Are there any other Jehovah's witnesses that have social anxiety out there?

Question

I have been in the truth all my life. I have social anxiety and it has really been hard to go to the kingdom hall and associate. Am I the only one who feels like this? I have missed a lot of meetings because of this. I want to change and be more spiritual. The anxiety is like a road block in my life. Any other witnesses with social anxiety??

Answer 1

((((((WonkaBar65))))))
So sorry to hear that you are struggling with this disorder. NO you are not alone. I am your spiritual sister in good standing, I am from the US. Through the years I have had spells of being frozen in fear and at times have avoided my meetings. It is difficult to deal with when your hearts desire is to be at the meetings and associating with our spiritual family. I felt like an outsider, not due to those in the congregation, but from my own anxiety. Many reached out to me, but sometimes in their desire to help me it would overwhelm me, they never realized that it would make me freeze up. It has been a struggle and things have gotten better, but it has taken effort, being aware of myself and what I was doing to fuel the fear. Picking a person or two that I was drawn to, and privately explaining the struggle I had and what specifically they could do that would give me the support needed to make the meetings easier. Also, if there were strong personalities, they could act as a buffer or rescue me if things got overwhelming. Letting your book study conductor know about what your struggling with, but realize that our dear brothers are not trained in psychology, that is not what they are there for and they are imperfect just like us, but if he knows he can be of support. And last but most certainly not least, PRAYER, PRAYER, PRAYER. Jehovah has certainly manifested himself to me over the years and I have no doubt that HE answers prayers and hears every word. Admittedly, I have resisted the answers to my prayers at times, wanting the answer to be something else less difficult. These passages from the Bible have really helped me through some rough times:

Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous so as to forget YOUR work and the love YOU showed for his name, in that YOU have ministered to the holy ones and continue ministering.

Jeremiah 29:11-14
“‘For I myself well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward YOU,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give YOU a future and a hope. 12 And YOU will certainly call me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to YOU.’ 13 “‘And YOU will actually seek me and find [me], for YOU will search for me with all YOUR heart. 14 And I will let myself be found by YOU,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.

Isaiah 41:10, 13
Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not gaze about, for I am your God. I will fortify you. I will really help you. I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand of righteousness.’ 13 For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, the One saying to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I myself will help you

That scripture in Isaiah makes me think of the parent who grasps their child's hand when the child is afraid, to reassure the child that everything is ok, that they are there to protect them. How comforting to feel deliberately protected by Jehovah. Also, I found that when I mustered the courage and follow the prompting the prayer provided, things truly worked out beautifully. If you would like to email me privately, feel free at [e-mail]

I hope this has helped, I look forward to hearing from you.
Natureshelper

Answer 2

I've had social anxiety disorder since i was a child they just didn't have a name for it back then. I am a jw also its very hard to have this disorder in the truth people just think im a snob or something they don't understand what they can't see. I can't even go to meetings anymore but i try to stay close to Jehovah because I hope he will have mercy on me and remember me. I feel so alone with this disorder it's so debilitating i don't belong anywhere. I hope yours is not as bad as mine is and you can still go to the hall. I look so forward to the time when all these problems will be a thing of the past. Take care !

Answer 3

The law protects religion in a number of ways - I am not sure the alternative would be better though, people do need to be free to pray mostly as they would like. Because social pressure isn't against the law, yet has a profound effect on people it is very difficult to do anything about. Seriously I would just talk to a doctor. There are many good anti-anxiety medicines out there, couple this with possibly therapy and you will feel better. I "KNOW" it is easier said than done and those first steps are very hard to take. But stick to it and it will get better. You want to know the worst possible thing you can do to the Jehovah's Witnesses? Live a good life and be happy. They love nothing better than to view former members in pain and talk about how that could be them; thus why they should never leave. They often forget about hundreds of thousands of former members who are more happy than they could ever imagine.

Answer 4

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 5

Hi: I'm not a Witness, I studied for many years. I hope another Witness does answer you here with the right answer. If not I hope you find a friend at your hall that you can talk to about this. Maybe you could go to another hall and speak to someone. This is not a good time to fall away from the truth. You must be very young. You know you need to find support in this issue. Outside the truth is really not the place to take the advice. But I understand your sincere frustration. I hope you find a healthy answer. Take your time. Don't over react and make a big mistake that you might regret. Sincerely

Answer 6

I've never been comfortable around large crowds of people. More than anything, that is why I've never returned since being deisfellowshipped in Corning, CA in 1982. That is why I became a truck driver and now a cab driver. I did run a highly successful non-profit for years five years, but I worked mostly at nights. A bunch of attorneys took it over hoping to make it into a for profit.

When I'm not in my taxi, I'm in this room.

Answer 7

.I have not experienced this disorder but would like to encourage you. I'm a brother I am married, and love Jehovah and want to help. Daily Bible reading and specific research on my problem has helped me. I would help you research all that could be found about this anxiety.

[e-mail]

Answer 8

Well, how real is Jehovah to you? You need to start finding this out. This is not the time to try going it on your own, with the end being soooooo close. It could be yourself image, and how you think other people veiw you, But, I'm not sure. But, listen dear freind. Open the communication lines to Jehovah right away to get help. And Take my word for it, you DO NOT, want to eventually wind up leaving the truth, trust me, I know!!!!!
I am in a bad situation, currently, I should not be responding to you, but chose too, for your benifit. I intend to be reinstated within the next year.

Answer 9

Well, I started having some serious panic attacks after I became a Jehovah's Witness. All this talk about the end is near and you're going to die if you don't go to the meetings or out in field service. I went to a psychiatrist and got a diagnosis of Panic Disorder. I was put on medications that really helped me to control the attacks. I, also, stopped thinking that Jehovah was going to kill me for not doing all the things that "The Organization" said was mandated for me to do in order for me to survive Armaggedon. There is an online support group called alt.support.anxiety-panic (ASAP). It can be found in Google's Newsgroups. Check it out.

Here's another link that may be of help: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/122792/1.ashx

Answer 10

Like Jeraboam2 said, "The End is soooo close". Yea, right. It has been "SOOOOOO close for 129 years now".

Do yourself a favor and escape this mind control CULT...