Here are a few resources on social anxiety and panic attacks that have helped me
If you have something that has worked for you, please let me know and I'd be happy to add it to this page.Overcoming Anxiety, Social Anxiety and Panic Podcasts
This is a great counseling podcast that focuses on overcoming anxiety and panic. It's incredibly insightful and helpful. I am currently listening to it and it has changed my life. I highly recommend it:
https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/
Social Anxiety / Anxiety Books
For the first time it gave me ideas I hadn't ever thought of before to reframe the way I perceived anxious situations and feelings. I have already implemented some of these ideas into my life and it has strengthened my courage.
You can find it at the library or buy your own copy so you can highlight and take notes! * purchase here
The honest way he wrote about his experiences helped me to feel understood in a way I hadn't before. It was like I was reading my own story.
Fear is No Longer My Reality: How I Overcame Panic and Social Anxiety Disorder - and You Can Too Author: Jamie Blyth
I checked it out at the library, but it is also available to * purchase online.
*as an Amazon associate I receive a small commission if you purchase through my Amazon links. I only promote products I've tried myself.
Social Anxiety Music
This song, Voice of Truth, by Casting Crowns, helps me feel so much courage and strength not to let myself get down and discouraged about my social anxiety. We can get so down on ourselves and feel like we'll never win, we'll never conquer this. We get stuck on what we think other people think about us and most importantly our own feelings of inadequacy. But we need to stop listening to all the negative voices and turn our hearts and minds to God, and listen to Him, who is the only voice of truth.
This song makes me feel powerful to stand up to the waves and the giants and my own voice that says I'm not good enough and listen to the voice of truth. And remind me that I need to make a conscious choice every day to listen to His voice until I start to believe it myself.
CHORUS
"But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth"
Social Anxiety CD Therapy
I found this therapy online through the Social Anxiety Institute and this CD series has been a tremendous resource for me.
As I listen to each therapy session and practice the techniques, I receive new insight into myself and feel a renewed sense of power to overcome my difficulties. I can feel that what I'm learning is having a lasting impact on the way I think and feel.
Religious Resources
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Excerpt From October 1983 General Conference - Jesus Christ: Our Savior and Redeemer
-Ezra Taft Benson, President of the Quorum of the Tweleve Apostles
Indeed there is no human condition—be it suffering, incapacity, inadequacy, mental deficiency, or sin—which He cannot comprehend or for which His love will not reach out to the individual.
He pleads today:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28.)
He is our Advocate, Mediator, and Judge.
Because He is God, He is perfectly equitable with justice and mercy. He can simultaneously plead our cause and judge our destiny.
Faith in Him is more than mere acknowledgment that He lives. It is more than professing belief.
Faith in Jesus Christ consists of complete reliance on Him. As God, He has infinite power, intelligence, and love. There is no human problem beyond His capacity to solve. Because He descended below all things (see D&C 122:8), He knows how to help us rise above our daily difficulties.
Faith in Him means believing that even though we do not understand all things, He does. We, therefore, must look to Him “in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (D&C 6:36.)
Faith in Him means trusting that He has all power over all men and all nations. There is no evil which He cannot arrest. All things are in His hands. This earth is His rightful dominion. Yet He permits evil so that we can make choices between good and evil.
His gospel is the perfect prescription for all human problems and social ills.
But His gospel is only effective as it is applied in our lives. Therefore, we must “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Ne. 32:3.)
Thank you for sharing your feelings. I am LDS and have social anxiety and it really helps me to know that other people struggle as I do - that I am not a "bad person" or "lazy" because I find it hard to go to church (things that I tell myself all the time). I also am doing the therapy with Dr. Richards, which has really helped also but I know that it takes time and persistence for this to work.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for leaving your comment. It's so hard not to feel bad about ourselves when we don't feel like we measure up to what's "normal" in the LDS culture. I try to remind myself all the time that God knows me and knows what I'm going through and He understands.
DeleteI'm happy to know you're doing Dr. Richards' therapy and that it's helping you. I need to pick it up again instead of pretending my SA will suddenly just go away on its own. You're so right about time and persistence. Good luck to you my friend! :)