I have never had one before but my mom and sister both have them and are on medicine for it. I am on medicine now for adult ADD and this is the last thing I need too because I am getting ready to start being an Altar Server and when the next Children’s RCIA class begins in the summer I am going to start teaching AND be the only teacher…so PLEASE, I need all the prayers I can get so I can get this under control. The last thing I need is to have something like that happen while I’m serving or teaching class.
Thanks and God bless you…
Ukdal:
I read your post and started to feel anxious myself… It sounds like you have a lot of things to do and somehow have come to believe that you have to do of these perfectly, effortlessly by yourself, without making a spectacle of yourself with a full-blown panic attack during the Mass, or any other time, and that the LORD, or the HIS Church, will reject you if anything goes wrong.
I think I know the fear - I’ve shared here that I have 2 disc ulcerations in various stages of removal and an acoustic nerve with a severe Balance and Hearing impairment coupled with Bells Palsy on one side of my face. I’ve even fallen while trying to get up in the middle of the sanctuary in front of a church full of people on 2 different occasions. I rarely genuflect and sit most of the time the congregation stands and kneels for the same reason. I’m one of the few Lectors who doesn’t genuflect when entering the Sanctuary, and I sit in front pew because I’m hard of hearing.
I’m a “spectacle on the hoof”! You can’t possibly be more of a spectacle than I am. And yet, the LORD found me and brought me in after I rejected HIM.
Have you talked to anyone else about this? Say your pastor about getting a teacher to help out with the RCIA class… Or the LORD about how terrified you are that a panic attack will occur…
The LORD never said we had to do eveything on our own, and HE promised to send HIS Holy Spirit to help us if we only asked… You might want to also ask your pastor to send you someone who’s orthodox and faithful to help you teach the class.
I see no reason why you have to take on being the only RCIA instructor and an Alter Server at the same time; esp., since in most Catholic parishes, the Alter Servers also read the Readings. That would be a lot for someone who didn’t have your condition.
I would figure out which one I have more training for, and would be better at, and do that one. One way to avoid Panic Attacks is to work within your limits and to do the best you can at those tasks. Another way is to reduce the emotioal load or impact one would have if it happened.
Another way is not to listen to the “voice” that tells you everything will be disastrous if you don’t do everything, or if you don’t do it ALL “perfectly, effortlessly, on your own”, etc… (Insert own unrealistic garbage). Please remember that voice comes from the “Lier and Father of Lies” and the “Thief who comes to steal (your peace, joy) kill and destroy (your life in Christ)”.
Don’t listen to him. Tell him in JESUS’ NAME where he can go. “Resist the devil and he will flee.” Often, physical and emotional healing must be preceded by spiritual healing.
Of course, I’ll add you to and keep you in my prayers.
I hope this helps.
Your Brother in Christ, Michael
Sweet child of God!
. Take comfort in this forum, if it helps you, it has done miracles for me, including calming my anxiety. Pray for the intercession of the young saints like, Saint Therese, Saint Philomena or Gerard Magella, and mother Mary of course who at such a young age had to be responsibe for EMMANUEL.