Social Anxiety Disorder

[Phil_M]

From what I understand, a person must be in “good psychological health” in order to become a priest. I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, but also feel called to the priesthood. I will likely begin therapy for this soon, as I feel this is the only way to eliminate my paralyzing fear of public speaking and other social situations. Will this in any way hurt my chances of being accepted into a Seminary?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

From what I understand, a person must be in “good psychological health” in order to become a priest. I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, but also feel called to the priesthood. I will likely begin therapy for this soon, as I feel this is the only way to eliminate my paralyzing fear of public speaking and other social situations. Will this in any way hurt my chances of being accepted into a Seminary?

No, not if you enter as a lay person.

To be a seminarian you must be sponsored by a bishop or a religious superior and for them to do so you must first pass through their application process which includes a psychological evaluation.

If your SAD is so bad that it is crippling, that is there is no way for you to do what a priest does, then it might hurt you with them. But if you are undergoing therapy then they might still be open to accepting you and sponsoring you.

 

[augieboo]

From what I understand, a person must be in “good psychological health” in order to become a priest. I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, but also feel called to the priesthood. I will likely begin therapy for this soon, as I feel this is the only way to eliminate my paralyzing fear of public speaking and other social situations. Will this in any way hurt my chances of being accepted into a Seminary?

Kudos to you for taking the bull by the horns and starting therapy for your S.A.D.

As a practical matter, the disorder may make it much more difficult for you to function as a parish priest. (Note that I say “as a parish priest”, not as a priest in general.) Thus, in some dioceses it would be the kiss of death to your application. But who wants to spend the rest of his life attached to a diocese which would judge someone unworthy simply for what amounts to extreme shyness? (Moses tried to get out of leading the Israelites on a similar basis, but God did not let him off the hook.)

If you find yourself in one of those dioceses, just look elsewhere. There are plenty of non-parish positions for priests in every diocese. In addition, there are many religious orders in which not all priests have to have any heavy public contact. (Monastics in particular.)

We are all broken in one way or another. Don’t let this deter you from following God’s will for your life.

augie

 

[Lazerlike42]

Find out where God wants you. Discern where He is calling you. Worry about nothing else besides that.

Because ultimately, if God wants you somewhere, ain’t nobody on earth gonna stop you from being there.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Hi Phil…I dont know very much at all about qualifications for the priesthood - very little. But I will keep you in daily prayer that The Lord will grant you the gift of fulfillment and Peace no matter what course your life may take…I will be praying it will be as a priest somewhere. God has His Plan for you which will unfold. Praying too that your therapy will be totally successful in every way.

God bless…regards…Barb

 

[grandfather]

From what I understand, a person must be in “good psychological health” in order to become a priest. I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, but also feel called to the priesthood. I will likely begin therapy for this soon, as I feel this is the only way to eliminate my paralyzing fear of public speaking and other social situations. Will this in any way hurt my chances of being accepted into a Seminary?

I have a daughter who was diagnosed by a psychiatrist with SAD. She has overcome it with help.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I have a daughter who was diagnosed by a psychiatrist with SAD. She has overcome it with help.

I have a friend who had the same experience. I went with her to her son’s wedding which she reallly wanted to attend of course, but we had to leave because she started to shake and then was too frightened to move, literally. Nowadays her SAD condition is just a bad memory…she received successful psychiatric therapy…

 

[grandfather]

I have a friend who had the same experience. I went with her to her son’s wedding which she reallly wanted to attend of course, but we had to leave because she started to shake and then was too frightened to move, literally. Nowadays her SAD condition is just a bad memory…she received successful psychiatric therapy…

So it seems that this is a treatable condition. Maybe the person discerning a vocation could be treated prior to entering seminary.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

So it seems that this is a treatable condition. Maybe the person discerning a vocation could be treated prior to entering seminary.

I cannot see why not, Grandfather - and hi there, although I do not know much at all about qualifications for being accepted into the seminary. SAD is an illness on a par with diabetes, heart disease, cancer etc. and if it is cured, then there is no existing problem; however, The Church still has some prevailing incorrect concepts in connection with mental illness of any kind at all.
I would be most hopeful and am praying that there are areas where such stigma(due to incorrect information held) no longer exists and that the seminary would be one of them.
If I wanted to be accepted into anything at all in The Church (I suffer Bipolar Disorder) my very first move would be to discuss it with my psychiatrist and ask her to write a letter for me. I do know that despite very high recommendations from my psychiatrist, I have still been refused some applications I have made. But I do think a letter from the doctor would be a very good initial move and take it along to my first interview. The problem The Church seems to have with me is that to remain completely stable I need to take evening medication which is only two tablets on the free list here which means my prescriptions cost on $4.20 (month supply) each and absolutely minimal. At this point, it is not known whether my condition is completely stable due to medication or if I could come off the medication…I am not prepared to stop medication to find out.

Blessings and regards…Barb

 

[johnnydigit]

God can cure anything! pray, pray, pray. try, try, try. ask, ask, ask. explore. frequent the Sacraments. pray the Rosary. get a spiritual director ASAP if you don’t have one already.

the only things i can think of at the moment that would more than likely deny you would be
-having no hands to consecrate.
-a sexual abuse history
-homosexual history/strong tendencies
-huge debt.
-severe psychological problem

if yours isn’t that severe then it is treatable and you can still perform the duties of a priest. medical treatment (therapy/medication) + spiritual treatment (frequent Sacraments/constant prayer) = knockout punch.

also get involved in Church ministries, bible study groups, youth/young adult groups and events as that will help train you socially. there is an awesome priest who has a severe stutter, but when giving his homily he is flawless, thanks to training.

Peace of Christ!

 

[tonyh1]

I have SAD symptoms too , i am 43 and have only just in the last few months started going to church

Finding Jesus is giving me hope!

PS: I would say a priest with Social Anxiety Disorder , could perhaps be beneficial in a way as they would understand shy people very well

 

[Cloisters]

I have SAD symptoms too , i am 43 and have only just in the last few months started going to church

Finding Jesus is giving me hope!

PS: I would say a priest with Social Anxiety Disorder , could perhaps be beneficial in a way as they would understand shy people very well

A boon to the autistic culture, if anything.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[mary1173]

A boon to the autistic culture, if anything.

Blessings,
Cloisters

Also Cloisters, Phil is looking to find out if the priesthood is accepting of SAD sufferers,it may not want to accept sufferers of mental health problems, simply because, to have a medical problem IS to have a psychological problem, because if one cannot function ‘‘normally’’ i.e. work the 24/7/365 workload of a priest, the bishops cannot really sponsor or accept those who cannot run, at a moments notice, to the aid of someone in need of prayer, i.e. last rights at hospitals, seminary teachings to other prospective priests, church and liturgical masses said EVERY day at all hours, The mass is said daily, and those who venture into the priesthood CAN sometimes be accepted in monastic life, but to keep track of the intense learning, teachings, and schedules and to keep one’s head above water can be a real challenge for someone who DOESN’T have Social Anxiety Disorders.
Phil is filled with the desire to be a priest, but unless he can really perform the duties of a priest, as I’ve mentioned, he is best to become a teacher of God’s word in R.C.I.A classes or C.C.D. classes than to take on the burdens of the priesthood. Offering God’s teachings to members of his own parish as a lay person is no less worthy of praise than that of the teachings and knowledge imparted by our Pope. Prayer does the mind and heart a world of good.

Phil,
As I’ve stated here it IS a big thing to do to become a priest. Seminaries and Colleges have to be attended before you can even begin to get into the minucia of celebrating the mass. If you are in your 40’s already, your best bet would probably be to talk to your local priest about either helping as an EMOCH at mass, or to see if there are any catechesis classes you could help with. You are already exiating sins by your redemptive sufferings of your own cross with SAD.
I know I sound like a party pooper,but I have bipolar depression, diabetes, thyroid, heart, stomach, liver, and a whole other boatload of medical problems, that, when I went on SSI I had to carry my cross as to accept what I AM able to do. And that doesn’t take a college degree,or job as a priest to do,… and that is to pray. For one’s self as well as others.Do not worry about what you are to do. Just make sure to take care of yourself so that you can care for others. See what you can do and don’t jump into the current unless you have a good support system around you.
I hope you find the peace and comfort you look for in life and wish you the very best Phil.

 

[Hidden_One]

From what I understand, a person must be in “good psychological health” in order to become a priest. I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, but also feel called to the priesthood. I will likely begin therapy for this soon, as I feel this is the only way to eliminate my paralyzing fear of public speaking and other social situations. Will this in any way hurt my chances of being accepted into a Seminary?

You shouldn’t rely on what comes from a bunch of effectively credential-free CA forumers, me included. talk to your diocese’s vocations director, your pastor, any priest or seminarian that you trust, your bishop…