Stress Center Peer Support

Hi All-

I stopped going to church regulary for past few months because I find myself not connecting with the people at my new church. I say new but I had been going to the church for five years. I feel lonely at church. I have social anxiety so I know it's not anyone's fault at the church, but it's more of me shying away from people. My prayer is that I'd get better, so I can return to church and minister to people who have similar stories as mine. All your prayers and fellowship will be appreciated. And my prayer for you all is that you have a full and abundant life as well!

Hi Me in Va,

I too stayed away from nearly everyone for quite some time. It was something associated with the sever injuries, and deterioration of my back, spine, and spinal chord damage.

In my recent past, I was very active. Indeed, I was formerly a very gifted athlete, singer, dancer, party animal among other things. God healed me of many of my afflictions, and addictions. I praise Him for all the good things He has done for me.

In spite of His goodness toward me, I slipped off into a deep depression swing of a down cycle (I am also bi-polar). My wife ordered this program, and it took me 3 or 4 days to open the package, and begin. When I started, I listened to the "relaxation tape" (CD in a large package of DVD's and CD's). All that listening to the CD was did was get me extremely upset, as it talked me into reviewing all the good things I had going for me when I was younger, and only led me to look at how hopeless my current situation loomed over my every thought. I told my wife about it, and she suggested I call to return the program. That took me a couple of days. When I got through, the young lady who answered my call was so concerned about me that I felt I had to give this another chance.

Today, I thank my wife for getting me to make that call, and for that lady that handled my call. Her empathy, and true agape love, just touched my heart, and I now actively participate on this forum, healed of this terrible affliction of depression and anxiety. Was it all the program? In part! I attribute my full healing to all the things and people God put in front of me to help me.

My path toward recovery is something that I can clearly mark. It comes to my mind that February 14, I was clearly moved to get back into my studies of the Bible. I sought the Lord, and the Lord answered my prayers! Alleluia! Over time, I began to realize, that I had been in a state of something like a controlled depressed state that had controlled, in a negative way, nearly every aspect of my life and my outlook about life.

Today, I may seem a bit odd to some people, and that may include the pastor at the church that I attend. Outwardly, I still look and move around like a broken down old man. The difference is that today, nearly all can see that He has turned my mourning into gladness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8H2YO4u5qg

Oh yes, I dance. Maybe not like before, but I do it for Him. He has truly returned the Joy I once knew. I do it all because it pleases Him! Why? Because it doesn't matter what others think about me or what they think they see. It is not about a man pleaser, but a God pleaser! I am content! No one can steal that joy from me. I have a wonderful personal relationship with my God, as each morning I greet my Daddy God with a kiss and loving embrace, as He has causes new songs and dance, new praise for every new mercy He has shown me.

I also live in Northern Virginia, I could write a great deal about God's goodness to me through out all my life, and I will gladly share more with you. If you would like to learn more, simply pm me. We can message each other, talk, chat, speak and fellowship with one another as the Spirit of God fills our temples with His Love, and reveals more and more of Himself, and His desire to turn your mourning into dancing, and fill your heart with His joy. All with the hope of revelation to you, that the Joy of the Lord is your strength and a key to His abundant life, that in turn, brings you to a renewing of your mind and creating you into a new person.

I pray that this message stirs up a sense of hope and encouragement, and a desire to know more of Him so that you will want to have that Joy that only the growth of knowledge and understanding of His love toward you can bring you.

May the Lord's love, mercy, grace, peace and security be your constant companion; according to His riches in heaven and according to His will. In Jesus name, I pray.

that really touched mt heart. thank you

Keep the stories coming GMAN! Your peanut needs some spiritual inspirment!

I have noticed that throughout the past year, aside from the exhaustion, always sleeping, and lack of energy, that I have not gone to church like I usually do on sundays. Once I finally started leaving my house I would go during the week, but for the past 2-3 months I have barely gone at all. I don't know if I feel detached from Him or what my problem is. Any suggestions?

P.S - Interesting how you said we could turn our mourning into dancing.... about 2 weeks ago I signed up to take 2 dance classes How ironic =)

Hey little peanut,

I am sorry you are feeling so run down. It could the stress you overcame. It is liking climbing a mountain. You dig deep with in you and you get the high when you overcome, but then you have to come down and it is as dangerous or more so as going up the mountain. When you have completed it you have a physical downer and you need to get recharged.

I have written several poems and one that I like is called On Eagles Wings (#21 on list). I have also done a study and put together a get story on "What Mountains?" I am getting ready for bed, but if you look in you pm box, I will copy and paste the later story. It is so cool, how God works it all out. It's about a stone stone and how you will be shouting grace, grace to it! (Zec 4:6&7)

Did you download the video? This is an old praise and worship song. It is also in Psalm 30:

http://www.biblegateway.com/pa...lm%2030;&version=49;

Good night little peanut, God Bless you my little one.

I need some rest, I am learning to play the Guitar, and I never knew how much it would hurt my back to play a guitar, but I know the Lord will carry me through this one too.

Poems Index

I go to church every Sunday. But I get very down because I raised my 3 kids Catholic through the church and my son's wife left him, took them over state lines, and moved back to where she originally lives. My youngest son, its like pulling teeth to go to church, and myself, I just feel like I failed them in some way. My oldest was really dealt a raw deal with his wife. No friends, everything family oriented, had to do what she wanted or she screamed and upset the two kids they have. He was releaved to a point but never thought he would get a divorce. He goes to church every Sunday but can't receive communion, because he is now after a year and a half and to no end still has not resolved his divorce. I love my kids but feel like I failed them in some way. If you don't have God no matter what religion you have, you have no one to help you. I don't condone what they are doing but its on my mind constantly. And when I go to church I am the one who feels guilty, like I did something wrong raising them. My husband has not gone to church since he was 15, not Catholic, but still believes in God. He is very controlling and I have been unhappy for 33 years. But no where to go, wanted to show them you stick with it and work things out. (Till death do us part). I obsess over the divorce, his being able to receive the eucharist, and move on with his life. I went to talk to a priest one time and told him I get nothing out of church. He told me to go and just sit there, even though if I don't hear a thing. Eventually you will feel Gods love and go for yourself, not for everyone else. Sometimes its tough to get out of bed for church but keep in mind, if you work, you get up every day for that. Which might be part of your stresser. So keep telling yourself that Gods day is more important than work days. He is the one who has unconditional love for you. And when asked when he is ready, he will help you through. When I get really down, I tell myself "Holy Spirit please stay with me and when you thinks you don't want to remember he is there on your shoulders to pull you through.

Thanks Gman for the encouraging message and for caring! I have no doubt about God's love at this point of my life. I did for awile when I first started to have the social anxiety, but I have reconciled with the doubt.

nanan,

Thank you so much for responding and sharing your experience. I am sorry to hear about your son's divorce and the difficult time you as a grandmother and he as a father are going through. It is interesting to me that your Priest said to 'go to church and just sit there even if you don't hear anything' because when I do attend church, I zone in and out for the most part. I used to go to church because it made me feel good and because I felt like I was having a one on one with God. However, the past few months I feel like I've lost some sort of connection. It's difficult to explain but I will continue to pray and hopefully truly find my way back.

As for your feelings about your husband and/or children not attending church, I believe this is something every parent goes through. For a long time my mother had to practically drag us out of bed to go to mass. As we got older, she encouraged us as oppossed of demanding us to go. I have always believed in God and know he has answered so many of my prayers, but my sister had reduced my mother to tears over religion. Not too long ago my sister was in the hospital for kidney stones and when the doctor asked her what religion she was affiliated with, she responded: "None." After all of the years my mother has tried to keep our family together through the hopes and prayers of the catholic church, she was enraged by my sister's response.

I will pray that the guilt you are feeling subsides because I really believe it's just a phase that teenagers and even adults go through. Try not to be so hard on yourself. You have not failed your children in any way, shape or form. Continue to encourage them about church and one day they may just suprise you

Me in VA....I know how exhausting and draining anxiety can be...I also know what it feels like to have to force myself to attend church because of my anxiety!!! I used to be the same way!!!

I posted a link on "How to Handle Fear" in the "Spirituality section" of this forum. If you would go to that link, and study that site at your leisure, then, I am sure you would begin feeling much closer to God!!!

The Bible says, "Draw nigh unto me, and I will draw nigh unto you!"

We do have to make the first move, and you do not have to be in church to do so!!!

I learned the hard way that running to God with my problems was the answer, instead of running away from Him!!!

Remember...He is the true answer to all of our problems and concerns, and He knows us better than we even know ourselves!!!

I pray you have a wonderful day...God Bless...