RESOURCE: A Biblical Approach to Social Anxiety

[beth2326]

I have printed this and will read when I have more time. I have diagnosed myself with SA and am ready to deal with it. I'm very hesitant about taking drugs for this. I am a Christian and I truly do believe that God is the only way I can overcome this. I'm very discouraged about my SA because it runs my life. The only thing I know to do right now is pray!!!

[imhere2learn]

Thanks for the article. I found a lot of helpful tips and information for managing SA on the rest of the S.A.S. website but didn't want to be totally dependent on myself for overcoming it. The article reminded me of a book I read many years ago that helped tremendously "The Search for Significance". Sorry, Can't remember the author but it is a Christian book that takes you deeply into your relationship with God and how you base your worth on His love and not the fickle love of people. Not that people aren't important but that you don't feel worthwhile when someone loves you and then lose that when they possibly stop loving you. I may get that out again. It is a great bible study with others.
Thanks again

[Down_But_Not_Forsaken!]

Originally Posted by imhere2learn

Thanks for the article. I found a lot of helpful tips and information for managing SA on the rest of the S.A.S. website but didn't want to be totally dependent on myself for overcoming it. The article reminded me of a book I read many years ago that helped tremendously "The Search for Significance". Sorry, Can't remember the author but it is a Christian book that takes you deeply into your relationship with God and how you base your worth on His love and not the fickle love of people. Not that people aren't important but that you don't feel worthwhile when someone loves you and then lose that when they possibly stop loving you. I may get that out again. It is a great bible study with others.
Thanks again

The problem alot of people see when looking at SAD is a lack of 'self-esteem' Actually, in all truthfulness, it is probably more an over-abundance of 'self-esteem' We are so concerned about how others see us. Our focus is on US!

We aren't loved by God and Christ did not die for us because we had any inherent 'worth' It was while we were unlovable, enemies of God that He took compassion on us and paid the price for our sin. God loves us not because we are worth it but because it is His nature to love and forgive.

Nowhere in Scripture does it speak of developing our 'self-esteem' - self-esteem is a very antichrist, new-age concept not rooted in holy Scripture. We are to have CHRIST-ESTEEM ("He must INCREASE, i must DECREASE) The one who loses his life for Christ and His gospel finds it - the one who seeks to hold onto it and "develop his/her self-esteem" will end up losing it.

Not popular, but truth nevertheless. This is something i'm continuing to learn from God and it's painful. The Bible says, "The fear of man (or the over-regard) brings a snare" If my focus is where it should be, on my blessed Lord and Saviour, i will care less and less how man views me.

"If God be for us, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US"!

Please pray about this and let God show you the truth!



Ray

[AliciaH]

im going to read this more, it looks interesting

[bbarn]

thank you for the article. I've read a little so far and it's turning out to be really good. Somehow along the way i've lost my faith but each day i'm trying to gain it back again

[Addi]

Here´s a good site for ya: http://www.godtube.com

Of course it´s alot like youtube, check it out folks

[Amelia]

Thank you so much for posting that, TrueSeeker. It really puts things in perspective.

[Lost1]

Thank you, TruSeeker777 for this valuable resource. It's so true that this anxiety does not come from God but from something trying to separate us from Him. There have been countless times I've been unable to walk into church or a gathering of Godly people becasue I'm overcome by this fear. It is so helpful to know where to turn to (in the Bible) to set my mind "right" again and focus on God. Thank you for this.

[SJG102185]

that's really all we need.

[AJMcFly]

I quite liked it. It was a reminder that most of the disconnection from God is due to ego and selfishness and that goes with social anxiety/shyness. Social anxiety is there to protect and serve me as an individual - it's quite selfish when boiled down to that. It rather goes against serving God, then, and represents a closed heart. Hmm. I hadn't really thought openly about it being something, say, "sinful" as much as just a flaw or issue or problem. And I think by denying it is just as sinful as anything - from murder to adultery or whathaveyou - we feed it, and have been feeding it for much of our lives, and allowed it to contaminate our hearts.

Not to be preachy, though (though this is the Christian section! :P). But at this moment, I feel like recognizing it as a sin and not just a painful issue, it makes me realize how important it is to confront it, rather than let it control me.

Thank you for the article. ^_^

[avery]

Thank you for posting this

[xboxfreak]

Thank you for this article.

I also found this article by John Piper helpful http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibr ... t_Carried/

I have been a Christian for many years but never really thought to entrust all my cares to Him. I have been learning to trust Him with all my heart and it is helping me.

[Renaissance]

i've already read it
appreciate it

[zapapop]

Thanks for the link. As a Christian I look for things like this.

[zapapop]

Piper is great - good article

[Ericisme]

Now that was a lot to read, I got a little of it though. I believe it's basically "pray and God will fix your SA" ? That's all I saw, things like that or similar to it. Goodluck with that.

Oh yea. I heard once that SA is evil or something like that. Is that true?

Originally Posted by Down_But_Not_Forsaken!

FYI, "the right hand of my (the Father's) righteousness is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!!!

Did He really want everyone to literally bend over for Him to worship Him? Hmm, the Jesus I would imagine wouldn't even let people do that. Most the world doesn't care about Jesus, while the rest of the world worships Him to death. I just hope no new testaments say anything about blowing yourself up to kill non-believers(sound familiar?). I bet some of you would be capable of that.

Jesus would be ashamed.

Not meant in offense. But really...? Reminds me of the Egyptians... Or many movies or TV shows.

[Alys]

Originally Posted by rebekah

hi... i have social anxiety but its relaly strange cos im afraid ppl will think i lust after them when im with them.. and i dont noe how to behave with ppl as a result.. i dont noe why its this way. and i have unwanted sexual impulses too. does nyone identify with me??

You may have obsessive compulsive disorder, it's what I have. I know it can cause unwanted sexual thoughts and impulses.