| "I
am basically scared of any social situation."
Dear Counselor: I feel
silly talking to a machine but I have no one else I can talk to. I am basically
scared of any social situation. I will not go to a party, I don't
like going to church or any other social situation in which someone might
try to be friendly and talk to me. If someone tries to talk to me
I usually just look at the ground and mumble excuse me and try to escape.
I want a huge hole to come and envelop me. I am so rude to these
people
that are trying to be nice to me. I have made several conscious efforts
to try to make myself stay and talk to someone, but I feel as if I don't
have any control. My heart starts beating fast and I start to panic.
I don't think anything can help me at this point, but it felt good to at
least tell my feelings to a machine. Anxious Amy
Dear Amy:
It sounds like you are experiencing
"panic attacks" caused by a social phobia. You need to go to a psychiatrist
or your family doctor for an evaluation. Medication and going to
a counselor will help immensely. There are many causes for
panic attacks and the phobia and you need to get to the root cause with
a counselor because you don't want to live like this for the rest of your
life. When phobias and panic attacks are not treated the condition
usually worsens. You may be afraid to go to the doctor or counselor but
they will understand your condition and try to help you. If you want
a referral to a Christian counselor contact AACC for
a referral
to a mental health professional .
I encourage you to read the
Anxiety FAQ from our
web site and take the anxiety inventory. Also, read the articles
on: Causes
of Panic Disorder &
Treatment
of Panic Disorder . Don't
talk to a machine next time, Amy. Set up an appointment with a professional
that can help you. Also, if you have a pastor, go to him/her for
prayer since God and prayer can help you deal with the fears you are troubled
with.
If you would like do email
or phone counseling with me just let me know. We can work out a rate
which is reasonable.
Billy Graham wrote:
"anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything
short of God and His will for us." Your fears may generate
from many areas: spiritual & self-esteem problems, depression
and hopelessness about life/people, a humiliating experience, and/or physiological
problems. I
am sending you some scriptures on Hope. Please read and reflect
on these. I will pray for you. God
bless you. Lynette Hoy, NCC, LCPC
Ps 25:5 guide me in your
truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all
day long.
Ps 25:21 May integrity and
uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.
Ps 31:24 Be strong and take
heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Ps 33:17-22
17 A horse is a vain hope
for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the
eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his
unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in
famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your
unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Ps 39:6-7 Man is a mere
phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps
up wealth, not knowing who will get it. "But
now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
Ps 42:5,11; 43:5 Why
are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope
in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Ps 119:81 My soul faints
with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.
Ps 130:5-7 I
wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul
waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen
wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the
LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
Isa 40:31 but those
who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
faint.
Jer 29:11 For I know
the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Lam 3:21-26
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are
not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The
LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to
those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait
quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Rom 15:13 May the God of
hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Tim 5:5 The widow
who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues
night and day to pray and to ask God for help. (NIV)
Dear Counselor:
Thank you for your
insight, but I don't believe I can take that step and talk to anyone about
this person to person. You may use my question anyway you would like,
but please do so anonymously. Thank you again for answering me, and
I'm sorry I took so much of your time. |
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