Bye-Bye Baptist Board

Well, I agree with you @InTheLight
That's why I hardly post on here anymore. Plus there's hardly any discussion outside of politics, which is a topic that tends to feed my anxiety (that I'm on prescribed meds for, it's that serious) and I avoid the political stuff most often for that reason. When I do have something to say that goes against the status quo, it's almost never met with grace--which, again, can trigger my anxiety. This is why I dip out of active conversations after a day or two days at best. It becomes overwhelming to me.

But I don't have any plans to leave at this time. Though, my friend group has told me to leave this place, especially after someone threatened to use my private information against me--my friends are concerned for my safety. And, they're also tired of me complaining about people being jerks here.

In all honesty, the board could do with more in the way of fellowship.

 

I have found that feeling powerless makes me anxious. Yes, sometimes I need to use the quick-fix of making a hasty exit and removing myself from a situation that is making me anxious, but only so I can recover and problem solve my next move.

You feel anxious: is there someone that you trust to help you problem-solve how to not feel powerless, or whatever is at the root of your anxiety?

Yes, a permanent exit is sometimes required. Yes, your secular peers suggested a permanent exit. But you don't seem to want to do that. What are your other options to stay and interact differently with people here? You do have some power and choices here.

Talking about TOPICS is easier than talking TO people, for many people. Start a thread on a topic, and stay focused on that topic even if others are all over the place. Let them be them and you be you. You have that power; you have that choice. If someone asks you a question, you do not have to respond. Asking questions is a more powerful role than answering question. Asking is an offensive move; answering is a defensive move. Write about what YOU want to write about.

You be YOU. Let others be them. Even if they are talking TO you and telling you WHO you are, their words still reflect more about them than they reflect you. Imagine a bubble around yourself and a bubble around them. Imagine the bubbles don't overlap. See their words just raining down on their own heads. And go back to being you.

Check in with Daddy, He is the boss, not us other children. Baptist theology teaches we have a direct line to God and the permission and ability to read the Word ourselves.

I have faith in your ability to handle this. I think you are stronger than you have discovered, yet. Muscle is built by resistance. It takes resistance to get stronger. As you get stronger, you will be less anxious.

 

Folks its a discussion board. Nothing that happens here is really all that important. If things upset you all that much then you are taking what goes on here way to seriously.

 

My brain literally cannot not take social stuff seriously. I have social anxiety disorder. Might be hard to grasp if you're not an anxious person, or someone who gets nervous easily.

 

Can we take people where they are at, and lead them up one step at a time?

 

To explain further: I get anxious around IRL people. Less than I used to; working customer service has actually helped me overcome my fears a lot. But symptoms I can get when talking to people include: chest pressure or pain, dizziness, muscles tightening (esp my face muscles), headaches, constant worries or preoccupation with trying to avoid upsetting people and thinking even something small that I do might annoy them.
I've long felt that the fact that my social life in my teens was on internet forums (due to being homeschooled), contributed to this. (Not caused, just contributed. I think emotionally traumatic stuff that happened in my teens is more the direct cause.) Particularly the fact that people are so much more abrasive online than they ever would be in person. I internalized that, and basically I began to feel like everyone was secretly finding a reason to be upset with me, even if they acted nice.

I have gotten better with social interactions, like I said. And I've learned that people irl who are irritable, it's more a reflection of them and their issues than it is of me. I've learned that if people are abrasive, it's usually not my fault. But it's still hard to not take that stuff personally online.

 

That must be hard for you. Do you take some medicine on it?

 

I do. I'm on Zoloft and have been for a couple years.

 

Just remember that Daddy loves you! Children are children, all the good and bad of being children, and take what they say in context that they are children.

Did you watch the Waltons? When Elizabeth was weak, John Boy would pick her up and carry her; he didn't shame her or kick her aside.

 

I used to watch the Waltons a lot. We have a good amount of the show on DVD.

 

It's sad, isn't it?

Great advice!!

 

...not enough, regretfully...

 

So which one is it fired or not elected?? If Democrats got the boot then the guy getting kicked out the White House is getting the biggest boot of all.

Anything that Trump supporters would find regretful is definitely a reason for everyone else to be thankful.