I can't handle it, is there any way to avert this mentality?

Lady Bug said:

Hi, I try to go to a parish where I know at least one face at the Mass, but you know, sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Or, they may know your face but you are just a random attendee (but not parishioner) now and then. My thread applies to that kind of situation, not my usual parishes. My question is, I can't handle the feeling I get when I have to walk past all the pews to get to the front and "everyone is looking at meeee" and I feel like they all hate me. It may never fully end. (I like the front because I can't stand seeing ANYONE'S heads in front of me, lol. It's a distraction. The only exception are handicapped people who may need to sit in the front pew. They're excused)

Has anyone also sat at the end and waited for the chitter-chatter of those around them to stop, and for the people to leave, so that you don't feel so lonely walking out amongst them? Does it make you look like you are fishing for people to come up and talk to you, or does it simply look like you're trying to be more reverent?

Before you dismiss these questions as elementary or childish, I'm having serious social issues (internally) lately and I almost can't handle it. I walk in the church as if I'm simply walking in the church and none of them know the mental torture I'm going through, being "scared" of "people hating meeeeeee."

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I don’t think I hated more than about ten people this morning at mass out of all the people there. I really doubt that you are hated by that many at your mass. Maybe you are hated by exactly nobody. It’s possible.

chevyontheriver said:

I don’t think I hated more than about ten people this morning at mass out of all the people there. I really doubt that you are hated by that many at your mass. Maybe you are hated by exactly nobody. It’s possible.

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It’s probable.

Lady Bug said:

Chevy so you hate 9 people?

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How many people I actually hated on at mass this morning was very tongue in cheek.

Jesus is the answer. Jesus does not share the answer with churches.

I used to feel that way. It could be a sign that you are being oppressed by spirits. Satan does not want you to go to Mass, and He also does not want you to contemplate God, so he plays with your emotions

I wonder if you feel hated or do you hate the people? If you feel hated, start praising God
His word says, you will be hated by all men for my names sake

Your love for God does not require people to like you, nor to worship only among friends. Keep your resolve to worship God no matter what others think and these feelings will pass

Use them as an excuse to not attend Mass and Satan has won.

Peace be with you and I’ll pray for you as you fight your spiritual battle

Lady Bug said:

Hi, I try to go to a parish where I know at least one face at the Mass, but you know, sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Or, they may know your face but you are just a random attendee (but not parishioner) now and then. My thread applies to that kind of situation, not my usual parishes. My question is, I can't handle the feeling I get when I have to walk past all the pews to get to the front and "everyone is looking at meeee" and I feel like they all hate me. It may never fully end. (I like the front because I can't stand seeing ANYONE'S heads in front of me, lol. It's a distraction. The only exception are handicapped people who may need to sit in the front pew. They're excused)

Has anyone also sat at the end and waited for the chitter-chatter of those around them to stop, and for the people to leave, so that you don't feel so lonely walking out amongst them? Does it make you look like you are fishing for people to come up and talk to you, or does it simply look like you're trying to be more reverent?

Before you dismiss these questions as elementary or childish, I'm having serious social issues (internally) lately and I almost can't handle it. I walk in the church as if I'm simply walking in the church and none of them know the mental torture I'm going through, being "scared" of "people hating meeeeeee."

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Nobody hates you. It’s all in your mind unless you have definitive proof. You might be disappointed in finding the friendships you seek there which may make you come to that conclusion. People when they are in Church tend to people watch but it really does not mean anything.

Lady Bug said:

I think my real struggle is with a certain person in that parish

I agree about the oppression by spirits. I'm having obsessive thoughts that are just too weird lately.

No proof or even evidence. I would probably be called severely paranoid. This is not the first (or last, unfortunately) time this will happen.

It's not a parish I normally go to. I go there sometimes because it's the closest and when I drive by it, I'm sometimes like "Why don't you just stop by over here and do Mass? You're right here for crying out loud."

I don't think I have a shortage, no. It's just that Christians can have these platitudes that make me want to throw something

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Have you been seeing your doctor at all?

Nobody hates you there, which is a sin.
You are worthy of being loved (which is a fact).

Lady Bug said:

I think my real struggle is with a certain person in that parish

I agree about the oppression by spirits. I'm having obsessive thoughts that are just too weird lately.

No proof or even evidence. I would probably be called severely paranoid. This is not the first (or last, unfortunately) time this will happen.

It's not a parish I normally go to. I go there sometimes because it's the closest and when I drive by it, I'm sometimes like "Why don't you just stop by over here and do Mass? You're right here for crying out loud."

I don't think I have a shortage, no. It's just that Christians can have these platitudes that make me want to throw something

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Christ commands us to love our enemies, and we don’t understand why, until we see that love and hate are two sides of the same coin.

What do you do when you love someone? Think about them all the time. What happens to them affects you. Their presence causes an emotional reaction. The sound of their voice touches your heart.

What happens when you hate some one? Think about them too much. Their presence and voice causes a reaction in you, etc.

Your enemies are a message from God that He wants you to see something in yourself. Your enemy is a child of God and He wants them to be saved, but you want them gone. Why is that?
I am not accusing you, I just want you to stop and think. Why do I hate them so? What is it in me?
If you take your thoughts off of your enemy and contemplate why you are feeling hate, you can grow in grace and love of Our Lord. If it’s too hard, pray for help from Our Lady and she will show you what you need to do.

The opposite of love is not hate. We can see this in the Latin word for love which is Caritas. The word charity is derived from it, also the word care.

If you don’t love someone, you need to be able to say I don’t care. The opposite of love is indifference not hate. If you have feelings of hate , you need to find out why. Our Lord commands you to do it

It hurts at first but once you figure it out, you will be so much better off.

Peace be with you