Religion Induced Anxiety
When it comes to religion, there are many different opinions. Some religious people have anxiety problems that can manifest in health issues such as OCD and panic attacks, even if they do not believe in an afterlife. The main reason for these kinds of anxiety problems is the relationship between a person and their God or Gods. Not all religions have understanding priests or pastors who acknowledge those who suffer from mental disorders, so it can be hard for some people to find any relief from their symptoms.
Many religious people consider themselves to be the only ones who have problems with anxiety . If that is truly the case, then there is something wrong with the way they interpret their faith and their relationship with God. The fact is, many people all over the world suffer from anxiety and even panic attacks as a result of difficult religious or social situations. That distress can be eased by finding a true connection to one's spiritual advisor or deity. This is because anxiety can often be a part of everyday life in some religions. For example, some Catholics are obligated to go to confession and ask for forgiveness for the thoughts and actions that prove their guilt. In other words, even if one does not commit an act, simply thinking about it can make them feel anxious. Another example would be those who encourage others to follow their faith by threatening punishments in the afterlife. This causes distress due to the possibility of not being rewarded after death. Not much relief can be found for this kind of anxiety because the threat of punishment is not always a bluff. In some religions, the fearful character of their God or Gods leads their followers to develop anxiety problems. One should also consider that there are two types of people who suffer from these kinds of issues: those who truly believe in the religion and its rituals, and those who do not believe but still participate in that religion anyway.
People who are a part of a religious organization that encourages participation in the rituals and practices should not be considered to be pressured to continue. This is because they are still making their own choices, assuming responsibility for their actions, and thinking about what they will do in the future. Even if most do not believe in God , they may still maintain some kind of spirituality or belief in an afterlife. Therefore, they are still open to motivated conflicts that could "trigger" anxiety issues. Those who have anxiety because they are "in denial" of their true beliefs may actually be more susceptible to problems that can manifest in physical actions or mental images.
Those who choose to stay in the religion despite their lack of belief show some forms of anxiety because they continue to act out in the rituals and are not being honest about their feelings. Some report feeling suffocated by the atmosphere of the relationship between God and followers. Others suffer from guilt about their lack of belief, which can become life-threatening if they do not get that out of their system. They may feel forced to continue with the rituals and religious practices even though they feel nothing toward religion in general or that particular religion. In other words, they are continuing to participate in a religion even though they do not believe in God . This is a form of religion induced anxiety.
Anyone who has completed a religious ceremony or event may suffer from anxiety because they experience religious hypocrisy. That is when one feels ashamed to admit the true nature of the religious beliefs they hold. That shame usually comes in the form of feelings of guilt. This can occur because one feels that they are not doing enough to "please God." They remain silent about what they do not believe and participate in despite having that knowledge, which also triggers anxiety issues. This can also manifest itself in someone who wants to talk about their relationship with God but feels that they are not well-equipped enough to do so. This is caused by being ill at ease to admit their true feelings about religion .
Those who are raised with a strict religious upbringing from birth may be more sensitive to the supernatural, especially religion induced anxiety. In their mind lies the threat of punishment in the afterlife for any wrongdoings or bad thoughts that they make. Some experience anxious thoughts about the rituals, practices and teachings of their religion. This could be because one can sense that there is something wrong with their religion but they are unable to pinpoint what it is. Others may feel guilty about sins and bad thoughts that they have had, even though they made every attempt to resist temptation.
There are ways to get relief from these symptoms of anxiety; however, they do not always come easily. Some believe that simply forgetting about religion will help with the symptoms but this is not always the case. It might be hard for some people to truly forget about God, especially if they have been taught to fear a punishment in the afterlife. One way to get relief from these symptoms, however, would be to find a more appealing religion .
Other ways would be to talk with a psychologist or counselor about the issues at hand. A lot of times there are reasons behind religious rituals and practices that are unknown by most people who participate in them.
Conclusion
The ideas and beliefs of religions can lead their followers to feel anxiety. This is caused by the fact that they will most likely be influenced by a religion with those ideas and beliefs. If one feels anxious because they are forced to participate in an unfamiliar religion or because they do not believe in any religion, then they could possibly suffer from religion induced anxiety. If someone suffers from this kind of anxiety, there are various ways to get relief from these symptoms.
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Religion Induced Anxiety