How?

Im a Catholic and therfore I have scrupulosity too. Im a man and I cant live with my thoughts regarding sexuality. I find women attractive and I know that is the most normal thing in the world but somehow I dont know when or if it becomes a sin. I cant even look properly around when I am in public because everywhere might be a possibility for sin. I know that I cannot prevent any coincidences but I want those feelings to stop. Is there anything I can do?

Username: Ella_ RoseElla_ Rose

Date posted: 43w ago

I'm a Catholic woman and I struggle with the same thing ... at times I'm so high on intrusive thoughts that it becomes so difficult to think straight and almost every thought feels like a sin I'm sorry you're going through this, I know how it feels 🫂

Username: ErinR2015ErinR2015

Date posted: 43w ago

My priest said I was too scrupulous too. It just cracked me up, because I’d rather over-confess my sins than leave something out. My priest is a good guy, just not quite a Padre Pio… W/R to your other concern, I’m not an expert of course, but I would venture a guess God totally understands intrusive thoughts. But dammit - the 10 Commandments, right? Just like human parents, God gave us laws to protect us from harm. So, the lust can be totally normal. It’s what you do with it that matters - ex like pursuing her, hurting her or her family, obsessively following her, etc. Guess what: in the Christian realm, there are only 2 people that will *never* sin: Mary, the Immaculate Conception & her son (by Virgin birth), Jesus bar Joseph of Nazareth, the long-awaited & prophesied Messiah. You will sin. We all will. Do not let that seep into a feeling of low self-worth. God uniquely loves you & all your broken parts. He understands your struggle. Offer it up to Mary. Don’t one-up God and not let him forgive you because of your low self-worth or anxiety. Consider yourself one of the lost sheep that Jesus carries on his shoulders. As long as your behavior & messaging is appropriate, you should be fine, right? No one can read your mind. Your privacy is protected with God. In the meantime, talk to your HCPs to develop a plan, how to “Do not covet…” without spiking your anxiety/guilt. Hope that’s a little helpful. You can also go to the CCC for church policy, explanation of ideas, etc. Every Catholic should own one. -look into Marian’s of Immaculate Conception -do a Saint Pio novena. -check out these sites. There are a ton more. Just use a search engine. http://catholiccounselorlady.com/archives/1422 https://epicpew.com/11-patron-saints-of-mental-illness/ https://www.thefaceofmercy.org/blog/patron-saints-of-mental-illness You can do it!

Username: Ryan MullenRyan Mullen

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 43w ago

I'm really sorry to hear you are going through this. I KNOW God does not want us to have to worship with our OCD brains. I also feel it takes great faith to move forward with Jesus and let him lead. I wish I could say some great thing to you. I cant even get myself to stop my own terrifying Scrup.

Username: PhilippFreePhilippFree

Date posted: 43w ago

You seem to know a lot of stuff. A question out of interest: how important is ERP for scrupulosity?

Username: Whitestar

Date posted: 6y ago

Does anyone have hard time with sexuality and sexual things? I am worried to be sexual, that God is watching. I stopped everything remotely sexual. If it ever comes to the point where I will kiss someone again I will be so scared because God is watching me. And it will be uncomfortable because I won’t be enjoying the moment I will be thinking about my thoughts. I used to be totally fine and then all this came along and I feel like I can’t even be normal human. I have sexual dreams and I feel fine and aroused in them. Then I wake up and I’m like omg God doesn’t want me to think these things. I can’t even explain it all.. I wish I could all stop this and go back to normal me :’(

Username: mseb10

Date posted: 43w ago

Religious/Moral Guilt

Hello! I was wondering if people with religious or moral scrupulosity can relate to this! I identify as gay (I’ve known it since I was a preteen) and I grew up in a religiously conservative household and in a culture that does not accept the LGBT community. Growing up, I’ve made a lot of progress in accepting myself and learning to love myself for who I am despite the lack of acceptance and support from my cultural and family background. …however, it has obviously been a tough road. And recently, I think I’ve started developing scrupulosity around my sexuality. Basically, I wanted to rediscover my faith in a way that helped me, but it ended up just causing me a lot of distress because the LGBT are not exactly affirmed by the Catholic Church. And despite my best efforts, I feel like I’ve slid so far back into a pit of guilt, shame, and disgust with myself. I have so many intrusive thoughts that being LGBT is not natural, is not right, is something that can and should be changed or fixed, even when I know these to not be true. I’m curious to know if anyone else with religious or moral scrupulosity experiences similar feelings of guilt or shame about who they are. Not only do the intrusive thoughts themselves make me feel guilty, but I have intrusive thoughts that I AM bad and that I should feel shame and disgust about myself. I’m hesitant to post this not only because I don’t want to trigger others but also because I don’t want it to be reassurance seeking or a compulsion, but I do have doubt that this isnt just from my OCD and that I should be exploring other forms of therapy to deal with these problems.

Username: Anonymas

Date posted: 39w ago

What if ur exposure is a sin ?!

I keep having unwanted sexual thoughts or images in my mind and its really stressing me and my compulsion is to avoid and block the tought the thing is that i am a believer i dont and if do erp i am supposed to facd my thought and let myself think abt it but my rocd male me feel that i will have sins and that i can not let myself think such things so idk what to do abt this sexual thoughts

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