Thanks for doing these videos. It may not seem like a lot of views, but only 2% of population has OCD, and even smaller amount are Catholic that struggle with religious OCD, so you're reaching a bunch of Catholics who struggle with religious OCD. So thank you.
The shame I have and the fear of letting it all out only to be misunderstood has been keeping me from reaching out at all. I have been trying to email a priest for help for almost a year but the shame and fear keep stopping me. It’s so exhausting.
Im 42 and have suffered with OCD since I was 10 or 11. As a kid my parents removed me from Catholic school, and now as an adult after a general then weekly confession, im really struggling with this. My faith has become a central part of my life, but my OCD goes nuts with confession, especially over past sins. Ill make what I believe is a full confession, then a day later remember something super embarassing from 20 years ago. Muster the courage to bring it to confession, then another sin from 15 years ago, equally embarrassing, remembered. Its a never ending game of anxiety-ridden "whack a mole". I know forgotten sins are forgiven, but to me it feels like im getting a "get out of jail free card" to let the past remain in the past and not bring those I remembered to confession. The problem is with OCD this remembering and rumination becomes obsessional and never ending. Would love to just let the past go and move forward anew since my last confession, but my stupid brain won't let me. After 30 years of OCD, im finally in the process of getting professional help, but would really like some assistance from the Catholic perspective by people who understand it. The priests I have been to don't. You're right that it can be isolating and sad.
My heart is with you as you try to work through this debilitating disorder. I have it, too and Father Santa gave a brief interview on one of our local TV stations during a noontime newscast. I just happened to hear what sounded awfully familiar to me, so I sat down to more closely listen to him. He was the only one who actually knew about this Religious OCD. From there, I found a noodle by Father Thomas Santa about Scrupulousness. It was great and seemed to grasp exactly what many people, like us, are dealing. It seems that finding a priest who knows about this disorder who will be a Spiritual Director to you is not an easy task. He has to be the right person for you because we need to put our faith and trust in him and the information he gives us. Don’t give up, though. If the first or second priest isn’t the trusted one for you, keep persevering. It’s not an easy task. I have faith that each of us will find our own path to success. Don’t be discouraged. I wish you much success and do ask God to help you.
While my heart is with you and I hope you get the help you need, it makes me feel better knowing I’m not alone in this struggle. I hope you can overcome it
I have deep general anxiety and have psychiatric management but no help from a religious stance. I can't begin to express the confusion I go through, the fear and doubts I have of doing the wrong thing and disappointing God, and even the fear of harsh judgment when I die. It is real. It is painfully real, and I am looking for a good spiritual counselor.
I’ve had a breakthrough in recent weeks, which came after reading some troubling Church history. I’ve come to see Catholicism as one among many rich traditions trying to help humanity transcend its suffering and poverty through spiritual means. As such, Im able to see it from a wider perspective and the ocd has released its hold. I find myself now utterly confused. If there is a God, I don’t know how to conceptualise him, but I do so more in Jungian / psychological ways now. I’m also confused about other matters. Homosexuality doesn’t have many mentions in the Bible. Granted, when it does come up, it’s not usually positive. But can a man be gay and be a Christian? For how long did the Church condone slavery and at the same time condemn homosexuality? Is there room in Christianity for thinking about sexuality in a more open minded way? I know being a human is a tumultuous venture. The truth in the Catholic Church lifted me out of a hedonistic spiritual hell that I experienced as a teenager. But then my proclivity to experience ocd made peace and being a Catholic so often incompatible. Now I’m distanced from Catholicism, but I believe that if there is a God, the Christian God is as close as it gets to being the True God. I’m so confused Fr, but I know you’re more open minded on these matters. Can you offer me any clarity?
I believe I committed the grave sin of despair, but I discussed my doubts and fears with my family and they disagree. I'm afraid to agree with them because it may have been a mortal sin. I also had terrible thoughts about God and certain saints, but I'm worried I consented to them. What do I do?
This is classic scrupulosity at its worse. Catastrophic thinking that leads to more and more isolation and anxiety. It seems as if you have family members that will help you. Look to them for the support that you need. God bless.
@Catholic OCD The problem is, I had already convinced myself that I was guilty, but now I'm having second thoughts, and I'm not sure if I'm just trying to rationalize the sin away or if I'm having genuine doubts.
Thankfully it does not matter what you convinced yourself it might be or not be. God is in charge and not you. You did not commit the sin and no matter how anxious you might be or no matter how much your scrupulosity is trying to convince you otherwise, there is no sin.
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Thanks for doing these videos. It may not seem like a lot of views, but only 2% of population has OCD, and even smaller amount are Catholic that struggle with religious OCD, so you're reaching a bunch of Catholics who struggle with religious OCD. So thank you.
I wish more priests understood this issue and took the time to help their penitents.
The shame I have and the fear of letting it all out only to be misunderstood has been keeping me from reaching out at all. I have been trying to email a priest for help for almost a year but the shame and fear keep stopping me. It’s so exhausting.
Im 42 and have suffered with OCD since I was 10 or 11. As a kid my parents removed me from Catholic school, and now as an adult after a general then weekly confession, im really struggling with this. My faith has become a central part of my life, but my OCD goes nuts with confession, especially over past sins. Ill make what I believe is a full confession, then a day later remember something super embarassing from 20 years ago. Muster the courage to bring it to confession, then another sin from 15 years ago, equally embarrassing, remembered. Its a never ending game of anxiety-ridden "whack a mole". I know forgotten sins are forgiven, but to me it feels like im getting a "get out of jail free card" to let the past remain in the past and not bring those I remembered to confession. The problem is with OCD this remembering and rumination becomes obsessional and never ending. Would love to just let the past go and move forward anew since my last confession, but my stupid brain won't let me.
After 30 years of OCD, im finally in the process of getting professional help, but would really like some assistance from the Catholic perspective by people who understand it. The priests I have been to don't. You're right that it can be isolating and sad.
My heart is with you as you try to work through this debilitating disorder. I have it, too and Father Santa gave a brief interview on one of our local TV stations during a noontime newscast. I just happened to hear what sounded awfully familiar to me, so I sat down to more closely listen to him. He
was the only one who actually knew about this Religious OCD. From there, I found a noodle by Father Thomas Santa about Scrupulousness. It was great and seemed to grasp exactly what many people, like us, are dealing.
It seems that finding a priest who knows about this disorder who will be a Spiritual Director to you is not an easy task. He has to be the right person for you because we need to put our faith and trust in him and the information he gives us. Don’t give up, though. If the first or second priest isn’t the trusted one for you, keep persevering. It’s not an easy task. I have faith that each of us will find our own path to success. Don’t be discouraged. I wish you much success and do ask God to help you.
I don’t know where the word “noodle” came from, but it should be “book.”
@@pennyfinn7363 lol! I just figured it was a cute new internet term for link. "noodle". I kind of like it!
While my heart is with you and I hope you get the help you need, it makes me feel better knowing I’m not alone in this struggle. I hope you can overcome it
God Bless You Father.
I have deep general anxiety and have psychiatric management but no help from a religious stance. I can't begin to express the confusion I go through, the fear and doubts I have of doing the wrong thing and disappointing God, and even the fear of harsh judgment when I die. It is real. It is painfully real, and I am looking for a good spiritual counselor.
I’ve had a breakthrough in recent weeks, which came after reading some troubling Church history.
I’ve come to see Catholicism as one among many rich traditions trying to help humanity transcend its suffering and poverty through spiritual means.
As such, Im able to see it from a wider perspective and the ocd has released its hold.
I find myself now utterly confused. If there is a God, I don’t know how to conceptualise him, but I do so more in Jungian / psychological ways now.
I’m also confused about other matters. Homosexuality doesn’t have many mentions in the Bible. Granted, when it does come up, it’s not usually positive. But can a man be gay and be a Christian? For how long did the Church condone slavery and at the same time condemn homosexuality? Is there room in Christianity for thinking about sexuality in a more open minded way?
I know being a human is a tumultuous venture. The truth in the Catholic Church lifted me out of a hedonistic spiritual hell that I experienced as a teenager. But then my proclivity to experience ocd made peace and being a Catholic so often incompatible. Now I’m distanced from Catholicism, but I believe that if there is a God, the Christian God is as close as it gets to being the True God.
I’m so confused Fr, but I know you’re more open minded on these matters. Can you offer me any clarity?
thank you.
I believe I committed the grave sin of despair, but I discussed my doubts and fears with my family and they disagree. I'm afraid to agree with them because it may have been a mortal sin. I also had terrible thoughts about God and certain saints, but I'm worried I consented to them. What do I do?
This is classic scrupulosity at its worse. Catastrophic thinking that leads to more and more isolation and anxiety. It seems as if you have family members that will help you. Look to them for the support that you need. God bless.
@Catholic OCD The problem is, I had already convinced myself that I was guilty, but now I'm having second thoughts, and I'm not sure if I'm just trying to rationalize the sin away or if I'm having genuine doubts.
Thankfully it does not matter what you convinced yourself it might be or not be. God is in charge and not you. You did not commit the sin and no matter how anxious you might be or no matter how much your scrupulosity is trying to convince you otherwise, there is no sin.
@@catholicocd Ok, thank you