I was raised Catholic but now only go to church now and then and havent gone to confession for years.?

Question

I have a real problem with going to confession - not that I have sinned but am just terrified. I have ADD and also depression and on meds. Could that be it?

Answer 1

I don't know that you can blame your missing Mass and confession on ADD. My elder sister is medicated for ADD and she goes to Mass every Sunday.

I don't think I quite understands what terrifies you about confession? If the confessional is too constricting for you, you can set up an appointment with a priest in his office. If face-to-face confessions are the thing that bothers you, then go to confession at a parish that has confessionals. If you are afraid of confessing to YOUR priest, then head to a different parish where nobody knows you. And go more often. When you go monthly, it's a lot easier and shorter and much less intimidating.

Also, just get yourself up and go to Mass. It doesn't take THAT much concentration to wash, brush your teeth, get dressed and travel to a Catholic Church on time for Mass.

Answer 2

If you really had no sin, you would not be terrified about going to Confession.

If any of these potentially sinful acts have anything to do with ADD, depression, and medication, this decreases the culpability (your personal responsibility) for the sin.

In other words, God takes into account the probability that you would not have committed certain sins if you were not afflicted with ADD, depression, and whatever side-effects you experience from medication.

If/when you do go to Confession, make sure you tell the priest about your conditions. Conditions like these can change things a great deal.

Answer 3

Well, you should go and explain it to the priest, but find one who understands, because not all do.

That will help you very much. You should find a good spiritual counselor

To myangel:
It looks like you don't know that, in confession, you confess directly to God. The priest is only an instrumenst.
It is Jesus who listens and forgives, not the priest.

Why not confess directly to God and not to the priest ? Because there are certain rules that must be followed. For example, in case of theft, you should give back what you stole. In case of some other sins, you should make penance and do something to obtain forgiveness.

If you are married. but not by the Church, you must get married by the Church first in order to be able to be forgiven

Answer 4

That could cause you to feel uncomfortable. My Catholic Church usually has a time to go to confession when they will forgive you of your sins, and not make you say everything to a priest. You should check to see if your church offers that!

Answer 5

i was raised the same, but havent attended a mass in 4-5 years. i tell people im catholic when they ask about my religious affiliatiob. im not compelled to practice it hardcore. i just want to live my life..

i wouldnt feel guilty about a sin i did, unless its grave.

dont be depressed. it is a sign of a weak person, be carefree, ladi back and listed to reggae or just visit the philippine islands. get a hint natives know how to live carefree, despite that place being a truely disgusting place and country. the people are mostly happy.

Answer 6

Don't worry about it. Be accountable to yourself. It's a juvenile thing to sin all day long, and think everything will be OK as long as you enter a little box with Pete-O-File.

Answer 7

Read your Bible carefully and studiously and you'll realize that Christ is our High Priest, and no man is required to intercede for your confessions. The Holy Spirit is there to guide you, not a Catholic priest.

Answer 8

If you go into a confessional it might be claustrophobia that causes your fear. You don't have to use the confessional. You can just sit across a desk from the priest and talk to him.

Answer 9

Why do you have to confess to a man? Why not just confess strait to God?