And give it up to Christ

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HailHolyQueen90

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I am not quite sure how to word all this but I’ll try.

I have extreme anxiety over things that do not matter at all, anymore at least. A lot of it has to do with how I was in the past. I know the Lords opinion is the only one that matters, but I can’t seem to live that teaching.

For example, I obsess over times when I was extremely drunk (I’m a recovering alcoholic) and made a complete fool of myself, in all ways you can think of. I think about people I met or those who were in my life for weeks or a couple months. I know I will never see them again, or they will never see me again and it kills me to know that if I ever come into there mind, they will see the opposite of what I truly am, what I am now and what is in my heart. They do not know I’m Catholic or that I am sober… or for some more recently I mentioned my religion they may see me as a hypocrite, liar and just a slosh or just forget it all together, all they will remember is I’m that pathetic drunk guy.

If I ever pop into there mind I’m just seen as a pathetic slosh that will soon die a lonely nobody.

I understand none of this matters whatsoever because only Gods opinion matters and what I do from today forward is what matters… But I just can’t let it go.

Today a sermon was preached that stuck to me… Father said (not an exact quote, but very close from what I remember) “Give up the wrongs we committed in the past, we can not move on to live the Gospel stuck in holes in the past.”

Then on the way home, on the radio it said ‘Put our anxieties upon Christ, give it up to Christ.’

And it makes so much sense to me, but how? I know prayer, but what are your suggestions?

Can you suggest any activities, certain prayers or other things?
  • Thanks!
P.S.- I wasn’t sure where to put this, I’m guessing I posted it in the wrong section so go ahead and move it.😊

Edit: Also I forgot to mention… A couple that I could find I added on facebook to try to let them see how I was doing… Of course just about all of them denied the request, shunning me out, so that kind of amped up the anxiety.
 
So long as the good Lord has given you the oppurtunity to move on and leave it behind you, then you must do exactly that. Don’t worry about the impression you leave on others, some will never see your true colors and will see things differently. What matters, is that you are the best person you can be, learning from every mistake and making up for “lost ground”. If God wanted to keep us in our past, he would have done so, but the virtue of hope is what enables us to anticipate the best to come in this world and in the next.

Anyway as for the activities, I don’t really know any other than prayer, you could try certain spiritual exercises.

God Bless 🙂
 
LumenGent, thank you very much! You chose perfect wording! Are there certain prayers for extreme anxiety that you find helpful?

MartyrForJesus, thanks for the bump! Seems like besides LumenGent, people didn’t have much to contribute… 🤷
 
HailHolyQueen90 said:
LumenGent, thank you very much! You chose perfect wording! Are there certain prayers for extreme anxiety that you find helpful?

MartyrForJesus, thanks for the bump! Seems like besides LumenGent, people didn’t have much to contribute… 🤷
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I’m so sorry. I didn’t see your thread until today. :o God bless you, MartyrForJesus, for the bump.

Congratulations on your sobriety! Good for you! :clapping:

After LumenGent’s eloquence, it’s hard to add anymore.

I like this prayer for peace of mind from St Francis Xavier Cabrini:

FORTIFY me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit
and give Your peace to my soul
that I may be free from all needless anxiety,
solicitude and worry.
Help me to desire always
that which is pleasing and acceptable to You
so that Your will may be my will.

I hope the prayer will help. God bless you.
 
Invoke the aid of Our Blessed Mother. 👍
I will pray for your peace as well.
 
I am also a recovering alcoholic and, by the grace of God, am still alive. It amazes me everyday that I didn’t kill myself, or worse, someone else. I did some unbelievable stupid things, some I still don’t ever talk about.

Please know I am not trying to make this about me, but I am sharing with you that you are not alone. If you have ever attended an AA meeting it becomes completely clear that we are not alone in what we have done and through sharing these things we can find strength in one another.

Personally, I find it helps me to recognize what could have happened to me had I not turned my life over to a higher power (God). I can then focus not on what I did, but what I have become through Him. We can’t change the past, but we can affect the present and the future and this should be our focus. Each time one of these thoughts pop into your head instead use it as a time to reflect on what God has done for you. Instead of feeling remorseful you will find you feelings are now that of gratitude and charity. Use it as a time to prayer for others who are not healing from alcoholism as well.

As for prayers, I remember the Serenity prayer and than you cannot change the past. I also find it helpful to pray my intention using the memorare because it comforts me to remember that our heavenly Mother ALWAYS listens and loves us more than anyone can imagine. If you do not know that prayer, google it. I think you will find it very powerful and comforting when submitting your petitions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

May God continue to bless you abundantly and may you continue to stay sober one day at a time!
 
Boulder257 said:
I am also a recovering alcoholic and, by the grace of God, am still alive. It amazes me everyday that I didn’t kill myself, or worse, someone else. I did some unbelievable stupid things, some I still don’t ever talk about.

Please know I am not trying to make this about me, but I am sharing with you that you are not alone. If you have ever attended an AA meeting it becomes completely clear that we are not alone in what we have done and through sharing these things we can find strength in one another.

Personally, I find it helps me to recognize what could have happened to me had I not turned my life over to a higher power (God). I can then focus not on what I did, but what I have become through Him. We can’t change the past, but we can affect the present and the future and this should be our focus. Each time one of these thoughts pop into your head instead use it as a time to reflect on what God has done for you. Instead of feeling remorseful you will find you feelings are now that of gratitude and charity. Use it as a time to prayer for others who are not healing from alcoholism as well.

As for prayers, I remember the Serenity prayer and than you cannot change the past. I also find it helpful to pray my intention using the memorare because it comforts me to remember that our heavenly Mother ALWAYS listens and loves us more than anyone can imagine. If you do not know that prayer, google it. I think you will find it very powerful and comforting when submitting your petitions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

May God continue to bless you abundantly and may you continue to stay sober one day at a time!
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Great advice brother. God bless you!
 
Like yourself and Boulder, I too am a recovering alcoholic. And a member of AA. If you look at the twelve steps of AA, alcohol is only mentioned once, in the first step. The rest of the steps are a way of living; a very Christian way of living. Some of the steps are actually based St Ignatius’ spiritual exercises. Having just got back from a 5 day silent Ignatian retreat, the value of these exercises for me as both a catholic and recovering alky has been increased by a huuuuuge margin. If we keep looking backwards, that’s the direction we’ll go. One of AA’s cliches that rings true for me is “Let go and let God”.

I also found a book of immense value: “Searching for and maintaining peace” by Father Jaques Phillipe. Should cost you around 10 bucks. This is a great little book about abandoning yourself to God’s will, written in plain simple (translated from French) English.

Keep the faith, fight the good fight. God Bless.
 
Congratulations on your continued good sobriety success.
Yes, the word was “success”.
So, why quibble, wonder or worry about what people will think of you now? Do you think they haven’t made their own share of mistakes? We all do what you called “unbelievable stupid things”. And many do it when without the aid of alcohol ! So, don’t stress. You’re recovered? Just be glad, look ahead and thank God — and keep up the good work. And say a prayer for me, please - I need it. (you’ll never regret praying for someone in need !)
God & Our Lady bless you, and keep up the good work !
 
You are most welcome 🙂 Happy to be of help.

As for prayers for anxiety, I haven’t come across one specifically, although there is this one in times of tribulations which basically implies the same.

O Lord, hear my cry pouring out from a troubled heart. The sorrow which clutches at my soul has driven me to You my protector, my True Friend in time of need. You know, my God, all my failings, my faults and my sins as well as the torment gripping my soul. My greatest sorrow should be for my disregard of Your holy commandments in the past, and I sincerely hope that you will grant me the grace of true contrition. O my Savior, hide not Your Face from me in this tribulation, let the light of Your Countenance shine upon me that I may be illuminated by Its love. If it be Your will, lighten this burden from me, yet should it be a means of my salvation, help me, help me O Lord, to carry this cross, for alone I can do nothing. Radiate Your love upon Your prodigal child O Lord, this beggar who knocks at Your door seeking shelter in Your Sacred Heart; this once proud earthen vessel made of clay seeks You, O Christ, and in a newly found faith, firmly believes that you will receive him in Your limitless Love and Mercy. Amen

You don’t exactly need a specific prayer for anxiety, as the Lord knows what you are going through. What a good Priest told me many years ago, is that be open to God as you would be to a spouse. That means that it’s not the wording that counts, it is the intention and what lies deep in your heart. Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit along with hearing your prayer, will be praying in you and he will inspire the thoughts and most importantly, the intentions.

Take it easy, and I’ll keep you in my prayers 🙂
 
Well, what your going through is absolutely normal in early sobriety. It’s called PAWS, post acute withdral syndrome. Believe me it gets better, just give it time. I have a little over 9 years now. Lots of prayers, good support from family and close freinds, not drinking friends. I talked a lot to the Holy Spirit, still do. Go easy on yourself, I used to beat my self-up alot.And let God do it’s work.

God bless you all during the holiday season.
Be safe:thumbsup:

jesus g
 
Thank you all very much! Your words help me tremendously. I will definitely keep you all in my prayers.

And congratulations to those of you with good clean time, may our Lord keep us on the straight and narrow.
  • God bless!
 
Perhaps it would help to look upon it in a spirit of penance?

You may even find it can help you when you practise mortification of the mind.

🙂
 
LumenGent said:
…
O Lord, hear my cry pouring out from a troubled heart. The sorrow which clutches at my soul has driven me to You my protector, my True Friend in time of need. You know, my God, all my failings, my faults and my sins as well as the torment gripping my soul. My greatest sorrow should be for my disregard of Your holy commandments in the past, and I sincerely hope that you will grant me the grace of true contrition. O my Savior, hide not Your Face from me in this tribulation, let the light of Your Countenance shine upon me that I may be illuminated by Its love. If it be Your will, lighten this burden from me, yet should it be a means of my salvation, help me, help me O Lord, to carry this cross, for alone I can do nothing. Radiate Your love upon Your prodigal child O Lord, this beggar who knocks at Your door seeking shelter in Your Sacred Heart; this once proud earthen vessel made of clay seeks You, O Christ, and in a newly found faith, firmly believes that you will receive him in Your limitless Love and Mercy. Amen
…
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Dear LumenGent:
I don’t recall ever hearing of this prayer - WHERE did you find it? It’s beautiful.
Thanks for sharing.
 
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