eclipse anxiety — trying not to have a panic attack

[we scared or whateva]

i had to delete twitter because when i woke up this morning i saw that “rapture” was trending and i’ve been trying my hardest to avoid anything about that lately. the fear mongering on tiktok is really getting to me too and i can’t relax. i know it’s unlikely that anything will happen, i guess i just need to be reassured. in 2019 i had a religious psychosis episode and i’ve turned away from religion altogether since then, but my aunt is a big news watcher and i just can’t handle all the fear mongering. i can feel it happening again. i still remember a video i watched in 2019 where this man described a dream he had in deep detail where “God” revealed to him that the rapture will happen in 2026 and i haven’t stopped thinking about that video since then. someone please help me.

 

[MATD]

You are susceptible, easily influenced by your anxiety/fear. I was there at one time too. When it comes to God, too many people misrepresent the Bible, taking scripture out of context and just plain twisting it to mean something entirely different to suit their own desires. The Bible certainly teaches us that listening to men’s lies will cause us problems. The only way to combat this is to face it, educate yourself with truth so you can recognize when you are being told lies. One of those lies is the “rapture.” The rapture doctrine was never taught until the early 1800’s. This doctrine was thought up by a woman named Margaret Macdonald and then expounded upon by her peers who took the words of the Bible way out of context. The Bible also speaks of these types of people and warns us to be wary of them. Folks never fail to take advantage of others, whether in ignorance or on purpose. The Bible clearly states that when Christ returns to earth He will set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem, we aren’t going to be “raptured” anywhere. The word rapture is not found in the Bible, it’s a man made doctrine.

 

[suzzeeb]

You are susceptible, easily influenced by your anxiety/fear. I was there at one time too. When it comes to God, too many people misrepresent the Bible, taking scripture out of context and just plain twisting it to mean something entirely different to suit their own desires. The Bible certainly teaches us that listening to men’s lies will cause us problems. The only way to combat this is to face it, educate yourself with truth so you can recognize when you are being told lies. One of those lies is the “rapture.” The rapture doctrine was never taught until the early 1800’s. This doctrine was thought up by a woman named Margaret Macdonald and then expounded upon by her peers who took the words of the Bible way out of context. The Bible also speaks of these types of people and warns us to be wary of them. Folks never fail to take advantage of others, whether in ignorance or on purpose. The Bible clearly states that when Christ returns to earth He will set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem, we aren’t going to be “raptured” anywhere. The word rapture is not found in the Bible, it’s a man made doctrine.

Well, I do disagree with you about the rapture. It is not called the rapture in the Bible, and there is no need to go into all that here, but I think it is fairly clear in scripture. Having said that, nobody has any idea when it would happen. Could be 100 years from now. I wish it would happen today honestly, but only God knows when it will occur and it will be wonderful and not scary. It's true there are a lot of fearful thoughts around biblical teaching because there are people teaching it that don't know what they are talking about. That's too bad.

Those of us with anxiety tend to add fear to anything we hear and make too much of everything. We walk around looking for bad things to happen, whether that's our health or family or news.

 

[we scared or whateva]

Well, I do disagree with you about the rapture. It is not called the rapture in the Bible, and there is no need to go into all that here, but I think it is fairly clear in scripture. Having said that, nobody has any idea when it would happen. Could be 100 years from now. I wish it would happen today honestly, but only God knows when it will occur and it will be wonderful and not scary. It's true there are a lot of fearful thoughts around biblical teaching because there are people teaching it that don't know what they are talking about. That's too bad.

Those of us with anxiety tend to add fear to anything we hear and make too much of everything. We walk around looking for bad things to happen, whether that's our health or family or news.

it's scary for people with religious trauma and whose relationship with religion isn't linear.

 

[suzzeeb]

it's scary for people with religious trauma and whose relationship with religion isn't linear.

I'm sorry that you have this fear. I think we all have certain traumas in our lives and fears that go along with it. I know I do, and that's where most of my anxiety came from. We all have different thoughts/beliefs about biblical things and MATDs and mine differ, and that's ok. I apologize if anything I said caused more fear for you. It was not my intention at all. My only wish for anyone on this forum is to find peace and healing.

 

[MATD]

For centuries the church held it’s members with fear of hell fire and damnation. Fear keeps people in line. It’s is still used today. Others uses various tactics to bring people into the church, some stooping to the level of taping money under the pews as an incentive. God, on the other hand, doesn’t use fear or tactics, in fact He tells us many times to “ fear not.” God tells us who and what He is, He tells us who and what we are. He is straight forward and to the point. He gives us free will to choose. He warns of the danger of listening to man instead of listening to Him. That’s why He gave us His words in a book, so we can read what He says and determine if what man says is truthful or not. Your fear is in the way, it’s allowing the words of man to inspire fear due to your lack of truth and knowledge. Every single time an event like this coming eclipse occurs, it brings out doomsday enthusiasts and so called “Christians” spouting their usual rhetoric. I used to be influenced by these same people until I learned the truth and took a harder look at what people are capable of doing, all in the name of whatever cause they happen to be involved in. The only way to learn truth is to actively seek it from trusted and proven sources. Those sources are not Facebook, Twitter, or the nightly news channels.

 

[shay1988]

I don't think anyone knows the exact day this will happen, like he said he will come when it's least expected. Me myself I didn't believe in rapture, I think we all sleep till the day he comes back then we will be risen. I don't think people will just disappear out of nowhere. But everyone has their own beliefs. This is a hard topic to speak on cause there are so many different beliefs. But I wouldn't have anxiety about it, I think it'll just be another day, another eclipse. Nothing to worry about. I hope u feel better soon!! I've been having allot of anxiety lately as well but I'm trying my best to accept it and stay calm.

 

[Phillies Phan]

Well, I do disagree with you about the rapture. It is not called the rapture in the Bible, and there is no need to go into all that here, but I think it is fairly clear in scripture. Having said that, nobody has any idea when it would happen. Could be 100 years from now. I wish it would happen today honestly, but only God knows when it will occur and it will be wonderful and not scary. It's true there are a lot of fearful thoughts around biblical teaching because there are people teaching it that don't know what they are talking about. That's too bad.

Those of us with anxiety tend to add fear to anything we hear and make too much of everything. We walk around looking for bad things to happen, whether that's our health or family or news.

Im ready for the rapture. Would welcome it. Proof of God and joy.

 

[Jonathan123]

A eclipse is the moon lining up with the sun and as such is a perfectly natural phenomena. Why does everyone seem to get so hyped up about such events? It seem to need to have 'experiences' because maybe our lives are so dull we need some stimulation. Our everyday experiences are 'one offs' because they will never occur again or if they do it will be in a different form. Rapture, hard to define. Perfect joy, perfect bliss? Now I wonder why it has to have a religious connotation?
Was it Wordsworth's poem in which he says about birdsong,

"That's the wise thrush, he sings his song twice over,
lest you should think he never could recapture that first
fine careless rapture".

That, to me, is the correct use of the word rapture. Something beautiful that is difficult to define.
In Buddhism there is the story of the Master about to give a lecture to his pupils. Before he began a robin came and sat on the windowsill and began to sing his heart out. After a while he flew away. The Master said to his pupils, 'the sermon has been said' and the class finished. Like all things Buddhist we have to see meaning behind some apparently meaningless subject.

 

[Cuchculan]

Matthew 24:32-36
From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

 

[bin_tenn]

Why does everyone seem to get so hyped up about such events? It seem to need to have 'experiences' because maybe our lives are so dull we need some stimulation.

IMO this applies to dream interpretation, among many other things as well.

 

[Dipitypers]

Remember to take deep breaths and ground yourself in the present moment. It's important to remind yourself that you are safe and in control. Have you tried any grounding techniques like mindfulness or meditation? I find that they can be really helpful in moments of intense anxiety. Remember, you are not alone in feeling this way. We're all in this together.