I know that I have struggled with this as well. For me it was part of my religious upbringing and wanting to "get right" because I was told this is the way it is....ask for forgiveness in order to get that forgiveness which in reality is already ours in Christ.
The other part is when you see how horrid it really is when we mess up....sin....transgress.... whatever term you want to use. ...what I see is my unbelief in the goodness and love of my Father and Lord Jesus for me. That is the horrid part because I know that is not Their character..
.I love to kneel quickly and tell my Father how I trust in Him..how what I did was wrong..sometimes I use the word sin..sometimes I don't..I think that is irrelevant...I run to my Father and tell Him how that His Son..my Lord is my life..my righteousness,..Jesus Blood has secured my redemption and forgiveness of sins....I confess what God says about me...I tell Him I love Him and trust in Him...
You know ...He always loves on me and tells me He loves me and that He is my life and strength. Sometimes I have felt a warm liquid like feeling of pure love fall on me..and I just sit there in His presence and weep..I can't move a muscle..He is so mighty in power yet His love is the most overwhelming aspect of His presence.
To me..all sin is relational. All sin is a failure to see the life of Christ in me. I am ignorant of His life in me. To me..most outward sin is just a "fruit" of the real sin.
For example..If I steal something..that is a sin..but the real sin behind that is the failure to recognize my Father will take care of me. I am operating in the flesh.
This truth applies to all areas of our lives. This is something that the Lord is showing me now at this stage in my life with Him.
If GOD says you are forgiven and you keep asking GOD to forgive you Isn't that person wanting to acknowledge their sin "sin conscious"?