Am unsure weather this is the right place to post this
I have been away from the church a while now and my mental health isnt good at all
I have Social anxiety and Schizophrenia i have voices that tell me to hurt other people when they get too close to me i feel like am going to hurt them
Am on medication for it but it dont always helps
I would love to be able to go to church on a Sunday but i find that being around others distressing for me and for those around me as i am noisy when i take a panic attack
It takes my husband a long time to calm me down…
I dont want to go into the church and that happening while a service is going on as i dont want to be disrespectful
So am unsure weather going to church on a Sunday would be a good idea for me
My husband said he would go with me but am not sure i can without making drawing attention to myself
Thank you
Ella
May God continue to bless you and give you peace, Dear Ella.
Continue working with your doctor with your medication and maybe therapy.
As so many people mention, speaking with the priest is a good place to start. Since you have been away from the church you may want to make an appointment to visit him with your husband.
Receiving the Sacrament of Confession will be a blessing as you will receive graces in the Sacrament. Since you have been away, you may want to make another appointment for confession. Sometimes a parish doesn’t offer a lot of time for confession, so having an appointment when you don’t feel rushed is good.
You can even make an appointment with a different priest than the one you meet with to discuss your anxieties. This way you can have the “privacy” we often want when confessing our sins and not wanting the priest to know who we are.
As others mentioned, daily Masses will have much less people and the Mass will be shorter. You may want to attend a weekday Mass as you begin this journey back to Mass.
Another place to look is attending Mass at a smaller place. If there is a monastery or convent nearby, have your husband ask if you two may attend. You would want to still speak with the priest at the convent for his advice. If it is at a convent, the sisters may welcome you with open arms and be praying for you knowing this struggle you are undertaking as you attend Mass.
Mass is sometimes offered in a hospital chapel or a university chapel with less people.
God will give you the graces you need to attend Mass. You have a very loving husband who will be your support as you make this journey. Visit the church sometime with your husband when there is no Mass. The church secretary can help you find a time. Knowing your environment and where the best place to be in case you want to leave easily will give you peace.
Your husband will be such a wonderful support in that you can trust he will be ready to help you if its time to step out of the church.
There are more people in the pews who are dealing with some distress; a physical disability, an issue on the autism spectrum, a child who is developmentally delayed, those who passout often. We are not being disrepectful when we attend Mass for God with our weaknesses.
Ushers are always very helpful in helping us in and out of Mass when needed.
Some parishes have little side pews that only hold two people. A small pew may feel welcoming to you.
Carrying a cute large bag (mainly empty) may be something you can place next to you to allow you more seperation from another person. I know a lady who sometimes has a stuffed toy at Mass.
God blesses us with graces, even when we have more challenges to attend Mass than others.
I will share one example. One Mass the ushers mistakenly had us to form the Communion line way too early. My child, who has issues on the autism spectrum, broke out into screams. We were near the first of the line and had no where to go… just keep waiting and keep hearing him scream. When Mass was over, so many people spoke with kindness to me. Many people that I didn’t know. They knew the “pain” I felt in standing there while my child screamed. They offered me compassion.
Welcome back to Mass!!! Ella, you and your wonderful husband are in my prayers.
