Panic Attack While Preaching

[mvillarreal]

Hi, everyone. This Sunday, I was preaching from the pulpit and got some stage fright. I felt nauseous and butterfly-filled and started awkwardly pausing mid-sentence, taking large sips of water, and feeling my voice turn shaky. I am really worried. Have I chosen the wrong career path? Should I reconsider being a minister? What if this keeps happening to me even after I am ordained? How do I get rid of the anxiety when it's so intense? I'm afraid I'll throw up in front of everyone, too, which would be very embarrassing for me.

[Notknitting]

Gosh, I'm sorry to hear that. I understand about having panic attacks, but in front of a lot of people, I can only imagine. Keep praying for God to show you the way as far as your ministry. I believe you can still lead a ministry, but perhaps it may be in a different area where you don't feel so nervous, nauseous, are awkward. If God is still placing it on your heart to preach, then I will pray that your heart and mind stay steady. But that's just my humble opinion. Hugs for you.

[88cev88]

I'm sorry to hear that! Some people are able to work through a fear of public speaking but for others it is harder. If it happens again I think you should talk to somebody.

[mvillarreal in reply to 88cev88]

I've actually preached four times now. The first time, I had a pretty bad panic attack. The next two times went really well, but this last time, I had a panic attack again. I'm not sure what happened.

[88cev88 in reply to mvillarreal]

Hmm. Maybe you weren’t as comfortable or as confident with whatever topic you were preaching on? That’s all I can think of.

[mvillarreal in reply to 88cev88]

I think I just tend to be more anxiety-prone when I'm under a lot of stress, which I am right now because of school. Maybe once I'm finished with school (which will be in January), some of my nerves will become calmer.

[88cev88 in reply to mvillarreal]

Okay. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I really hope you do calm down once school is finished.

[Midori]

Was it your first time delivering a sermon?

If preaching is your passion, then keep at it, don't give up or you will regret it. Try to find a Therapist who can give you some self confidence.

I remember my first time delivering a lecture. I was petrified, but I got through it OK.

Cheers, midori

[mvillarreal in reply to Midori]

It was not my first time. The first time I preached, I had the same thing happen. The next two times went really well. This time, however, it happened again.

[Midori in reply to mvillarreal]

Don't be discouraged, the more you preach, the better you will get.

Cheers,Midori

[CarlJames]

I feel for you. I know exactly what you went through. I used to suffer from social anxiety, which including a fear of public speaking. But i managed to maintain a career where I had to do just that quite frequently, occasionally in front of a few hundred people.

There are ways to become more comfortable with the fear and anxiety you experience, and the fear of your reaction to that fear. I found it helped when I began to get comfortable with being nervous or appearing nervous.

It was only when I fought it because I desperately didn't want anyone to see me nervous that it became very difficult. When I accepted I was nervous and that it was OK that I was nervous, I found I could relax a little and carry on.

You can get through this.

[Maxyz3]

As Dr. Clair Weeks states " Anxiety and fear is concured by facing your fear..go forward..this is the cure.

[Agora1 in reply to Maxyz3]

I believe in that Maxyz3 Thanks for sharing xx

[Hidden]

Next time, do not look at the members,see if that helps. Do not give up. The more you do preach,the better you become.

[JamesSimmons]

Perhaps it's a test?

[mvillarreal in reply to JamesSimmons]

Explain?

[Opportunity in reply to mvillarreal]

A test from God? Moses couldn’t speak, but was told to do it anyway and led people… 🤔

[mvillarreal in reply to Opportunity]

I don't know if my theology holds to the idea of "tests from God," but perhaps it is an opportunity to display the Holy through a broken vessel.