Social Anxiety Disorder And The Church

[Deazone]

I have had quite a few regrets in my lifetime because of missed opportunities because I have s.a.d. I do not like talking about it, but I feel that I need some guidance because the Church does ask a lot of socializing and then of course there are the talks, and prayers.

My problem is that whenever I get in front of groups of five or more people I have panic attacks. Even passing a sacrament would result in me probably shaking so badly that I would spill water on members. What should I do? I want to participate in Church and contribute, but I do not know how. I have not told the Bishop yet, I am not quite sure what to expect his reaction to be. I have noticed it get in the way at the Church already, the uncomfortable pauses when someone introduces themselves, etc.. I feel as though I am being rude but it is not intentional, yet at the same time I do not want to tell everyone I have sad. It is at the point now that I find myself trying to make excuses not to go to Church, I know that this must sound pretty irrational (Even I find it completely irrational), after all most people do have “stage fright” of sorts, but in all honesty I do go into panic attacks, and in the past have literally ran from such situations.

Have you known anyone with similar impairments, and is the Church understanding? I find a lot of places are not.

[Mojeaux]

What should I do? I want to participate in Church and contribute, but I do not know how.[/b]

I'd suggest you go see a psychiatrist and get some anti-anxiety medicine.

[BenRaines]

I do not know of anyone with this disorder. Not sure what the church has to do with being understanding. Meet with the Bishop, explain how you feel and how you have little or no control over it. He can help you get counseling to see if you can overcome it and I am sure that there are many people that live with it.

Me on the other hand I can't keep my mouth shut at church.

Ben Raines

1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

You have nothing to be afraid of. God love you and want you to be happy. It pleases Him to see you gathered with those who love Him.

[Dr T]

The anti-anxiety medications are often habit forming and when you stop the anxiety returns. I would suggest meds and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy together to learn coping skills for when you stop the medication. This approach is the treatment of choice. Not one or the other alone.

Dr. T

[Deazone]

Thanks for the answers. I will speak to my Bishop to see what he has to say.

[pushka]

Deazone, I will 2nd what Dr. T. suggested.

I have a mild case of Bi Polar Disorder and S.A.D. which I am currently being treated for by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and the relevant meds for the Bi Polar.

I have been attending CBT sessions since April and have made great steps forward towards feeling relaxed again when I go outside to meet people, and have also used it to face other fears such as tidying up my house, which has become a mess over the last 6 years due to my other illness. I hope that you will find it as beneficial as I am doing..

Good Luck!!

[Idacat]

Deazone, I will 2nd what Dr. T. suggested.
[/b]

And I'll third it and add that you are not alone, there are probably millions of us.

I don't have social anxiety per se, but primary panic disorder lifelong, and generalized anxiety of a more recent onset.
Not to mention the phobias I "grew" secondary to my primary panic disorder.

A visit with a psychiatrist for medication if necessary, or a clinical psychiatrist if you want to avoid medication unlesss it is absolutely necessary is a good place to start.

I also recommend this book:The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund Bourne, readily available at Amazon.com as a do it yourself start on cognitive behavioral therapy.

I've been on an "anti-anxiety" medication for over twenty years. It saved my life and allows me to live a normal life (along with a lot of CBT, an ongoing process). I've been on the same dose, lower than the one I started on, for twenty years now, since I was in the clinical trials for this medication(clonazepam). I am medically dependent, but like most people who are given these medications for the right reasons, not addicted in the sense that I require escalating doses or get some kind of thrill or high from this medication and many experts in the field now consider monobenzodiazepine therapy (use of an anti anxiety medication without the use of an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant for the treatment of pathological anxiety and/or panic) tp be the preferred treatment since the antidepressants, besides also inducing dependency, often do not work as well or at all and sometimes have unbearable side effects.

A mental health enlightened Bishop may understand, but even if not it is probably good to let him know you have this problem.

Try therapy and all that, sure, but don't underestimate the value of meds. Better living through chemicals is not only a tongue-in-cheek phrase but a true one. I've been on a combo of two to three (depending) meds for unipolar/major depressive disorder for over six years.

After two weeks on the meds at the beginning, I literally wanted to cry because I thought, "You mean I could've been feeling this good my whole life?"

There's nothing shameful or negative about using a permanent regimen of meds to treat a flaw the Lord has suffered our mortal bodies to inherit/acquire. Don't bother with people who insist nature has all the answers...what's that, there's no plant that grows insulin syringes instead of fruit? But I thought nature had all the answers? You get my point...

[Dr T]

I agree AK. I also suggest though, that the interpersonal/psychological component not be neglected but viewed/used as a complimentary treatment. That is all I'm saying.