Stressed but shouldn't be

[Chicory]

So My mom left the Catholic Church when I was young and she would get very stressed out about things and I grew up thinking that that’s the right thing to do. Now that I am practicing Catholicism, I am learning that getting stressed out is not the right thing to do, but I am having a very hard time not doing it. I am not really sure what to do instead?

We have an actually stressful situation, and I bounce around between feeling really stressed out and telling myself that is not what I am supposed to be doing.

So how do Catholics behave when they are in actually stressful situations along the lines of facing bankruptcy or foreclosure?

Also, I just want to say that I posted here once before and got some very helpful replies but lost my password and so was unable to thank the people Thank you!!!

 

[Chicory]

I should add that I have been praying novenas about this situation, but feel like they are not working.

 

[joeybaggz]

So how do Catholics behave when they are in actually stressful situations along the lines of facing bankruptcy or foreclosure?

I imagine just like any Baptist, Pentecostal, Jew, Buddhist, Atheist or whatever does. We get stressed, put one foot in front of the other and deal with the situation as well as we can.

But there is a phrase that always comes to mind, “God gives us what we need, not just what we want,” (That’s Santa Claus’ job ) I’ve been through the situations you cite, struggled, failed, picked myself up, and went on. Eventually with hard work and faith, I’ve recovered, learned the lessons needed to live successfully, and live my life day to day. I regret my mistakes but I always think that’s why God designed us with our eyes in the front of our heads, not the back; to look forward, not back, and always remember when I look at a crucifix, Jesus had it even harder than me. And for that act of love, I am eternally grateful.

My :twocents:

Good luck

 

[Liturgy_Geek_1]

Dear Chicory,

I’ve been a Catholic for 30 years. How do I behave? I pray, I cry, I have sleepless nights, I pray, I go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, I cry, I pray, I have sleepless nights, etc.

We are still people even when we become Catholic. I try my best to trust in Divine Providence but sometimes my stress overwhelms me and I just can’t. I do meditate on my favorite image of the Blessed Mother which is she sitting in a chair with me kneeling beside her with my head in her lap.

I would suggest going heavy on the prayer and trying not to cry as much. I can’t guarantee that you won’t cry, but that in itself is a stress reliever. God bless you.

 

[Chicory]

Dear Chicory,

I’ve been a Catholic for 30 years. How do I behave? I pray, I cry, I have sleepless nights, I pray, I go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, I cry, I pray, I have sleepless nights, etc.

We are still people even when we become Catholic. I try my best to trust in Divine Providence but sometimes my stress overwhelms me and I just can’t. I do meditate on my favorite image of the Blessed Mother which is she sitting in a chair with me kneeling beside her with my head in her lap.

I would suggest going heavy on the prayer and trying not to cry as much. I can’t guarantee that you won’t cry, but that in itself is a stress reliever. God bless you.

Thank you for sharing this! I feel like sometimes I have to repress my feelings to “act like” a good Catholic, but then I feel like a real fake.

I was also praying yesterday, well, asking God why! And the thought came into my head that I was equating human standards with those of God and that was why I was feeling so bad about this, then today I felt sorrow for a situation from some years ago, and that was very different, as if God wanted me to understand that there’s true sorrow and a sort of made-up sorrow from looking at things the wrong way.

 

[Chicory]

Thank you both for sharing your experiences! I feel like sometimes I have to repress my feelings to “act like” a good Catholic, but then I feel like a real fake.*

I was also praying yesterday, well, asking God why! And the thought came into my head that I was equating human standards with those of God and that was why I was feeling so bad about this, then today I felt sorrow for a situation from some years ago, and that was very different, as if God wanted me to understand that there’s true sorrow and a sort of made-up sorrow from looking at things the wrong way.

 

[Liturgy_Geek_1]

Outstanding!! I pray that God will continue to reveal things to you and bring you comfort!!

 

[Katherine438]

I have to tell you that 17 years ago I was forced (for reasons of health) to go into bankruptcy … although I felt upset about it at the time … now, years later, I find that it was the best thing I could have ever done … it helped me to understand finances better, and I have done quite well ever since.

So even though today things may seem stressful, I do believe that God has a plan for you … try to have faith that in the end things happen for a reason and God is always there for you.