Confession

 If you are a Catholic and go to confession a lot but feel at peace for only a brief time after each confession, this could be from a defective sense of self.  You emotions are glued to shame and guilt.  Confession only puts a band aid on the wounded self.  I suggest you look at the Incarnation and the Cross.  God did not go through all this in Jesus because you earned it.  God becoming human and suffering a nasty death is not because you are wretched.  You are lovable, but just don't believe it.  You think you do bad things not because you are human, therefore imperfect, but because you are no good.  Shame and guilt confirms your self-opinion.  Confession becomes Catholic deal making.  Though you are no good, you did confess, and so God should take you into heaven, or at least not send you to the really bad place.  You missed the enjoyment of unconditional love.  I seek progress.  Perfection is beyond me.