Confession
“The Confession” by Giuseppe Molteni, 1838.
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’”
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, commonly known as Confession, is a profound encounter with the merciful love of Jesus Christ, but for many it is also an occasion of fear and/or anxiety. Some of this can be relieved by becoming more familiar with the Sacrament and preparing for it in prayer. A helpful Examination of Conscience and ‘How to go to Confession’ guide can be found at the National Catholic Register and '20 Tips on Making a Good Confession' can be found at Fr. Z's blog.
Another way to help ease some of the fear or anxiety is simply to go more regularly. Frequent (i.e. monthly) celebration of the Sacrament is encouraged by the Church and countless saints, who realized that going the minimum once a year was not sufficient for themselves. And remember, too, that while there are many reasons why we might want to refrain from approaching the Sacrament, the most important reason to go to Confession is that it is Jesus whom we encounter there waiting to pour out His love and mercy.