write to them. Another person on this forum advised me to do this after I did not get a reply from the first Abbey that I emailed. The Monastery that I sent a letter to yielded a reply back, very quickly, from my now spiritual director. A wonderful Carmelite priest.

It is great having a spiritual director who can help you with scrupulosity. I can take all the time I need confessing to him and he can even pause and give me advice for as long as he needs on anything I confessed. I think my first confession took was about 10 or 15 minuets long. I could explain what I thought was my sin for as long as I wanted to and I dont have to worry about other people waiting for confession too and Father could take all the time he needed to explain everything and answer all my questions because he did not have other people in line waiting. Imagine my relief and surprise when I rattled off a list of about a dozen different things, completely confused and worried that almost everything I had on my list was might have been a mortal sin and Father told me that NOT A SINGLE THING I MENTIONED WAS GRAVE MATTER.

It has been a few months and I am still scrupulous, but not as badly. Father told me that I am curable and thinks that in maybe a year I might no longer be scrupulous. I do not know about that because I am OCD too (Atleast that is what a therapist diagnosed me as) but I would rather only scruple out once in a great while instead of every single day for months straight like I did from april to september of this year.

Scrupulosity seems to only get worse when not treated. Do yourself a favor and seek a spiritual director to help you. Take care and God bless!
 
My parish has an agreement with the archdiocese of Denver, and a small spanish order is there. We have four priests, and one brother studying to become a priest. I am starting spiritual direction with one. Their order is called the disciples of the hearts of Jesus and Mary, and it has helped.
 
jaimeleglise said:
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.
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I agree with this post.

I think that if scrupulosity isn’t addressed, that it can just get worse. I think that it’s a form of anxiety-as already mentioned-that can show itself in the spiritual aspect of ourselves.
 
Thank you all very very much. I don’t want to feel this way anymore and I need help, I will make it my goal to go and seek a spiritual director, to better feel God’s love and mercy. Thank you all and God bless!
 
LaughingBoy1503 said:
I am scrupulous too. What is the worst thing you think will happen if you tell your priest that you are scrupulous? Can it possibly be worse than the hell that goes on in the minds of people like us? But there is another way…

Are there any religious orders that are close to you? Google it and find out if you do not know. Then send a letter to the closest one. Explain that you are scrupulous and you are wondering if there is any priest in their order that can help you with your scrupulosity. If they do not answer, simply send a letter to the next closest one. This is how I got a spiritual director. He is 50 miles away but it is worth the drive. If you do not drive, maybe just talk to your priest about finding a spiritual director and maybe he can help you. Do not send a email. Write to them. Another person on this forum advised me to do this after I did not get a reply from the first Abbey that I emailed. The Monastery that I sent a letter to yielded a reply back, very quickly, from my now spiritual director. A wonderful Carmelite priest.

It is great having a spiritual director who can help you with scrupulosity. I can take all the time I need confessing to him and he can even pause and give me advice for as long as he needs on anything I confessed. I think my first confession took was about 10 or 15 minuets long. I could explain what I thought was my sin for as long as I wanted to and I dont have to worry about other people waiting for confession too and Father could take all the time he needed to explain everything and answer all my questions because he did not have other people in line waiting. Imagine my relief and surprise when I rattled off a list of about a dozen different things, completely confused and worried that almost everything I had on my list was might have been a mortal sin and Father told me that NOT A SINGLE THING I MENTIONED WAS GRAVE MATTER.

It has been a few months and I am still scrupulous, but not as badly. Father told me that I am curable and thinks that in maybe a year I might no longer be scrupulous. I do not know about that because I am OCD too (Atleast that is what a therapist diagnosed me as) but I would rather only scruple out once in a great while instead of every single day for months straight like I did from april to september of this year.

Scrupulosity seems to only get worse when not treated. Do yourself a favor and seek a spiritual director to help you. Take care and God bless!
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This sounds amazing. Especially the part about where I get to go on and on and on, haha. Thank you very much for sharing this, and I’m glad you found yourself a spiritual director and are healing! Thank God!! And God bless!
 
hausofferni said:
This sounds amazing. Especially the part about where I get to go on and on and on, haha. Thank you very much for sharing this, and I’m glad you found yourself a spiritual director and are healing! Thank God!! And God bless!
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Yeah, you cannot get that kind of help in a confession with a dozen people behind you waiting in line. Though sometimes the priest has taken a little extra time to advise me, not on the level that my spiritual adviser has. And it is understandable. Lots of times the priest has just told me that I am being too hard on myself lol. I have heard that many times in confession. My spiritual adviser can take the time to explain why in more depth.

If I may, just my opinion, I would advise you not to ask others on this forum “Is this a sin?” questions. You will get too many varied opinions. You will get a lot of “Just confess it. Better safe than sorry” reply’s. And that is not always good advice. It can increase scruples in someone who is already scrupulous. If you get a spiritual director, he can tell you if that is good advice for you or not. Hope you find someone good soon. Do not wait on this. I was Baptized Easter Vigil 2013 and I waited 2 and a half years to get help. It was a lot of un needed suffering in those 2 and a half years all because I was too scared to seek help. Or I would stop being scrupulous for a short amount of time and convince myself that I did not need help after all. Only for my scruples to return, and worse, every single time. Do not delay because of fear. Nothing you say will shock a priest. They have heard everything. Does not matter how complex you think your sin is to explain. Do the best you can and Father will understand and ask you questions if he does not, so that he can understand. I told my spiritual director so many embarrassing things and he never batted a eyelash lol. He had a bigger reaction when I told him I was not receiving communion because I was afraid to and he told me “Not to abstain from communion but if I had a question about a sin, to give him a call” so that I do not abstain. Hope all works out for you. Take care and Go bless. Ill pray for you, but seriously… dont wait to start looking 🙂
 
Then you doubt God, like as is happening with me. It is more painful not to get them treated. Trust me, get help!
 
Thank you for all of your replies. It’s nice to know that I am not suffering alone. I have talked to a priest at my parish about spiritual direction, and I will be starting some time in January. Thank you for your prayers and all the help you’ve been giving me.
 
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